Issue - meetings

Purpose of the report: To provide the up to date position on the key workforce challenges facing the organisation and how the People & Change Service is working to help address and mitigate these challenges.  In addition, the report gives a progress update on previous queries raised by the Select Committee and aims to give clarity on current actions and programmes of work being undertaken to address specific areas of concern.

Witnesses:

Ayesha Azad, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Leigh Whitehouse, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources

Bella Smith, Head of Insight, Programmes and Governance

Tom Holmwood, Head of Recruitment

Key points raised during the discussion:

1. The Chairman asked what the three current key challenges in relation to workforce were compared to the last year, and likely to be in the next two years.

2. The Head of Insight, Programmes and Governance said that for the past two years challenges had centred around COVID including the management of staff sickness levels, staff wellbeing and ensuring staff had the correct personal protection equipment (PPE). Due to the pandemic, the market had changed with people wanting to work differently and as a result the Council has increased its plans for focus on recruitment and retention over the next two years. Current challenges around the cost of living were being addressed to ensure staff financial wellbeing with the roll out of initiatives to support this planned over the next six months. The Head of Resourcing added that the cost of living was resulting in an increase of turnover and this was expected to continue for some time. Work around maintaining the Council’s employer brand in the market would continue. Analysis of data to support the development of a corporate exit survey was underway to provide insight around a proportion of staff leaving the Council for other public sector organisations.

3. The Chairman queried the reasons for staff moving to other public sector organisations. The Head of Recruitment noted that recent exit interviews indicated factors such as pay and reward in addition to work, life balance and committed to share an analysis of exit interview data with the Resources and Performance Select Committee at the next People and Change update. Action: Head of Recruitment

4. The Chairman was concerned at the emphasis on ‘line managers’ to conduct ‘why stay’ conversations with staff. The Head of Insights Programmes and Governance explained a broader approach in relation to the ‘why stay’ interviews was being piloted in Children’s Services with human resources business partners and other colleagues within the service involved in conducting some of those conversations, supporting the development of peer-to-peer discussions.

5. The Chairman asked when tangible results could be expected in relation to recruitment and retention improvements. The Head of Insight, Programmes and Governance explained that whilst the voluntary turnover rate had risen from February 2022 to July 2022, a slight plateau was evident, and the current economic situation was resulting in more people choosing the stability of remaining in their roles at the Council.

6. A Member asked if there were sufficient opportunities for extra annual leave and sabbaticals as requested by 29 per cent of staff surveyed for the Children’s, Families and Lifelong Learning ‘in job’ questionnaire. The Head of Insight, Programmes and Governance explained that in addition to a re-evaluation of pay grades, the total reward package for staff was being revisited and would include, flexible working, annual leave and the promotion of sabbaticals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38