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Your staff magazineYour staff magazine

newsr mWinter 2012

Workington re-connected - new Northside Bridge opens

Princess Royal opens new headquarters

ICT back in house

Interview with Jill Stannard

Winter 2012

newsr m

EditorJohn Ballard01228 221752PublisherCumbria County CouncilDesignCommunications Team01228 226420

Thank you: to everyone who contributed ideas, features and time to this edition of newsroom. If you would like a copy of newsroom in an alternative format, please contact Barry Alcock - 01228 226447 or email [email protected]

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright owner. No responsibility will be accepted for any errors or omissions, or comments made by writers or interviewees. Views expressed are not necessarily the views of Cumbria County Council. Services and goods advertised are not necessarily endorsed by Cumbria County Council.

The Courts, Carlisle, CA3 8NA cumbria.gov.uk

Princess Royal opens new Cumbria Fire HQ

Workington re-connectedThe new Northside Bridge opens.

Better Places for Worknewsroom catches up with Jen Barry.

ICT back in houseFind out what plans are being developed to improve ICT in the future.

Meet the chief executivenewsroom puts your questions to Jill Stannard.

Prepared for winterTwo members of staff tell us what happens when winter bites.

Young apprenticesCounty council apprentice scoops top regional award.

Council’s new health roleAdditional responsibilities for the county council.

New look newsroomThe results are in, read the staff verdict.

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CFRS Business Support Manager, Michelle Jackson greets Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at the new Penrith Fire HQ.

Winter2012

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to produce

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YourVoice

Cumbria County Council

news news newAccidents on the road are the most common source of injury and death at work. The council has a responsibility to make sure �� insurances and skills to minimise the risk of an accident. Along with newsroom this month �� details of a consultation the council is running with staff. It’s about plans to implement a new system of checks for people that drive for work. We have to press ahead with the changes, but we’d like your views on how these new plans should work in practice.

You can respond by completing the form at the back ��31 December.

For those of you with access �� and can respond, online.

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Say cheese!Staff are once again being sought to volunteer to be the faces of the county council by taking part in a professional photoshoot.

Every couple of years the council updates its stock image library and revamps the posters dotted around council

buildings and it’s always nicer to get staff photos rather than stock images from the internet.

We’re looking for people of all ages, so bring your children, parents and grandparents – the more the merrier!

We’ll be holding a couple of sessions at different times and locations in December so get in

touch if you’re interested. Email [email protected] for

more information or call 01228 226603.

Keeping safe on the roads at work

� ��and CFRS community safety ��!��"�� the 2012 UK Heart Safe Awards in Salford after Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service scooped the Heart Safe Public Sector Organisation of the Year prize. The award was for the HeartStart training programme CFRS delivers teaching members of the public, businesses, schools and community organisations basic life-support skills.

a Kindle FireThe Kindle Fire offers a vibrant seven inch colour touchscreen for browsing, watching, playing, and reading. Kindle Fire lets you ��##�� $!�%��books, and magazines, plus tens of thousands of popular apps.

Explore the new newsroom website and complete our online survey for your chance to win a Kindle Fire. Visit cumbria.gov.uk/newsroom for your chance to win.

We’ve had lots of feedback from staff suggesting that newsroom magazine should be made available online to help reduce costs. Until recently it was �� newsroom was sent to each member of staff.

The recent successful move to electronic payslips for many staff now means that we can clearly identify who’s online at the council – so if you receive an electronic payslip you’ll also receive a link to the website version of newsroom.

The new newsroom website includes everything that’s in the paper version plus a whole host of additional features, from online video interviews to additional photo galleries. It also saves the council money by reducing the print quantity.

If you still receive a paper copy there’s no need to feel left out, you can also access the newsroom website at home by visiting cumbria.gov.uk/newsroom

newsroom goes online

WinWin

Winter 2012

Adrian Buckle has been appointed to the role

replacing Justin Johnston who left Cumbria to take up a new %��%��&� �� '�� with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.

Adrian joined the Fire Service in West Yorkshire in 1989 after spells working as a coal miner and a state registered nurse specialising in coronary and intensive care.

