Minutes:
Members
received an update on the Sickness absence Monitoring report informing them of
the management of sickness absence across the Council.
Members
queried how the authority identifies outside of workplace related stress and
what is the authority doing to help assist the staff with this. Officers
confirmed that when the absence is reported by staff the information is
collated. The Council’s primary
responsibility is to ensure measures are in place to deal with work related
stress. Where issues outside of the
workplace are causing stress,
they can be referred to the NHS with wellbeing through work
programme, Counselling support is available and recently a trial of Mindfulness
Sessions took place. Stressors outside of the workplace are obviously outside
of the Council’s control, but where possible and reasonable, managers can
support employees with, for example, changes to their working patterns to
enable more flexibility in their working day and to enable them to juggle
conflicting priorities.
Members
requested that the Director of Education, Leisure & Lifelong Learning report to the
Education, Skills and Culture Scrutiny Committee in relation to Teacher
absence.
Members
asked if the Trade Unions were involved during the development stages of the
Early Intervention and Effective Communication strategy. Officers highlighted
that they were involved and that a trade union representative had been seconded
to the HR team for a six month period to enable the joint development of the
strategy. There continues to be good
communication between the trade unions and the Authority.
Members
commended the Council for signing up to the Dying to Work Scheme.
Members
queried what support was available to staff who have been bereaved. Officers confirmed
counselling support is available and that guidance has been developed to
support managers.
Supporting documents: