ERDP’s

Thank you to all managers that have already completed their team ERDP’s.

If you haven’t yet commenced or completed your Employee Review and Development Process (ERDP) discussions for 2023/24, please remember to schedule them for your teams. ERDP’s are an important opportunity to pause, and both reflect over the last year, and to look forwards to what is coming in the months ahead. An ERDP complements regular performance review through supervision, workload meetings and just checking in with your teams.

M365 UPDATE

Exchange Online (Email)

The M365 Team are currently rolling out the migrations to everyone’s mailbox to Exchange Online. To date, colleagues in ICT, Organisational Development, HR and the Digital Champions have been successfully migrated across and it is planned that further teams will be migrated in the very near future. With HQ Campus based staff to be scheduled first and then the outlying offices.

Further guidance on how you can prepare for your migration and what you can expect will be provided before the actual migration takes place. So, keep your eyes peeled for further information when it’s your turn.

Additional benefits after migration will include (but not limited to):

• Calendar available in Teams – this means you can view your Outlook calendar and create and join meetings from within the Teams application.
• Tasks by Planner and To Do – a great workload planning tool for managing your tasks.

Microsoft 365

Once successfully migrated to Exchange Online, users will be provided with step-by-step instructions to install Office 365. This process will replace your existing Microsoft Office applications with the latest versions of Word, Outlook, Excel, and more.

As with Exchange there will be further guidance and extra information including several eLearning modules will be provided closer to the roll out. Keep checking the IT Skills category on CLIVE (aka LearnPro) for new modules and to keep yourself updated.

HSCM Federation

Moray Council, NHS Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are currently working together to allow greater sharing and collaboration when working together in M365.

The first phase is to allow the sharing of free/busy availability between our colleagues in NHS Grampian (and the wider NHS Scotland body) and Aberdeen City / Aberdeenshire Councils. External organisations will only be allowed to see free/busy at this phase. Work is progressing well, and we are preparing to complete testing and sign off with NHS Scotland and our local authority neighbours. We will update you as soon as this work has been completed.

STAR AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Thank you for the great response to this year’s STAR awards.

Judging will now take place shortly.

All nominations will receive a letter of thanks and awards will be presented to the winners in due course. Watch out for the results which will be announced here soon!

In the meantime, here is a reminder of this year’s schedule

STAR Awards 2023 schedule

Please note that under GDPR legislation, nominees will be contacted, following judging, and asked to consent to their personal information being used.

EMPLOYEE SURVEY 2023

Opinion Survey: 21 August – 15 September 2023

The Employee ‘Your Voice’ Survey 2023 is now closed

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the Employee Survey for 2023. Now the survey is closed, the analysis work will begin… Keep an eye on Interchange and Connect to see an update on our final response rate!

So, what happens once the survey is over?

All the remaining paper surveys will be collated and added to the online data. Once this is completed, we will start to analyse the data and produce reports with the results. This will show us where you have said things are working well, and where there may be room to make some improvements.

Additionally, by comparing to previous survey results we will be able to track trends and see where previous improvements have made a positive difference.

Ultimately what we want is to identify any issues and help managers to improve things for you at work…. or if everything is great we might need your help to spread best practice to other areas!

SMARTER WORKING UPDATE

Managing a Hybrid Team

We’re pleased to announce that we have dates for our new course, Managing a Hybrid Team. This workshop will be running on the following dates:

• 19 September 2023 – 09:30 till 12:30
• 2 October 2023 – 13:30 till 16:30

The purpose of this workshop is to give you a greater understanding of the skills required to manage a hybrid team. If it’s the first time you’re managing a hybrid team, or just looking for a refresher then this course is for you. We’ll be able to do this by introducing you to range of tips, tools, and interventions that they can be used to manage your team where employees will be working from both the workplace and from home.

During the workshop we’ll look at the following areas:

• What does hybrid working mean?
• What are the potential challenges to hybrid working?
• Communication and engagement tools, and
• How to re-engage the disengaged

If you have any questions regarding this workshop, please email jamie.gordon@moray.gov.uk or for any questions regarding the Smarter Working project please email SWDG@moray.gov.uk

DELEGATED AUTHORITY REPORT (DAR)

A new version of the DAR has been created to reflect the new flexible working styles and you can find it here: HR Policies, Procedures & Guidelines, HR Forms and Recruiting Staff

BUDGET SUPPORT AND UPDATE

Following the workforce communications you will be aware that CMT/SMT continue to work on proposals to develop our approach to a financially sustainable future for the council with proposals being presented to Committee for consideration in late October. In readiness for moving in to a period of substantial change managers are being asked to prepare their teams by leading on interactive discussions called Team Talks. The aim of this is to raise awareness across the workforce of the major issues facing the council and put this into context within services and day to day working. A dialogue planner will support the structure of these discussions and you will be able to collate views of the workforce and share these with CMT via a survey monkey feedback form.

A Skills for Change workshop is also now available for managers who are leading on change and will provide the opportunity to understand and deploy effective change management skills. Please speak to your line manager in the first instance should you wish to attend this course.

You will all have already received information on the vacancy restrictions that are currently in place to support only essential recruitment and the Vacancy Management Form has been updated to accommodate these requirements. The new version of the VMF can be found here: Recruiting Staff and HR Forms

CAREER READY – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Career Ready, a programme designed to connect disadvantaged young people with the world of work, unlock their potential and level the playing field, is looking for volunteers.

Moray Council have been supporting this wonderful programme since 2014 by creating opportunities for interested staff to volunteer as a mentor.

Becoming a Career Ready mentor is a fun, flexible way to inspire a young person, unlock their true potential, and guide them through the early stages of their career journey. There is no denying that being a mentor is a commitment. It requires monthly contact (about an hour a month) with the young person over the 18 months and the support of a 4-week summer internship but the benefits are clear:

• 91% of students say Career Ready raised their career aspirations
• 87% of alumni said Career Ready had a positive impact on their life
• 89% of mentors report their mentoring and coaching skills as excellent or good at the end of the programme, compared to 40% at the start
• 98% of Career Ready students’ progress onto positive destinations in education or employment

This is what Sheila Strong – Mail Room Team Leader had to say about her recent experience as a Career Ready Mentor.
 

“Being new to Career Ready I was a bit apprehensive initially, however I needn’t have worried. Both the Career Ready Team and the Organisational Development Team have made the whole process seamless and always there with a helping hand if required. I’d definitely recommend Career Ready Mentorship to anyone who is interested”.

We ask that anyone interested in becoming a mentor, contact us so that we can begin to fulfil our commitment to the next programme which is due to start in October.

For further information please contact: organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

What’s Live on CLIVE?

A brand-new climate change module is being launched on CLIVE in time for Scotland’s Climate Week on 25th September.

The module is aimed at all staff as an introduction to climate change - covering the causes, impacts and required response to the crisis, and the council’s role in this. It also looks at how staff at every level can contribute to the council’s response, offering a variety of examples of how they can do this.

Please encourage your teams to take this short module (approximately half an hour) and help us strengthen the council’s ability to act on climate change. You can find it under the CPD tab.

Login to CLIVE to check out this course, and why not have a look at the other 70 plus modules we have on offer.

If you’ve got any questions about eLearning, please email: organisational.development@moray.gov.uk.

MANAGERS FORUM

Save the Date - The next Managers Forum is planned for Thursday 28th September at 2pm. The topic is still to be confirmed but will be advertised shortly.

In preparation for future sessions, we would love to hear what topics you would like to be discussed and if there are any managers interested in hosting this session?

Are there any emerging themes you would like to explore or do you have any examples of good practice you would like to share? All suggestions are appreciated.

Remember, although facilitated by the OD team, the topics and direction of the forum are led by forum members.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future sessions please contact glen.dunn@moray.gov.uk.

