(a) There is hereby created in each county a county department of human resources which shall consist of the county director of human resources and such other officers and employees as the county board and state department shall deem necessary for the efficient performance of the welfare services of the county. The county director, subject to the approval of the county board and the provisions of the merit system, shall appoint such staff as may be necessary to administer the welfare activities within the county. Upon request of the local board, the State Personnel Department shall establish a county register of eligibles who are residents of the county in which the vacancy exists. If no appointment is made from the local register or there is no local register then appointment shall be made from the statewide register. Any person employed in county departments shall be covered under the provisions of the State Merit System.

(b) It shall be the duty of the county director to meet regularly with the county board to formulate general policies, rules and regulations, which policies, rules and regulations must be consistent with the policies, rules and regulations of the state department. All administrative and executive duties and responsibilities of the county department shall be performed by the county director and must be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the state department, subject to the approval of the state board. These duties and responsibilities shall include relief to persons in need of assistance; the performance of family welfare services; the care of children who are dependent, neglected, under insufficient guardianship or otherwise handicapped, and such other child-care activities as shall be directed to it by the State Department of Human Resources; and the investigation of applications for admissions to and discharges from county institutions providing care and treatment of indigents. It shall be the duty of the county departments of human resources to furnish to the county board and the state department such reports concerning the activities of the county department and concerning the status of the welfare functions within its jurisdiction as the state department shall require. If appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, the county department of human resources shall, through its director and his assistants hereinafter provided for, perform under the supervision of such court, the functions of a probation officer of the court having jurisdiction of children who are dependent, neglected, under insufficient guardianship or otherwise handicapped.