Children

1
Childrens Services Business Support Service
Review Mid point Staff Engagement Briefings
March 2016
2
Agenda

• Update on the Service Review Programme
• Recap on Objectives
• Review of reshaping and implementation process
• Proposals and feedback received to date
• VPP Assimilation
• VR applications
• Next Steps
• Questions and Answers

3
Recap on Objectives

• Delivers Childrens Services Business Support
  saving of 361K.
• Analyse business requirements, ensuring Business
  Support capacity is best utilised for efficient,
  effective and resilient service delivery
• Establish a clear structure that can be flexible
  across geographic boundaries at times of service
  need
• Create more generic roles and a structure to
  allow collaboration of teams working together
  across localities in Directorates where synergies
  exist.
• Reflects the rationalisation and merging of
  Council buildings
• Hold vacant posts and accept VRs to minimise the
  number of staff at risk
• Removes temporary / agency staff replace with
  substantive employees
• Prepares for future change and business
  efficiency opportunities
• E.g potential transfer of transactional
  functions and helpdesk activities into a service
  centre model.

4
Thank you

• Recognise this is a significant change.
• Meaningful engagement and feedback critical to
  shaping a service fit for the future.
• Excellent engagement from staff so far.
• Support from Trade Union colleagues greatly
  appreciated.

5
Reshaping Process
6
Where we are - engagement
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Engagement so far

• Opportunity of 121s are being taken up by
  individuals and teams
• Constructive FAQs and consultation responses
  received.
• Trade Union commitment and attendance welcomed
• Really important to ensure you submit
  consultation responses

8
Key themes.so far

• Generic post specifications
• title
• content
• grade differentiation
• Assimilation
• TUPE
• Impact of reduced posts and capacity to deliver
• Resource allocation between districts

9
Voluntary Redundancy Applications so far

• VR window open 8 22 March 2016
• 10 VR applications received to date
• Decisions made on VR applications
• (week commencing 9 May 2016)
• Signed off by Corporate Director, Childrens
  Services

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Assimilation VR Approval

• Current Assimilation Policy relating to the grade
  match criteria challenged by GMB (not Unison)
  and is now subject to formal dispute process.
• Corporate discussions are ongoing
• Assimilation process will compare old and new
  roles to determine where direct appointments can
  be made
• Roles must be same grade and 75 match against
  each assimilation criteria. Where it is
  identified that there are more people than posts,
  a competitive interview process will take place
• Employees not assimilated to posts confirmed as
  at risk of redundancy and are able to apply for
  vacant posts through the vacancy preference
  process
• All employees in scope will receive a
  personalised letter confirming the outcome of the
  process from w/c 9 May
• VR outcome
• Confirmation of assimilation
• Confirmation of VPP

All letters personalised and issued via the
Service Centre
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Vacancy Preference Process

• Process will run from 16 27 May 2016
• Ability to apply for
• up to 3 posts
• at any grade
• Posts that can be applied for through vacancy
  preference process confirmed in individualised
  letters
• Letters contain links to make an application
• Maximum character limit for applications
• 1 interview where possible
• Interview dates confirmed asap

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Interview skills training dates

• 21 March 2016 Jubilee House Barrow
• 23 March 2016 Parkhouse Carlisle
• 11 April 2016 Workington Fire Station
• 15 April 2016 Kendal County Offices
• 20 April 2016 Parkhouse Carlisle
• 19 May 2016 Parkhouse Carlisle
• 25 May 2016 Nan Tait Barrow

13
Support and Advice

• Both face-to-face and website
• Engagement period
• People Management support
• Learning Development service
• Trade Union representatives
• Pensions Service
• Employee Information Website

14
Next Steps

• Reminder this is only mid point review NO
  decisions made
• Consultation is ongoing continued feedback
  welcomed
• Keep reviewing FAQs on Employee Information
  Website
• Corporate assimilation discussions will continue
  with Trade Unions
• Review Decision (up to 2 weeks) 21 April 6
  May 2016
• Final meeting to be scheduled for w/c 9 May

15
Discussion Questions?