Transferring to Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in August 1996 to be closer to his wife’s side of the family, Adrian initially (��)�� *��( then undertook a variety of roles - most recently as Head of Service Delivery.

“I have no doubt that being "�� &� �� '��( ��be my most challenging role yet, but I’m looking forward to working with and leading others to deliver the best service we can to our communities, not just the operational response but also the youth engagement work, community safety initiatives and broader educational activities,” said Adrian.

Outside of work Adrian, enjoys cycling, hill walking, fell running and supporting Barnsley Football Club.

Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque in front of staff from

the Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning and Trading Standards teams, members of the construction team and children from Beaconside Primary School who had designed a mosaic featured at the front of the building.

Her Royal Highness was given a tour of the new building by Chief �� the new emergency control suite she saw how the facilities had been �� events. She then went on to meet members of the build team and view a display of plans and photos before heading downstairs to the drill yard to watch a demonstration vehicle rescue involving cutting someone out of a car. Before unveiling the plaque she also took time to speak with several of the Fire and Rescue Service’s new apprentices.

�� to Her Royal Highness by Michelle

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Meet ournew Assistant Chief Fire ��

Jackson, Business Support Manager and PA to Dominic Harrison. Michelle �� "�� Princess at the opening of Cockermouth Fire Station in 1987.

The Penrith HQ building is the fourth ��#��$��$��$��

The new CFRS headquarters got the royal seal of approval on 22 October when the building was formally opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Ser

Fire HQPrincess Royal opens new Cumbria


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Fire and Rescue Service staff, volunteers and partners have been honoured for their life-saving work at the service’s sixth annual awards ceremony.

The Together Towards Success Awards, funded by Nuclear Management Partners

(NMP),was held at Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa at Bassenthwaite on Friday 12 October to recognise individuals and teams who’ve gone beyond the call of duty in the interests of public safety.

Unlike previous years, there were no categories in the 2012 ceremony – nominations were scored by a panel of judges and the seven with the highest scores picked up awards.

Winners were: Kevin Johnston, from Penrith, Temporary Station Manager in Carlisle Locality.

Chris Ellis, CFRS volunteer from Maryport. Chris Francis, CFRS Business Support Technician from Keswick.

Cumbria Community Messaging System Team.

FireFit Team. Adrian Buckle and Val Ayre - HeartStart. CFRS volunteer HeartStart instructors. In addition to the seven award winners

��%�� &��'��were presented with long-service medals for clocking up 20 years’ service. Seascale Fire Station watch manager David Moore was recognised for 40 years’ service and another four winners were specially selected for awards including Temporary Watch Manager at Kendal, Phil Stannett.

*��%��+��*�� '�said: “I’m immensely proud of the service we deliver for the people of Cumbria and of all the individuals and teams who work together to deliver it.

“So many people – staff volunteers and partners – frequently go that extra mile and are a credit to Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.”

Cumbria which are being built thanks to an innovative public/private partnership involving Cumbria, Merseyside and ;� �� #�� The Government Supported project ��#��<=�� three authorities in the north west.

Chief Fire '��

Harrison and Michelle Jackson with the Princess

Royal. Inset photo from 1987.

Long-service medal winners.rvice in the news...

Winter 2012

�� complete. Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened the new Northside Bridge last month to fully and permanently reconnect the two sides �� of November 2009.

The opening of Northside Bridge marks the completion of the county council’s programme in the town to put

��%��#�� Northside Bridge was the largest single project in the

� ��#��$�� ><<�?��funded by the Department for Transport and delivered for the county council by the main contractor Birse Civils, with design and contract management work by Capita Symonds.

Construction started in August 2011. The bridge’s concrete piers are clad in recovered sandstone from the original @��X�� @�#��%��?YYZ� It has been built on a similar alignment to that of the previous Northside Bridge, but is wider to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jason Dixey, Northside Bridge project manager, said: “It’s fantastic to now be at the point where the bridge has opened and the successful completion of this project is a result of many people all working together and pulling in the same direction.

“I’m very proud of the determination, dedication, commitment and professionalism shown by everyone involved – it’s been a huge effort by a great many people in delivering this wonderful new structure for the people of Workington.”

