Policy And Resources Committee - 20/06/2005

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th June 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost John R Letford, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th June 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSING DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF HOUSING DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE

There was submitted Joint Report No 349-2005 by the Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) detailing proposals for the Housing Quality and Performance Unit, Housing Investment Unit and the Housing Finance and Corporate Services Unit as part of the review of the structure of the Housing Department.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) delete the following posts:

(i)3 x Housing Officer posts AP4 (20,808 - 23,034) from Housing Renewal Unit;

(ii)1 x Costings/Admin Officer post PO1-4 (26,379 - 28,632) from Housing Finance and Administration Unit;

(iii)1 x Assistant Housing Officer post GS3 (14,466 - 15,063) from Rent Accounts;

(iv)1 x Senior Housing Officer post AP5 (23,739 - 25,857) from Policy and Plans Unit;

(v)1 x Housing Officer post AP1 (15,063 - 16,116) from Policy and Plans Unit; and

(vi)1 x Housing Officer post AP3 (18,381 - 20,169) from Housing Quality Unit;

(b) create the following posts:

(i)1 x Monitoring and Data Protection Officer post AP2 (16,515 - 17,877) in Housing Investment Unit;

(ii)1 x Housing Officer post AP3 (18,381 - 20,169) in Finance and Corporate Services Unit;

(iii)1 x Performance Team Leader post PO5-8 (29,541 - 31,860) in Quality and Performance Unit - funded from Supporting People - no cost to Housing Revenue;

(iv)2 x Strategy Officer posts AP5 (23,739 - 25,857) in Quality Performance Unit - funded from Supporting People - no cost to Housing Revenue;

(c)regrade the following posts;

(i)1 x Housing Officer post graded AP1 (15,063 - 16,116) to AP2 (16,515 - 17,877) in Finance and Corporate Services Unit; and

(ii)5.5 x Project Officer posts graded AP4 (20,808 - 23,034) to AP5 (23,739 - 25,857) in Housing Investment Unit;

(d)regrade and redesignate the following posts:

(i)1 x Project Team Leader post graded PO3-6 (27,822 - 30,288) to Capital Programme Team Leader PO7-10 (31,068 - 33,423) in Housing Investment Unit; and

(ii)1 x Senior Housing post graded AP5 (23,739 - 25,857) to Team Leader PO1-4 (26,379 - 28,632) in Finance and Corporate Services Unit; and

(e) redesignate the following posts:

(i)1 x Specialist Maintenance Team Leader post AP5 to Project Officer post in Housing Investment Unit;

(ii)4 x Housing Officer posts AP2/3 to Assistant Project Officer posts in Housing Investment Unit; and

(iii)1 x Housing Officer post AP2 to Monitoring and Data Preparation Officer post in Housing Investment Unit.

II SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM - ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL SOCIALCARE OFFICER POSTS

There was submitted Joint Report No 338-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) relative to a proposal to increase Social Care Officer provision within Community Mental Health Teams to enhance the Social Work Department's ability to respond to statutory obligations contained within the forthcoming Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 20th June 2005, the Committee approved the establishment of 3 posts of Social Care Officer graded SCP16-23 (15,405 - 18,381).

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF MONEY ADVICE PARTHERSHIP AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FORMONEY ADVICE PROVISION

There was submitted Joint Report No 322-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising of the outcomes of the review of the Money Advice Partnership and outlining proposals for the use of continued and improved funding from the Scottish Executive to Dundee City Council for the provision of money advice.

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 20th June 2005, the Committee approved:

(a)the establishment for a period of three years of one post of Welfare Rights Officer (Minority Ethnic Communities) graded AP4, 20,807 - 23,033;

(b)the establishment for a period of three years of one post of Welfare Rights Officer (Housing/Council Tax) graded AP4, 20,807 - 23,033;

(c)the establishment of the existing temporary post of Welfare Rights Officer (Money Advice) graded AP4, 20,807 - 23,033; and

(d)the redesignation and re-grading of the existing post of Senior Clerical Assistant graded GS3, 14,466 - 15,063, to Administrative Assistant, graded AP3, 18,381 - 20,169.