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

Are your retirement savings on track? Do you know how much income your pension savings may provide? And have you thought about how much income you might need when you retire?

Financial education specialists ‘Affinity Connect’ would like to personally invite you to attend an interactive full day course around the key aspects of planning for a financially secure future.

Retirement might be up to 10 years away but it’s never too soon to start planning. This course is perfect for anyone thinking about retirement or already at the planning stages.

During the course you’ll learn how to:

• Help you plan for the lifestyle changes ahead
• Maximise the benefits of your State and workplace pensions
• Make the most of your tax-free cash
• Understand the income options available from your pension
• Achieve your retirement goals

CORPORATE TRAINING CALENDAR

The Corporate Training Calendar hosts a variety of options for development. These courses are bookable via CLIVE.

Should you have any queries or need help with a booking please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

The latest edition of the Scottish Military Community Update has been published on Interchange: Latest Updates

This month there is information on HM Armed Forces veterans’ cards roll out, a new Unforgotten Forces directory, new initiative with people with sight loss, Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Scotland information event (HIGHLANDS), as well as Age Scotland free workshops, plus much more!

EMPLOYER RECOGNITION SCHEME – GOLD AWARD

Proudly supporting the Armed Forces Covenant, Moray Council has reached the gold standard in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2023.

The scheme encourages employers to support serving and retired armed forces personnel and inspire others to do the same. The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

The scheme consists of bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant. We are delighted to be awarded the Gold Award.

The award demonstrates that Moray Council recognises the value of service personnel, Veterans and military families.

We offer support to its our workforce with ties to the Armed Forces community with a dedicated hub on our Interchange page for the Scottish Military Community and Veterans with updates from Age Scotland as well as hosting reservist recruitment events. The council has also demonstrated to the Ministry of Defence that service personnel and the Armed Forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged during recruitment and selection processes and we regularly attend recruitment events hosted by the Armed Forces.

TIME FOR TALKING

If you feel that you need someone to talk to or need a bit of extra support, either via private individual counselling, couples counselling, family & parent support, or relationship mediation, then Time for Talking may be able to help.

Time for Talking (TfT) the Councils Employee Assistance Provider, can offer counselling services for adults, families and children, for a wide range of issues.

They offer a number of resources, from blogs and podcasts to videos, planners and online information on their website.

You can contact them 365 days a year, via their website www.timefortalking.co.uk, by phone on 0800 970 3980, by app (downloaded from the app store or google play) or chat online to a counsellor through their Live Chat using the password TfTnow

All chats are totally confidential, people don’t need to give their name or email address unless they want to.

More information can be found at Time for Talking

TfT produce monthly newsletters, read the September issue here - September Newsletter

THINK! TRAVEL LIKE YOU KNOW THEM

This month sees us remind colleagues, family and friends about the new highway code rules and about the vulnerability of certain road users and why they need particular consideration. All road users need to better understand each other and encourage positive behaviours. This will ultimately build a more positive and mutually considerate experience that is safer for everyone.

Those of us that can cause the greatest harm, drivers of lorries, vans, cars, motorcycles, etc, have the greatest responsibility to reduce the risk we may pose to others.

People don’t see people on the roads, they see the vehicles. But inside or on every one of them is a person –it could be your brother, your mum or your mate.

It’s a little over a year since the changes were made to The Highway Code to help improve road safety for people walking, cycling and horse riding. Hopefully in the time since the introduction, we have all made ourselves familiar with the new rules and follow them when required.

Just in case you need a wee reminder, here’s the main points again:

The Hierarchy of Road Users – Perhaps the biggest sweeping change to the revamped Code - with cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders among those being defined as the most vulnerable and children, older adults or disabled people described as those more 'at risk' of serious injury.

Cyclist Positioning – Cyclists are encouraged to ride in the centre of the lane or two abreast in certain situations, whilst allowing others to overtake when it is safe for them to do so.

When travelling at up to 30mph, leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking people cycling, and give people more space at higher speeds.

Junctions - People crossing, waiting to cross or cycling straight ahead have priority at junctions.

Overtaking Horses - Pass horse riders at under 10mph, with at least 2 metres of space.

Passing Pedestrians - Allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing people walking on the road.

Dutch Reach - If they’re able to, vehicle users should open their door with the hand furthest from the door so they can see people walking or cycling behind them.

Stay updated and follow the link for more information at “Think – Travel Like You Know Them” and Drivers Handbook

M365 UPDATE

Exchange Online (Email)

The M365 Team are approaching the final stages of the testing and the roll out schedule for migrating everyone’s mailbox to Exchange Online. Further guidance on how you can prepare for your migration and what you can expect will be provided before the actual migration takes place. So, keep your eyes peeled for further information when it’s your turn.

Additional benefits after migration will include (but not limited to):

• Calendar available in Teams
• Tasks by Planner and To Do

Office 365

We are also in the final stages of testing Office 365 applications (Word/Excel/Outlook/etc.) and plan to roll this out once your mailbox has been migrated.

As part of the move to Office 365 you will have access to additional facilities such as One Drive and in turn this will enable the use of Whiteboards in Teams.

As with Exchange there will be further guidance and extra information provided closer to the roll out.

HSCM Federation

Moray Council, NHS Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council are currently working together to allow greater sharing and collaboration when working together in M365.

The first phase is to allow the sharing of free/busy availability between our colleagues in NHS Grampian (and the wider NHS Scotland body) and Aberdeen City / Aberdeenshire Councils. External organisations will only be allowed to see free/busy at this phase. Work is progressing well and we are preparing to complete testing and sign off with NHS Scotland and our local authority neighbours. We will update you as soon as this work has been completed.

STAR AWARDS ARE COMING SOON!!

We are pleased to announce the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Awards 2023 are opening up for nominations later in the summer. They celebrate the achievements of employees as nominated by their colleagues/managers, following on from the success of the STAR award scheme last year and for many years before that.

STAR Awards 2023 schedule

POLICY UPDATES

Two policies have recently been approved at Corporate Committee, the Menopause Policy and Safe Driving Policy.

The Menopause Policy was created to provide guidance and support to managers and employees with menopause issues as well as signposting to other organisations that can also give support and information. The menopause is a natural stage of life and it is acknowledged that for some people the symptoms of menopause can have a big impact on their daily lives. This in turn can have an impact on an employee’s ability to perform and maintain attendance at work.

The Menopause Policy is now available on Interchange and will shortly be joined by the Menopause Managers Guidance and Menopause eLearning being released at the end of June.

The Safe Driving Policy defines Moray Council’s policy on driving for work, and promotes a safe driving culture by ensuring that all employees or any other person or persons driving on behalf of Moray Council do so in a safe, reliable and responsible manner. It applies to operations that involve Moray Council vehicles, the employee's personal vehicle, hired or contracted vehicles when driving for works purposes. – WILL ADD LINK WHEN POLICY IS SET UP ON INTERCHANGE

The Safe Driving Handbook has been written to support the requirements of driving within a council job role, for new and existing employees. Whilst existing employees will already be aware of the information they require for driving as part of their job the handbook is a useful resource available to all, particularly new starts, to visit and revisit the principles around driving within a council job role. – WILL ADD LINK WHEN HANDBOOK IS AVAILABLE

ERDP’s

If you haven’t yet commenced your Employee Review and Development Process (ERDP) discussions for 2023/24, please remember to schedule them for your teams. ERDP’s are an important opportunity to pause and both reflect back over the last year, and to look forwards to what is coming in the months ahead. An ERDP complements regularly performance review through supervision, workload meetings and just checking in with your teams.