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The bridge carries new electricity, water and telecom services

across the river

The bridge is built over a tidal location

near the mouth of the River Derwent114,550 man

hours have been worked to the end of

September 2012 Overall length is 152m over three spans (68m centre span over River Derwent and two 42m

side spans)It has a

100-year design

life

980 tonnes of steel was used to manufacture the

beams which form the backbone of the

structure

Designated cycle lanes are provided on

the carriageway

During construction, the workforce peaked at 50 and featured a

large number of locally based contractors

Workington re-connected

Bat boxes have been built into the

masonry of the southern pier


Electronic payslips went live at the end of October for nearly 4,000 staff and we are pleased to report that there were no issues for staff, in fact many of you said that it was great being able to view your payslips that little bit sooner online.

All payslips are available for you to view online at least three working days before the payment date. The payslip looks the same as the paper version that we’re all familiar ��payslips.

Downloading your payslip is simple.

Visit intouch.ccc/myhr or search for My HR on the council intranet site, intouch.

Enter your user name and password at the log in screen. If you need to have your password reset, or require any further assistance then please email [email protected] or call 01228 223380.

Click ‘Payroll’ on the left hand side of the screen.

Click ‘Latest payslip’.

Click ‘download’.

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Download your payslip

How to...

Downloaded payslips are legally accepted by companies that might need to see proof of income such as banks for mortgage applications.

�� rebuilt across the River Derwent in Workington – all of which Cumbria County Council staff were involved in delivering – are:

1 Barker Crossing: the emergency footbridge installed by the army just 18 days after ��+

2 The temporary road bridge opened in April 2010 after a 72-day construction programme, the fastest ever in the UK for a bridge of its size.

3 Workington (Calva) Bridge: opened in March 2011 after a technically challenging restoration and strengthening project which has subsequently won engineering awards.

4 Navvies footbridge: a new £1.7m steel bow-arch bridge opened in September 2011.

5 Northside Bridge: The new 152-metre bridge built by Birse Civils, part of the Balfour Beatty Group, in a £11.2m project funded by the Department for Transport.

Winter 2012

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It’s now just over two months since the county council’s ICT service came back in house. Keen to know how it’s going, newsroom caught up with some of the staff to see what the biggest changes have been and what plans are being developed to improve ICT in the future...

As Better Places for Work (BP4W) continues to pick up ��de-cluttering there, newsroom caught up with Jen Barry, the new HR Manager for the BP4W project to see what’s new, what’s happening and what we should know about.

Give us an update on the project so far...“As we all know, we’ve got less money to spend so we need to look at everything from the services we provide, the buildings we work from to the way we do the jobs we do.

“From my point of view BP4W is much more than just about bricks and mortar, it’s about changing our whole approach to the way we work. We want work to be about what you do, not where you do it from. So with this in mind we’re working with managers across the organisation to bring them up to speed with options for different ways of working to be rolled out within teams over the coming months. This is all to do with agile working which is a term you should have learned more about during your team %��

Tell us about the different stages to the project...“We’ve chunked it up into four stages, education, preparation, implementation and embedding.

“The education stage was all about setting the scene and bringing everyone up to the same starting point with the project. We did this through an e-learning module for managers (and staff to do if they wanted to) and through a ��%�� #��@��+�� we’ve been touring the county carrying out face to face training sessions for managers and have just launched an ‘agile working’ handbook for managers, stage 2 e-learning �� %�� on your toes.

“Next year we’ll be gearing up towards stage 3 and actually implementing agile working which will be a busy time!”

Will Better Places for Work actually be better?“Since we started working on the project we’ve heard various grumblings and rumours about Better Places for Work not actually being better and being more of an inconvenience. We know it may seem like we’re asking a lot of you all at �� #�� %�� +�� '� �� #��that some of you may be experiencing, but without getting on a soapbox we really want to assure you that these are all vital parts of the project and will all help us achieve what the project has set out to do and that is to make Cumbria County Council a better place to work.”


