Agenda item

This report provides an update to members of the People, Performance and Development Committee (PPDC) on the results of the Staff Survey. This is the second Surrey County Council Staff Survey undertaken by Best Companies and provides useful comparison data against last year. The Council Overview Board will also consider the results of the survey at its meeting in March. 

The Staff Survey Results were taken after item 10 on the agenda.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Rachel Crossley, Chief of Staff

Ken Akers, Head of HR & OD

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Committee received an introduction to the report from officers who informed Members that the response rate to the Staff Survey had been encouraging. More people had responded to the Staff Survey than last year and SCC’s response rate was above average for large public sector organisations. Overall, the outcomes of the survey were broadly similar to the previous year. Improved results for the Children, Schools and Families Directorate were encouraging although there had been a slight dip in results for Orbis; Environment and Infrastructure and Legal, Democratic and Cultural Services.

2.    Members sought clarification on the system used by Best Companies to rate organisations in accordance with their Staff Survey results. Officers explained that SCC had achieved a ‘Ones to Watch’ rating which effectively meant that its results were categorised as good. 1, 2 and 3 Star ratings denoted organisations which were very good, excellent and outstanding respectively. The Committee was further advised that Best Companies had an ‘unclassified’ rating for results that were considered low.

3.    Discussions took place regarding the comparatively low scores recorded for the ‘Leadership’ category and what steps could be taken to improve staff perceptions of SCC’s Leadership. Members were advised that training for managers such as the High Performance Development Programme had helped to improve SCC’s Leadership scores particularly in relation to staff feeling as though they were listened to. Training for senior managers could therefore be used to target areas where surveys show that staff have specific concerns. Officers highlighted that work would be taking place with managers to improve the flow of information to staff on key messages and strategic issues. Members were further informed that there may be ambiguity for staff in particular areas of the organisation as to who they deem to be leaders and that this may have some impact on results in this category.

4.    Members expressed concern regarding the results relating to staff wellbeing and inquired about the steps being taken to improve wellbeing among SCC employees. Officers advised that the Strategic Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health was leading on a piece of work to across Surrey to promote the healthy workplaces.  This is supported by an in house programme providing specific interventions to help managers tackle stress among team members.

5.    The Committee asked to receive a chart comparing the results of the 2015 and 2016 Staff Surveys.

6.    Discussions took place regarding how SCC monitors and measures staff morale. Members were informed that some questions from the Staff Survey do provide an insight into morale across the organisations and that the results from these had been synthesised into a Russell Circumplex Model of Emotion which the Chief of Staff indicated that she would circulate to the Committee.

7.    Officers were asked to work with services scoring below the ones to watch category in both 2015 and 2016 surveys to understand the results in more detail and the actions being proposed in those service areas. Members requested that a report be brought back to the Committee outlining the actions agreed to improve these service areas.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

1.    Chief of Staff to share the table comparing the results with those from last year’s survey which is currently being created for the Council Overview Board. (Action Ref: A4/17)

2.    Chief of Staff to work with services scoring below the ones to watch category in both 2015 and 2016 surveys to understand the results in more detail and the actions being proposed in those service areas. A report should then be brought back to the Committee on this. (Action Ref: A5/17)

3.    People, Performance and Development Committee Members to receive Russell Circumplex model of emotion arising from Staff Survey. (Action Ref: A6/17)

RESOLVED:

That the People, Performance and Development Committee noted the results of the 2016 Surrey County Council Staff Survey.