IV SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER TEAM

There was submitted Joint Report No 354-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) relative to the proposal for the establishment of a full time Mental Health Officer (MHO) team to enhance the Social Work Department's ability to respond to statutory obligations contained within the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, which was due to be implemented in October 2005.

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 20th June 2005, the Committee approved:-

(a)the establishment of one post of Senior Mental Health Officer, graded PO3-6 (27,822 - 30,288);

(b)the establishment of four posts of Mental Health Officer, graded AP4/5 + 1 (20,808 - 26,379);

(c)the establishment of one post of Clerical Assistant, graded GS1/2 (10,671 - 14,220);

(d)an allowance of 680 per annum, payable to basic grade Social Workers who participate on the Mental Health Officer day duty rota; and

(e)call out payment of 100 payable to Mental Health Officers for one call out or more in any one session Monday to Friday and at weekends.

V EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 411-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising the Committee of the findings of an equality monitoring exercise.

The Committee agreed to:

(a) note the findings of the equality monitoring exercise;

(b) approve the publication of annual equality monitoring statistics every April; and

(c)remit the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) to analyse the findings and develop an action plan in conjunction with the Equality and Diversity Team Leader, Communities Department.

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - INTERIM PAYMENTS ARRANGEMENTS

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th December 2003 whereby the Committee approved a scheme of interim payments to ensure sufficient staff could be retained to fulfil key duties and responsibilities. One component of the scheme involved a payment of the equivalent of two increments to staff actively working on child protection cases and fulfilling certain other criteria.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN235-2005 advising that since December 2003 there had been a number of developments in child protection services and processes and been extensive work done within the Social Work Department to look at social worker roles and responsibilities. Until this work had been concluded and conclusions reached about the appropriate future remuneration of staff involved in child protection work it was proposed that interim payments be made only to the eight staff who were currently receiving them for as long as those staff continued to meet the criteria.

The Committee agreed to the continuation of interim payments for child protection work on the above basis, having noted that the costs of this were estimated to be 14,500 per annum, inclusive of employer's costs, and would be met from the Social Work Department Revenue Budget.

VII SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - PRACTICE TEACHING ALLOWANCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN236-2005 advising the Committee that the Social Work Department makes a major contribution to ensuring the continued supply of professionally qualified social workers through the provision of practice learning opportunities for social work students. A major part of this involved staff undertaking the Practice Teaching Award and then offering supervised and assessed student placements, usually of several months' duration, in various teams and units in the Social Work Department.

Staff who undertake practice teaching duties would all be working in substantive posts in teams and units across the Department and practice teaching may involve them in carrying out work over and above their normal workload and in recognition of this additional duty it was proposed that a Practice Teaching Allowance of 680 per annum per placement be paid to Social Work staff who act as Practice Teachers. To qualify for this allowance, staff would have to hold the Practice Teaching Award (or any award that replaces it). This allowance would replace the additional increments approved by the Personnel Committee in December 2003.

The Committee approved an allowance of 680 per annum per placement, payable to Social Work staff graded AP4/5+1, 20,808 - 26,379, who undertake practice teaching duties.

VIII SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - REDESIGNATION OF POSTS

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 24th January 2005, there was submitted Agenda Note AN254-2005, proposing the redesignation of two posts of Clerical Assistant to Administrative Assistant in order to reflect the duties and responsibilities of the posts.

The Committee approved the proposal, having noted that there were no financial implications.

IX SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN255-2005, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th June 2002 wherein approval was given to a Report on Social Work Department - Establishment of Posts, Staff Development Services. The recommendations approved were for the establishment of five posts of SVQ Assessor, graded AP3, 18,381 - 20,169. The posts were permanently established but were offered to employees on a secondment basis for a fixed term period of two years and it is the intention that this would continue to be the case.