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ICT back in-house

Mark Kavanagh, Service Development ManagerUnlike many of the staff my role transferred to the council’s ICT client team in April, well ahead of the main transfer on 1 October. This meant I continued to work with Agilisys on various pieces of work during the transition so I was able to see the process from both sides which was invaluable. Given that the transfer all happened within three months - I think it went remarkably smoothly and with little or no interruption from a users’ perspective.

Looking forward, as Service Development Manager I’ve been working with the county’s ICT strategy board on projects to improve our overall ICT service. One of the key projects is a piece of work with SOCITM (the Society of IT Managers) to help us understand where ICT can help the directorates meet their business needs and deliver real improvements to our customers while improving our service and ensuring that we focus our future ICT investment in the right areas.

The Service Desk is open Monday to Friday from

8:30am to 5pm. Phone 226000 or email

[email protected]

Julia Trees, Team LeaderFor me there has actually been #�� [��engineering team and I are still �� %�� \�any IT issues that may crop up and helping them get the best out of their kit. We have also begun a laptop refresh project already, ensuring that any kit older than four years old is refreshed.

I was one of the staff who originally transferred from the council to Agilisys when we entered in to the new contract back in 2006. At that time the use of technology in the public sector was only just coming into its own so it was a big change to go to a company that was all about the IT. Now IT is such an integral part of how the county council works day to day, we need to ensure that we maintain an excellent ICT service, as we have always strived to do. So the move back to the council – which went smoothly - is much more business and IT focussed and the chance for positive change and growth is huge - it’s good to be back.

Tricia Laughlin, Service Desk OperatorOur main concern was whether on the day of switchover we’d still %��%��#��service and the answer was – yes we could! All the systems still worked and there was no disruption to the service. Everyone was still able to contact us as usual. On the service desk our top priority is to our users and thankfully our transition into the council went smoothly. We have always been committed to giving the best service possible and our aim is to continue that and now hopefully even more so with the service being in house we will develop a better understanding of people’s needs, which can only be a good thing.

Winter 2012

Describe Cumbria in 2012 in ��

�� #��one! Cumbria is a fantastic place to live and work, it’s a place of really interesting people who are committed to their communities and it has a fantastic county council with about 8,500 really enthusiastic staff who go out of their way to do a good job. I know that’s �� #��%��that’s how I’d describe it!

What challenges does the Chief Executive face daily and was

being a Chief Executive a position you always aspired to? I never set out in life wanting to be a Chief Exec – I didn’t even know what a chief executive did! I always wanted to work with people so I started working in a hostel with homeless men – that was ��&�%�� #��

I’ve always wanted to make a difference to people and the communities they live in, so that’s what has motivated me to take the path I’ve taken - but I’ve never set out with an end goal in mind.

As Chief Exec you are never really off work, if something happens I want to know about it to ensure that we are doing our best, so that’s a challenge but the rewards outweigh the challenges.

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What do you propose to do to demonstrate the county council

is not just about the corporate centre, but that people holding the front-line in Barrow, Ulverston, Workington and Whitehaven are valued, appreciated and money isn’t being needlessly wasted at the expense of supporting their roles and services? County council services are everywhere – just look out of the window, look at the roads – chances are they’re roads that we manage and are looked after by our fantastic highways staff. Many of the services from cradle to the grave – registrars, libraries, are all services we all use everywhere in Cumbria. It isn’t about it being located where the headquarters is. I like to get out from behind my desk to see staff, meet teams and talk to people and I’m always really encouraged by the high quality of work they do � �� I can absolutely reassure staff that I value and appreciate the work they do in whatever role and at whatever level.

Do you think you represent good value for money to Cumbria’s

taxpayers? It’s important to say that there’s no Chief Executive in the country in local government that

In the last edition of newsroom staff were asked to send in questions they’d like to put to Chief Executive, Jill Stannard.

Dozens of suggestions came forward on a range of issues from single status to what can be done to ensure front-line staff are valued and appreciated.

newsroom sifted through the suggestions, selected 10, and sat down with Jill to put them to her.

Here’s what she had to say in response to your questions...

JillStannard

Meet the Chief

Executive

Watch the video online at cumbria.gov.uk/newsroom


11 newsroroomro

sets their own pay scales. The scales were set by members in 2009, they decided to keep the pay the same as it had been in previous years. I applied for that job, against national competition from other people who’d applied for it and was successful. As with all other staff in the county council my pay has not increased in any way and indeed I’ve looked at ways I can be more �� resources and expenses. I think it’s for elected members – the people you vote for – to decide how much they want to pay their Chief Exec and having made that decision I have to make sure that I work hard to justify that level of pay.

In these times of austerity and people being made redundant

how can we justify having agency staff working for the council, sometimes over the course of years? We occasionally will need agency staff when it’s better value for money to purchase that service for a short period of time. That short period of time might be a year for example, rather than employ someone directly ourselves.

If we’re doing a complex planning application we might need a specialist in newts or bats and that’s not a core role for the county council but it’s an agency or interim member of staff’s role � ��+�� &�� use of agency staff.

In other areas we have to use agency staff, such as when children’s social workers haven’t been recruited yet and we’ve had a gap – with those kinds of roles you can’t have a gap so we need to bring somebody in on an ad hoc basis, although we’re trying to make sure we use our own staff and not agency staff wherever possible.

How can single status have been fair when some members

of staff have lost money and are now ��these austere times when the cost of living seems to be forever increasing?Whenever somebody loses money it can never feel fair to them personally but the purpose of single status is to make sure we have a fair pay structure for all 8,500 staff. I understand that some people have lost money but we cannot have people doing the same job at different rates of pay.

Single status is about equal pay and as soon as you equalise anything you have winners and losers and it will never feel fair to the losers but we are committed to giving everybody the best training opportunities they can have and the best opportunities in a fair way to apply for posts as they come up.

What are your plans for raising staff morale in the light of single

status, location moves, and pay freezes? I think this is the hardest time in the 30-odd years I’ve been in local government. It’s hard because our budget year on year has been �� ]� ��%��*��^\�� 2009 and if we go to the end of 2015, the county council budget will have reduced by a quarter. The thing about morale is that on a day-to-day basis the thing that cheers us all up is that we do a good job and the people out there recognise what a good job we do wherever that is.

Should managers be allowed to buy things outside of e-procurement

when they can get it much cheaper elsewhere as this could save the council enormous sums of money?We have saved millions of pounds through using e-procurement but there may be examples occasionally where items, for whatever reason, can be found outside of e-procurement at a cheaper rate. Because of that we set up a ��%�� they can ring the team and report that so we can look at it. The problem is these things are usually �� look at them so it may be you could buy a piece of IT kit but the price on e-proc might involve servicing and the replacement of that. It might be you could buy a pair of protective gloves but the standard and quality you have on e-procurement meets the council’s requirements.

By and large e-proc has saved us millions. We buy things like pens in bulk purchases in the most cost-effective way so that we have more money left to pay staff and keep more people in jobs.

If you had a magic wand and one wish to help Cumbria, what

would it be? ��county council staff and our partners could keep the focus on serving the people of Cumbria [� �� #��differences but keeping people focussed because we’ve got some really tough times ahead.

How do you spend your leisure time?

Walking with my husband. I like to do that preferably in Scotland and away from people – other than him of course! That way we actually get to spend some time together.

Winter 2012

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Whatever the weather this winter, Cumbria County Council will be battling through the conditions to deliver a range of vital services from caring for vulnerable people in their own homes to gritting the county’s road network. newsroom caught up with two members ��

Prepared for

winter

Jackie Hargreaves started working as a home carer for Cumbria Care in 2005. She says that getting to someone who you know is relying

on you is all the motivation that’s needed... “We’ve really got a make do and mend

attitude as home carers. We’ve got to, as in most cases people are relying on our help. We can’t let a bit of bad weather get in the way!

“On average I do a seven or eight hour shift and that means I’ll see about eight service users. When the ice and snow gets really bad then the shift gets longer and you might be up to an hour late. But the service user knows you’re coming and although you’ve had a nightmare getting to them - sometimes I’ve even had help from the Fire Service or other people in communities - they’re so appreciative and for the look on their face its worth it.

“I love my job, helping people to be as independent as possible in their own homes is so rewarding and battling through the bad weather to reach someone and give them the support they need is incredibly rewarding.”

Dave Sankey has been driving gritting wagons in the highways team in South Lakeland for more than 20 years. He explains what happens

when the bad weather strikes..._`�+�� %��%��

spell usually through to March. Once we’re aware of a cold spell coming up we’re at the ready. Before you go out you make sure the wagon is prepared, especially that you’ve got enough fuel and loaded with enough grit to spread, that’s usually about 12 tonnes per run.

“We’ve also got to think about the conditions because the gritting wagon is just as vulnerable to ice and bad weather as a normal vehicle so you’ve got be able to cope with those conditions.

“There are nine routes across South Lakeland and Barrow with each one taking about three and a half hours, and that’s if the conditions are good. You can double that if the weather’s bad and it’s easy to sometimes be doing a 12 hour day.

“But you do get a kick out of it. Being part of a team and knowing that you’re helping people get around the county and do whatever they need to do. That might mean a nurse or care worker being able to help someone else or a van delivering food to a local shop, so you know that you’re making a difference.”


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In terms of our revenue budget, in order to balance the books for

2013/14 the council needs to reduce its spending by a minimum of around >?Y�� |><�}~��where it would come from. So there �� #� �� ?Y<��<�� ><}��

"�� \��will increase, potentially to as much as >?��'�� %��amount of funding it will get from government and the impact of the government’s offer of a grant should the council decide to freeze council tax.

And the savings will have to continue in 2014/15. Taking into

account the funding cuts, predicted future Council Tax income, budget pressures and the changes to services we have already agreed, we estimate that we will have to ��%�� ><=�� >?~��further savings in 2014/15.

The consultation document provides more detail on the �� +��proposals; make sure you take time to have your say.

�� cumbria.gov.uk

Adopting a child can be extremely rewarding even though it can be hard work and challenging and you will certainly need an open mind and a sense of humour!

Cumbria County Council Adoption Service welcomes applications from men and women, couples and singles, the young and the not so young, employed or unemployed, regardless of race, religion, disability or sexuality. There are lots of children in Cumbria who need help.

If you are interested in looking into adoption further contact the Adoption Team on 01539 713312 for an information pack – you will then be invited to an information meeting for new applicants.

�� cumbria.gov.uk/childrensservices/childrenandfamilies/adoptionandfostering/becomeadopter.asp

The adoption team have been touring the county on a vintage bus as part of a drive to

recruit new adoptive parents.

In November the council launched a public consultation on proposals for inclusion in the 2013/14 draft budget. This year the council is again faced with��funding continue to bite.

Have you ever thought of

becoming an Adopter?

Council consults as budget cuts

continue to bite

Winter 2012

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A young apprentice at Cumbria County Council has scooped a top regional award. Shannon Atkinson was named North West Advanced Apprentice of the Year at a recent awards ceremony.

and progressing them into employment through effective workforce planning.

Cumbria County Council has conducted an ongoing drive to recruit apprentices in a range of areas including business administration, youth work and even the Fire Service.

In September eight new recruits embarked on an apprenticeship programme with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service. The Advanced Apprenticeship

Youngapprentices

Nineteen-year-old Shannon is currently

completing her Advanced Apprenticeship in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools at Derwent Vale Primary School, at Great Clifton near Workington.

The National Apprentice Service’s North West �� National Apprenticeship Awards and National Training Awards 2012 were a double success

for Cumbria as the county council was named North West Apprentice Employer of the Year � ��$��which has seen more than 1,500 organisations competing nationally in nine categories.

The council was recognised for its work in developing the numbers, range and levels of apprenticeships for young people in Cumbria during the last twelve months


15 newsroroomro

Contacting Children’s Services regarding concerns for a child or young person, or to request support has been made even easier.

A new county triage service came into operation on Monday, 5 November. The telephone number for this service is

0333 240 1727 and anybody with concerns about a child in Cumbria who could be in danger of being harmed can contact Children’s Services on this one single number at any time of day or night.

This will enable callers to outline their concerns and the county triage service will give advice and if necessary undertake assessments of need.