SMARTER WORKING UPDATE

We’ve now nearly completed the Smarter Working engagement workshops with those managers that fall into phase 2 & 3 of the roll out of this project. We would also like to let you know that the following rooms have hybrid meeting equipment installed in them:

• Meeting rooms 4, 5, and 7 in the annexe, and
• Room 200a, 236, 239, and 301a in HQ.

If you have any questions regarding the Smarter Working project please email SWDG@moray.gov.uk

REQUIREMENT TO COMPLETE D906

As you know, driving is an essential part of many of our jobs, and it’s important that we have the necessary documentation to do so legally. Employees have set responsibilities and as a manager, you have additional responsibilities. It is already a requirement for you to carry out spot checks to ensure that those driving on Council business have:

• Valid tax and MOT certificate
• Valid driving licence
• Appropriate insurance for business cover

Additional requirement:

• Completion of D906 form

We have recently introduced the requirement for all employees driving on Council business, to complete a D906 form.

Managers are responsible for ensuring that employees driving on council business hold a valid driving licence. In order to minimise risk and protect the council’s operating licence, the D906 form will automatically provide us with information from the DVLA about our employees’ driving licence and any medical conditions that may affect their ability to drive safely and notify us of any changes.

As a manager, you are expected to play a key role in supporting the completion of this form. The next time your employee submits a claim for travel, stop and ask yourself if they have completed a D906. If they haven’t, you should not approve their mileage claim form until it has been completed. If you are unsure, please contact fleetservices@moray.gov.uk

Completing this form is an essential requirement for driving at work, helping to minimise risk and to ensure that all of our employees are driving safely and responsibly on the job.

More information about your responsibilities can be found here.

MILEAGE CLAIM FORMS UPDATE

Please be advised that the P57 Moray Council Standard Mileage & Other Expenses claim form has been updated and a new version of the form can be found on the Interchange at the following link: http://interchange.moray.gov.uk/int_standard/Page_110741.html

• There is an excel version for electronic use and a pdf version for printing and completing manually.
• The Completion Guide has also been updated to reflect the new form.
• The ‘Claimant Statement’ has been updated and employees should read and acknowledge that they are complying with the points in the statement.
• All fields on the form should be completed as appropriate.
• If the employee uses a new vehicle then the vehicle MUST be ADDED to Employee Self-Service (ESS) before the employee submits the claim for payment.
• Employees should start using this new form for all claims from July 2023 onwards. Any old forms received will be returned and may miss the payment deadline.

CAREER READY – YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

Career Ready, a programme designed to connect disadvantaged young people with the world of work, unlock their potential and level the playing field, is looking for volunteers.

Moray Council have been supporting this wonderful programme since 2014 by creating opportunities for interested staff to volunteer as a mentor.

Becoming a Career Ready mentor is a fun, flexible way to inspire a young person, unlock their true potential, and guide them through the early stages of their career journey. There is no denying that being a mentor is a commitment. It requires monthly contact (about an hour a month) with the young person over the 18 months and the support of a 4-week summer internship but the benefits are clear:

• 91% of students say Career Ready raised their career aspirations
• 87% of alumni said Career Ready had a positive impact on their life
• 89% of mentors report their mentoring and coaching skills as excellent or good at the end of the programme, compared to 40% at the start
• 98% of Career Ready students’ progress onto positive destinations in education or employment

We ask that anyone interested in becoming a mentor, contact us so that we can begin to fulfil our commitment to the next programme which is due to start in October.

For further information please contact: organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

What’s Live on CLIVE?

Looking for guidance on how to take minutes during a meeting, or just to refresh your skills? Then why not check out our newest courses ‘Take a Minute’ and Responding to Challenging Behaviour.

Take a Minute will take you through the skills that you need to practice for taking minutes, what they’re used for, the types of minutes you take, and why it’s important to have minutes.

This new course can be found under the CPD tab.

