Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report and presentation of the Director of Corporate Resources which provided a summary of the outcomes and actions identified from the 2019 Staff Survey.  A copy of the report marked “Agenda Item 6” is filed with these minutes.

Members were informed that this survey had the highest response rate of staff surveys undertaken to date.

In response to questions, members were informed that:

       i.          It was recognised that Managers had many demands on their time; a great deal of work had been undertaken corporately to support them in managing the wellbeing of their staff, including where staff had disabilities. The appraisal process was now conducted through a year-round discussion, encouraging managers to support their staff and enable issues to be addressed. There was also a range of options in place to support staff wellbeing, for example, the establishment of 400 Mental Health First Aiders, and the signposting of people to alternative support, including charities and other organisations, depending on their needs.

     ii.          External inspection which had been underway at the time of the Staff Survey, for example by OFSTED in the Children and Family Services Department, was taken into account when considering the results and determining actions to address the findings. The Director praised the Children and Family Services Department for maintaining its results in the survey during an inspection.

    iii.          Members expressed concern about the results related to bullying and harassment and were informed that, as the survey was anonymous, the specific circumstances could not be identified. Officers were considering alternative methods to address the issues raised, including workshops to raise awareness.

    iv.          The Dashboard was available to managers and staff to encourage exploration, within teams, of the issues raised; Departments were now working with Business Partners to respond to the results.

RESOLVED:

That

a.     the summary of the outcomes and actions identified from the 2019 staff survey, and the approach being taken to address the findings, be noted;

b.     a report would be presented to the Committee at its meeting on 6 February 2020 to provide further detail of the actions being taken to address the findings of the Staff Survey 2019.