This number will replace the three day time district-based numbers currently in operation.

Contact can also be made with the triage service by e-mailing [email protected]

NewChildren’s Servicesnumber

Not in the pension scheme? You will be soon!New government rules mean that all employees will now be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension. The new rules are being phased in from October but will come into effect for Cumbria County Council in June 2013. The council must follow the new rules.

For personal reasons a small minority of employees decide to opt out of the pension scheme, but from June next year

all these employees will be enrolled and start making pension contributions from their salary. However, after being enrolled employees can choose to opt out again but will have to go through a new process to do so.

Even if employees opt out again the council has a duty to automatically enrol them back into the pension scheme at regular intervals, usually every three years. This is intended to ��#�� pension saving options. Again, they can choose to stay in or opt out at that point.

The new rules apply to staff who: are not already in the pension scheme; are aged 22 or over; are under State Pension age; �� >}'<Y��|��#��#��

We’ll be keeping all staff fully informed about these changes as we get closer to the implementation date. If you have questions now please contact [email protected]

In the meantime visit direct.gov.uk/workplacepensions to get more information about the new rules.

Three street lighting apprentices with Highways Engineer Nick Raymond.

in Emergency Fire Service Operations will last for two years, during which time the apprentices will have the chance to obtain �� BTECs and Diplomas.

Six new Street Lighting Apprentices, working within the highways team, have also recently been appointed and will work on a 42-month programme towards gaining an Advanced Apprenticeship at level 3 in Electrical Engineering. On completion of the programme they ��%��electricians for both domestic and industrial standards.

��<?�� the street lighting engineers will be training at Gen II in either Workington, Carlisle or Ulverston where they’ll be working on street lighting equipment provided by the council’s highways team to prepare them for working on the council’s streetlights.

Hot off the press...This month the country’s top 100 hundred leading apprentice employers were honoured at The Skills Show in Birmingham and Cumbria County Council was one of them. Employers honoured included Rolls Royce and BT - so we were in good company - newsroom says a huge well done not only to HR who organise the scheme but a huge thank you to all the managers and departments who have taken on an apprentice and make this great accolade possible.

Winter 2012

wsroom 16wsrnewswswsr

As a Conference and Review

��#��%��and rewarding life working with some of the most vulnerable young people in

the county.“Along with other

Conference and Review �� %��

for chairing child protection conferences and looked

after children reviews as well as monitoring the progress of care plans

between review meetings. “We also chair complex strategy meetings about

fabricated and induced illness and sudden unexplained deaths of children. Ensuring all agencies responsible for Children and Young People’s wellbeing and interests are working together for the best possible outcomes.

“Engaging children and young people in their own reviews is a big priority in my work. I want to have a positive relationship with the young people I work with and I need to be able to adapt to the circumstances of the young person, for example; young people in a stable settled placement will need a far different approach to those who have just entered the care system and could be so overwhelmed by interacting with lots of different professionals when they are often upset or anxious.

“It is essential that I ensure above all that their voices are heard in their reviews. This is often a big challenge.

_�� %�� %�� still able to be both resilient and forthright in what they want to happen in the future.

“Although we are a discreet and small team within the county council our roles and responsibilities are paramount in ensuring every child matters in Cumbria.”

A da

y in the life of

...Conference and ��#��Joanne Yetts

“


17 newsro


roomrororo

Free health checks for people aged 40-74 years,

access to sexual health services, and stop-smoking support are just some of the areas the county council will be responsible for commissioning from April next year.

As part of the changes most public health staff, who currently work for the local NHS, will transfer to the county council from 1 April 2013.

So how is it all going? newsroom spoke to two members of the county’s public health team to get their views.

Dr Jane Mathieson is a consultant in public health and currently works in Kendal for NHS Cumbria. As part of the transition, she is working with Adults and Local Services, and the Barrow and South Lakeland Local Area Teams.

She says, “A lot of what I do already involves working with Cumbria County Council staff – from developing suicide prevention guidance with educational psychologists to working to improve the lives of people with dementia with commissioners of adult services.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the county council and maximising the new opportunities to improve local people’s health outcomes and reducing the inequalities that are a real barrier to a long and healthy life.”

