Minutes:
Members were provided with an
update in relation to the work of the Long Term Sickness Taskforce and the
early intervention methodology pilot. Officers asked members to note that the
figures contained within this report were only in relation to the work of the
task force, so
specifically in relation to long term absence only and excluding the school
workforce and should not be confused with figures considered in the previous
report.
Members received a
presentation on the activity of the taskforce during Quarters 1 and 2. The
presentation focused on the story behind the data in some directorates and
highlighted some of the barriers to reducing absence and how those barriers
have been tackled.
Members queried how many
employees come to the end of the return to work policy and are formally
dismissed. Officers highlighted that in table 13 of Appendix 1 to the Sickness
Absence Monitoring Report and the figure of dismissals between 1 April and 30
September 2016 was 6.
Members queried whether
Managers are monitored when they are provided with new procedures to utilise
within their teams. Officers highlighted that this is a role for Heads of
Service, who are provided with monthly sickness data reports, and should discuss
sickness absence as a regular item at manager meetings and supervision
sessions.
Members asked about the
timescales for dealing with long term sickness absence and Officers stated that
it would generally take approximately 6 months to deal with individual cases
but the general steps were as follows:
Informal – Manager to arrange
a Return to Work Plan meeting with the employee within 28 days of the start of
the absence to discuss the nature of the absence and the potential return to
work format.
Formal 1 – within six weeks
from the first informal contact
Formal 2 – within eight weeks
from the 1st Formal Contact
Formal 2 Review – within 4
weeks of formal 2
Formal 3 – within 8 weeks of
the formal stage 2 review.
Members requested that the
formal stages of the return to work be provided to all members. Officers agreed
that this would be circulated outside of the meeting.
Following Scrutiny the report
was noted.
Supporting documents: