Agenda item

Purpose of the Report

This report provides for scrutiny of agency worker arrangements and spend.

The report highlights for the Board’s consideration the service areas where there is highest spend on agency workers and the reasons for using agency workers to meet staffing demands in these areas.  Also included is information on new agency supply arrangements that are being established following retender of the service.

Declarations of interest:

None.

Witnesses:

Carmel Millar, Head of HR&OD

Ken Akers, Strategic HR Manager

Indiana Pearce, Contract Manager

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The report was introduced by the Strategic HR Manager, who summarised the usage of agency worker’s at Surrey County Council.  He explained that agency workers were a key part of the evolving workforce, who could bring skills and expertise needed for short term vacancies.

2.    It was stated that often one of the main aims when working with agency workers was to ultimately reduce turnover, by encouraging staff to become permanent. It was stated that agency work or bank contracts could be an attractive option as working hours were often flexible.   Bank staff, on zero hour contracts were kept in a “pool” where they could be called upon by managers during times of short term demand.

3.    It was highlighted that some agency staff had worked at Surrey County Council for five years or more.    Some Members of the Board felt that long term use of agency staff could be demoralising and de-motivating to those employees, as they would not receive the same benefits that permanent staff received.

4.    Members queried the true costs of appointing agency staff instead of permanent or fixed term contracts.  They asked for further information about how agency staff salaries compared to those in a permanent positions. 

5.    The Chairman of the Economic Prosperity, Environment & Highways Scrutiny Board raised particular concerns about the use of agency staff in the Highways Service to fill vacancies following a number of reorganisations.  Staff had provided anecdotal feedback that frequent changes in personnel led to a level of disruption and decreased morale.  The Board stressed the importance of evolutionary change programmes and continuous improvement to avoid the need for frequent whole-scale restructures.  It was agreed that the Board would make a recommendation to Cabinet, which is detailed at the end of this minute. 

6.    One Member stated that the organisation as a whole were not “anti agency workers”, however it was concerning when whole teams were made up of agency staff. The Strategic HR Manager stated that with better workforce planning in the future, it was aimed that employees would receive stability and reassurance in their jobs.

7.    There was a discussion regarding the national shortage of qualified and experienced child protection social workers and educational psychologists. It was noted that educational psychologists remain a small but essential part of the agency work force   There was also a recruitment campaign underway to recruit up to 15 new Social Care managers. 

8.     The Director of People and Development stated they are constantly looking at new strategies to improve the Human Resources team and are very pleased with the progress they have made in the last five years. 

Actions/Further Information to be provided:

• Further figures to be provided showing comparable costs of agency staff across the Council, to provide an estimate of the “true cost” of an agency worker (including the implications if that member of agency staff was not in post).
• More information to be made available regarding the difficulty of recruiting Educational Psychologists
• A breakdown of roles recruited as agency staff in Business Services to be circulated to Members.

Recommendations:

• The Council Overview Board wish to recognise the work being undertaken by the HR&OD team to address issues related to the use of agency staff, and note the need and importance of agency workers in some circumstances

The Council Overview Board Recommend to Cabinet, that:

• The frequency of reorganisation within the Environment & Infrastructure Directorate be considered and managed to avoid an impact on:

·         The morale and wellbeing of Highways staff

·         The ability of the service to carry out priority highway maintenance