The council is gearing up to take on new responsibilities to safeguard and improve the health of residents throughout Cumbria as part of national changes to the way the NHS and local authorities work.

�/��4��%��and Jane Mathieson �:��(�+

newsroom also spoke to Jane Muller, who currently works as an associate director for NHS Cumbria and is based in Carlisle. During the transition, Jane is working with Children’s Services, and the Carlisle and Eden Local Area Teams. She says, “The county council already has a track record of working to improve the health of local communities.

“By moving to the council, public health will be in a strong place to make real improvements to residents’ health and wellbeing.”

Council’snew health

role

wsroom 18newswsr

Your staff magazine

newsr mAutumn 2012

Moving up - Trading Standards ��!��!��"��

Keep on running��

New look newsroom

Through September and the beginning of October staff were asked to complete a questionnaire giving their views on newsroom. A total of 83 staff responded and the results were mixed. Areas where staff feel the magazine is performing well and where there’s room for improvement ��

Newsroom got a facelift for the last edition and the questionnaire asked what staff

thought of the design and layout. More than half

Winter 2012

510152025303540

of respondents (43), said it was good or excellent while only three rated it poor or very poor. A large majority also said the style of the magazine was very easy to understand.

The majority feel producing Newsroom is a good idea and many commented they enjoyed reading about other people working for the county council. More than half of those responding said they learnt something new about the council as a result of reading newsroom.

It was however clear that readers felt newsroom could do more to represent the ��#�� #�� that some articles needed to better represent the reality of the challenges.

It was also strongly voiced that in the interest �� @��%�� electronically to save on printing costs – a move which is already taking place.

� ��#�� improvements could be made was in better internal communications across the county council - watch this space.

Numb

er of

respo

nses

Excellent Good Average Poor Very poor Can’t say

Design and layout

opposite and sending it to the freepost address; you can choose how we contact you and how you respond.

If you are already part of the Feedback 500 group you will automatically be added to the ‘My Voice’ panel.

The freepost address is:Freepost NWW6059A, Communications Team, Cumbria County Council, The Courts, English Street, Carlisle, CA3 8NA.

Register with My Voice by completing the survey opposite. Any queries call 01228 221023.

Employees are being invited to sign up to the county council’s new staff panel – My Voice.

Members of the panel will be given the chance to have their say on a variety of topics.

While many members of staff do not have access to a computer at work and are not ��%��'�� #��the opportunity to join My Voice. Those that don’t have access to a computer can join My Voice by completing the registration form

My voice


19 newsroroomro

Excellence awardsService planning

and budget consultation

Moving forward with ‘Better places

for work’More training

and development opportunities

Are you fundraising or do you have an unusual hobby? It’s your staff magazine and we’d love to hear from

you. Could you be our next day in the

life or have you got questions that we can help

answer?

�� 01228 226447 �� barry.alcock@

cumbria.gov.uk�� newsroom,

�� CA3 8NA.

Coming upin the next

issue of newsroom

Get ��

newsroom

1 What is your nameFirst nameSurname

2 Are you...? Male Female

3 Your age group? 16-24 45-54 5 25-34 55 and over 35-44

4 Your directorate? Adult and Local Services� *��^\��#�+�� Children’s Services Environment Resources Safer and Stronger Communities Don’t know

5 Your salary bracket (Optional)

��><='�YY��><='�Y<$><Z'ZZZ��>?Y'YYY$?�'ZZZ��>?�'YYY$>?Z'ZZZ��>�Y'YYY$>��'ZZZ��>��'YYY$�Z'ZZZ��#��>�Y'YYY Prefer not to say

6 How long have you worked for the County Council?

Less than 1 year 1-3 years 4-6 years 7-10 years 11-15 years Over 16 years

My voiceMembership form

7 How would you prefer to respond and be contacted regarding MyVoice?

Via online surveys and email. Please give your email address (can be work or home).

Via paper surveys and postal address. Please give postal address (can be home or another address you would like us to use such as work).

8 Would you like to be invited to participate in group discussions and in other activites in the future?

Yes No

Serving the people of Cumbria


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