The Department of Employment and Social Services, in the administration of a program of community home care services for the elderly, and to the extent possible, shall afford training to, and utilize, elderly persons to perform community home care services. The elderly persons compensated for their services under this program are not subject to any of the provisions governing the State Personnel Management System or the provisions governing any merit system of a political subdivision. The Department has sole authority for determining all conditions of employment and rates of compensation.