It was reported that since these posts had been established, there was now a requirement to conduct assessments not only at SVQ Level II but also at SVQ Level III. To allow the department to conduct this work, there was a requirement for 4 SVQ Assessors to conduct Level II assessments and 1 SVQ Assessor to conduct Level III assessments. Based on SQA guidance, SVQ Assessors must possess a higher level qualification than those they are assessing, therefore, to carry out assessments at this higher level, individuals must be professionally qualified, for example, hold a Social Work, Nursing or Community Education qualification.

The Committee therefore agreed that one of the posts of SVQ Assessor be regraded from AP3, 18,381 - 20,169, to AP4/5 + 1 20,808 - 26,379, having noted that the cost of implementing this recommendation would be 800 in a full financial year, inclusive of employer's costs, and would be funded from the Social Work Department's Staff Development Budget.

X PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - EMPLOYMENT DISABILITY UNIT - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN257-2005, advising that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and Employment Disability Manager had reviewed the current duties and responsibilities and workload of the Employment Disability Unit.

It was reported that in conjunction with the Council's Social Work Department, the Unit had secured funding from the Mental Illness Specific Grant to fund services for that section of the community, and in conjunction with the Council's Economic Development Department, the Unit had secured funding from the Working for Families Initiative. Furthermore, the Unit was facing creased demands from the local authorities to assist with staff retention issues and to provide disability training.

The Committee therefore approved:-

(i)the regrading of one post of Employment Development Officer (Workstep), graded AP4, 20,808 - 22,034, to AP5, 23,739 - 25,857, to reflect higher level duties and responsibilities;

(ii)the regrading of one post of Employment Development Officer (Job Clubs), currently AP4, 20,808 - 23,034, to AP5, 23,739 - 25,857, to reflect higher level duties and responsibilities;

(iii)the regrading of one post of Supported Employment Co-ordinator (Support Team), currently AP4, 20,808 - 23,034, to AP5, 23,739 - 25,857, to reflect higher level duties and responsibilities; and

(iv)the redesignation of one post of Temporary Support Worker, grade AP3, to Support Worker, with no change of grade, and the confirmation of the current postholder in this post.

XI PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN258-2005 advising that at the request of the City Engineer, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the post of Street Lighting Partnership Manager.

As a consequence of this review, to reflect the level of duties and responsibilities, it was recommended that the post of Street Lighting Partnership Manager be regraded from PO11-14 (34,173 - 36,624) to PO12-15 34,965 - 37,461).

The Committee approved this proposal, having noted that the financial implications of this proposal were 1,046 in a full financial year inclusive of employer's costs.

XII INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT - IMPLEMENTATION AND SUPPORT TEAM - REVIEW OF POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN259-2005 advising that the Head of Information Technology and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the duties and responsibilities and workload of the Implementation and Support Team, and had found that there had been an increasing requirement for professional and technical officers to deal with administrative tasks and function.

In addition two employees had requested that their hours of work be reduced under the Council's Flexible Working Policy. It was therefore anticipated that service delivery would be improved by implementing the following recommendations:-

(i)the establishment of one post of Technical Administrator, graded AP2/3 (16,515 - 20,169);

(ii)the redesignation of one post of IT Officer (Support), graded AP3/PO10 (18,381 - 33,423) to Part-time (25 hours) IT Officer (Support) with no change to the grade; and

(iii)the redesignation of one post of IT Service Desk Team Leader, graded AP2 (16,515 - 17,877) to Part time (21> hours) IT Service Desk Team Leader, with no change to the grade.

The Committee approved these proposals, having noted that the costs, including employer's costs, amounted to 1,105 for 2005/06 and 1,936 for a full year thereafter and could be from the Information Technology Department's Revenue Budget in the respective year.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

XIII HOUSING DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN260-2005 relative to the above.

The Committee resolved that ER3/05, ER4/05, within the Housing Department be retired in the interest of the efficiency of the service with effect from 30th September 2005 and 22nd July 2005 respectively, in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and enhanced in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and the decision of the Personnel Committee of 14th March 2005, having noted the financial implications.

XIV LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

This item was withdrawn.

LORD PROVOST John R LETFORD, Convener