Children’s Centres Restructure
2nd Consultation – May 2015
Purpose Of Briefing
 To update on consultation process
 To share proposed changes following feedback to date
 To update on HR timeline and clarify HR concerns raised
by staff
 Opportunity for questions
www.walsall.gov.uk
Consultation Activity
 Questions and Answers
 Meeting with Early Help Area Managers
 Intranet page
 Further meeting with JNCC sub group
 Ringfencing arrangements clarified
 Review of SERCO/NHS and Spurgeons staff roles to align
with council equivalent to clarify ringfencing opportunities
 Childcare posts per site shared with staff
www.walsall.gov.uk
Update on responses in relation to model
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A new JD is being drafted to replace Early Years Practitioner. It is proposed
that the post will be called ‘Child Intervention Worker’ and JD will more
accurately detail targeted aspect of role. JD will be resubmitted to pay and
grading.
We are reviewing Family Support posts to give more progression by creating
an Assistant Family Support Worker post. It is proposed that Children Centre
Worker post will be taken out of structure to enable this.
Inclusion Officer role has been reviewed and it is proposed that post will be
replaced by a Family Support Worker ( SEN and Disability) posts at G7 to
more accurately reflect expectations of role.
Responsibility for Health and Safety and Finance will be clearly reflected in
Children Centre Service Manager and Business Support Lead JDs. This will
not be an integral function of Family Support Lead job.
We are reviewing skill mix of administrative roles to ensure that service
needs are met.
www.walsall.gov.uk
Update on responses in relation model
6.
It is proposed to create an additional Data Analyst post to the
structure to give more capacity.
7. To strengthen early identification and school ready, it is proposed
that Parenting Practitioner posts be replaced with School Ready
roles that have a wider remit.
8. As schools are fully engaged in taking over childcare element and
leases are advertised we no longer feel that Childcare Transition
Roles are required and propose to delete these from structure.
9. We are reviewing Childcare JDs to ensure that resposnibility is
clear between G5, G4 and G3 roles.
10. Number of Childcare posts at Hatherton and Bloxwich have been
updated and reduced.
www.walsall.gov.uk
Post numbers in new structure – Children Centre
 79 core Children’s Centre staff
 65 posts in the proposed structure (subject to change):
Post
Children's Centre Service Manager
Children's Centre Universal Services Coordinator
Family Support Leads
Senior Family Support worker
School Ready Advisors
Family Support workers
Targetted Child Intervention workers
Business Support Leads
Outreach workers
Data Analyst
Assistant Family Support workers
Administration Officers
Administration Assistants
Grade
G12
Number of posts
1
G10
G10
G9
G8
G7
G6
G6
G6
G5
G5
G4
G3
1
3
6
2
21
6
3
6
2
6
3
5
www.walsall.gov.uk
Post numbers in new structure - Childcare
 108 childcare staff in current structure.
 111 posts in the proposed structure (subject to change):
Post
Nursery manager/
team co-ordinator
Childcare officer
Childcare assistant
Totals
Grade
G5 and
G6
G4
G3
All year
Term time only
Full time Part time Full time Part time
2
4
15
21
0
0
2
2
7
14
47
68
www.walsall.gov.uk
0
3
17
20
Timeline
Date
31/03/2015
13/04/2015
16/04/2015
05/05/2015
w/c
01/06/2015
05/06/2015
Activity
JNCC updated Business Case outlining final draft proposal
prior to staff consultation
Start formal 45 day consultation period (earliest end date 15th
May 2015)
 Regular JNCC meetings / staff consultation and one to one
meetings as required.
 Issue frequently asked questions
 Review any alternative suggestions
Issue letter to all ‘affected’ staff inviting them to attend first
consultation session.
Hold first consultation sessions with ‘affected’ staff.
Hold second consultation session with ‘affected’ staff
Possible third consultation session with ‘affected staff
Close consultation
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Timeline
Date
Activity
w/c 08/06/2015
Finalise proposals and submit to JNCC.
Update staff of finalise proposals and staff to express interest in a post(s)
w/c 08/06/2015
17/06/2015
23/06/2015
26/06/2015
Confirm/reject voluntary redundancy applications
‘Affected staff’ not taking voluntary redundancy to submit supporting
information for posts they have expressed interest in.
Shortlisting and assimilation (if applicable)
Interviews
Advise successful and unsuccessful applicants of results of interviews
July
Invite unsuccessful employees to ‘notice of redundancy meeting
Hold ‘notice of redundancy meetings and serve notice
Commence redeployment and notice periods as applicable to ‘affected’ staff
TBC
Implement new structure
www.walsall.gov.uk
TUPE Transfer
 Council / School’s working in partnership to confirm
sustainable structure
 Recruitment undertaken by Council
 Successful applicant recruited on Council terms and
conditions
 Transfer to new provider on these terms and conditions
ie. Continuous services transferred
Salary remains the same
Annual leave entitlement remains the same
 Schools may change at a future date under ETO
www.walsall.gov.uk
Recruitment Process
 In the event that the number of candidates is equal to or is
less than the number of posts, and the applicants meet the
70% criteria, then assimilation will take place.
 In the event of there being more staff than posts,
competitive interview will take place.
 In the event that we are unable to recruit to all posts, any
vacancies will be offered to the next tier in the first
instance.
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Voluntary Redundancy
 Expressions of interest can be submitted during
consultation process.
 Following end of consultation, All ‘affected staff’ express
interest in post(s).
 VR applications reviewed based on above data and
confirmed/rejected
 ‘Affected staff’ not taking voluntary redundancy to
complete supporting information for posts they have
expressed interest in.
 If VR accepted, leaving date will be agreed, staff will not
be able to work for Walsall Council for a period of 12
months.
www.walsall.gov.uk
Communication
 Electronic copies of consultation pack, job descriptions,
childcare posts, frequently asked questions can be found
on the intranet
http://inside.walsall.gov.uk/index/service_information/childserv/childrens_centres.htm
 Pages updated weekly.
www.walsall.gov.uk
Next steps
 Continue to ask questions/comments/submit proposals
Consultation Closes and;
 alternative proposals considered
 Job descriptions, Employee Specs and structures finalised
 Timescales confirmed for submission of expressions of
interest
 Recruitment Process
www.walsall.gov.uk
Support for staff
 Interview training
 Line Manager
 Project Team
 HR
 Trade Unions
 Employee Wellbeing Service: 0800 282 193
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Questions
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