Personal casework has kept me occupied with cases as varied as helping members achieve reasonable adjustments when returning to work after a period of sickness absence, to supporting members who have been accused of gross misconduct.
I held a members’ surgery and recruitment session at the EAS/SE Wales Consortium. This was also opened up to staff from the nearby Central South Consortium. Members and non-members had the opportunity to come along and learn more about how Prospect membership can benefit them.
I did the same thing in Carmarthenshire where we picked up a new local rep who has been actively trying to recruit new members. From the work in Carmarthenshire we have identified the need for more Welsh language materials and Prospect Central Services are in the process of producing this.
A consultation is just about to begin over the TUPE transfer of the school improvement function from Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Ceredigion into a central team at ERW (Ein Rhanbarth ar Waith/Education through Regional Working). We have Prospect members in all six of the county authorities, each with slightly different local terms and conditions. The challenge will be trying to ensure that no member suffers a detriment as a result of the transfer.
Other ongoing restructures with which I have been involved include:
Dorset Local Government Review
Nine councils (county, unitary and district) are being consolidated into two. The proposal is to replace the existing nine authorities with two unitary councils for all of Dorset:
Urban Dorset (pop. 410,300) – The conurbation of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
Rural Dorset (pop. 376,600) – All the rest of Dorset, currently served by Dorset County, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland councils.
Buckinghamshire Learning Trust
The Governor Services Review and Restructure means that three staff will TUPE into Bucks County Council and 41 are at risk of redundancy.
A new service for Early Help – the new service will be created by bringing together council delivered and commissioned services that currently provide early help support across the county.
Bristol City Council
Management of Change for ‘Trading with Schools, Teaching and Learning Service’.
The current staffing structure is not deemed to be sustainable or cost effective so the council are proposing to delete the 5.2 fte existing generic Teaching and Learning consultant posts. These posts are covered by six staff, four of whom are Prospect members.
In their place they will create 2.6 fte new posts with specific service responsibilities:
- 1.6fte Teaching and Learning Consultant – ECAR (Every Child a Reader)
- 1fte Teaching and Learning Consultant- School Improvement
So three of the six staff will face redeployment or redundancy.
Gloucestershire County Council
Prospect has been invited to comment on “A New Approach to High Needs in Gloucestershire” Briefing and Engagement paper for parents, schools and other stakeholders. The Briefing and Engagement paper and the Engagement Survey were sent to members for their comments.
If you are affected by restructures or other issues in your workplace, or if you feel that you need individual support for any work-related issue, please contact the ECS Group office in Wakefield on [email protected]
Please also contact us if you are aware of colleagues who are not yet Prospect members but who might benefit from a visit and be given the opportunity to sign up. Don’t forget that our ‘Member Recruit Member’ incentive allows you to receive a £10.00 gift voucher for every member you sign up!
Chris Manning
Negotiations Executive