Responding to Challenging Behaviour has been designed to support all customer facing staff and aims to provide them with an appropriate level of knowledge and skills in relation to responding to any incidents of violence and aggression in the workplace. And, although these incidents are rare it is important that we can respond appropriately should a challenging situation arise, understand the importance of reporting the incident and what support is available.

This module can be found under the Health & Safety tab.

Login to CLIVE to check out these courses, and why not have a look at the other 70 plus modules we have on offer.

If you’ve got any questions about eLearning please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk.

MANAGERS FORUM

Save the Date - The next Managers Forum is planned for Thursday 27th July at 2pm. The topic is still to be confirmed but will be advertised shortly.

In preparation for future sessions, we would love to hear what topics you would like to be discussed and if there are any managers interested in hosting this session?

Are there any emerging themes you would like to explore or do you have any examples of good practice you would like to share? All suggestions are appreciated.

Remember, although facilitated by the OD team, the topics and direction of the forum are led by forum members.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future sessions please contact glen.dunn@moray.gov.uk.

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

Are your retirement savings on track? Do you know how much income your pension savings may provide? And have you thought about how much income you might need when you retire?

Financial education specialists ‘Affinity Connect’ would like to personally invite you to attend an interactive full day course around the key aspects of planning for a financially secure future.

Retirement might be up to 10 years away but it’s never too soon to start planning. This course is perfect for anyone thinking about retirement or already at the planning stages.

During the course you’ll learn how to:

• Help you plan for the lifestyle changes ahead
• Maximise the benefits of your State and workplace pensions
• Make the most of your tax-free cash
• Understand the income options available from your pension
• Achieve your retirement goals

You can find more information on how to join a course here - Planning for the Future

CORPORATE TRAINING CALENDAR INCLUDING FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND TRAINING

The Corporate Training Calendar hosts a variety of options for development. These courses are bookable via CLIVE. The Flexible Working Development Fund training is also available via the Corporate Training Calendar.

Should you have any queries or need help with a booking please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

The latest edition of the Scottish Military Community Update has been published on Interchange: Latest Updates

This month there is information on unclaimed service pensions, health and well-being in later life resource launched, council tax reductions, as well as the Unforgotten Forces Summer Gathering and much more!

TIME FOR TALKING

If you feel that you need someone to talk to or need a bit of extra support, either via private individual counselling, couples counselling, family & parent support, or relationship mediation, then Time for Talking may be able to help.

Time for Talking (TfT) the Councils Employee Assistance Provider, can offer counselling services for adults, families and children, for a wide range of issues.

They offer a number of resources, from blogs and podcasts to videos, planners and online information on their website.

You can contact them 365 days a year, via their website www.timefortalking.co.uk, by phone on 0800 970 3980, by app (downloaded from the app store or google play) or chat online to a counsellor through their Live Chat using the password TfTnow

All chats are totally confidential, people don’t need to give their name or email address unless they want to.

More information can be found at Time for Talking

SPRING HOLIDAY – MANAGEMENT COVER ARRANGEMENTS

The spring holiday period is nearly upon us and as Managers you will be busy making sure that services still operating during the holiday are appropriately covered, to ensure smooth delivery for our customers and service users.

This is just a reminder to make sure that the appropriate management cover arrangements are also in place and have been notified to those colleagues working over the spring holiday period to ensure that they feel appropriately supported and know who to turn to should a situation arise.

KINGS CORONATION

As you will be aware we have an extra day of annual leave for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. The coronation takes place on Saturday 6 May and the council has allocated Monday 8 May as an additional days leave.

The council will operate essential services only on 8 May 2023. This means that all schools, early learning settings, sport and leisure facilities and libraries will be closed. Other essential services will operate on a reduced capacity basis, to be confirmed in advance.

Those staff unable to take it on this day because they do not work that day or for service reasons, are able to take the extra day annual leave at another time. Those who for service reasons have to work on this day will receive their normal salary for this day; no enhancements are payable as this is an additional day’s leave and not a designated public holiday.

Managers should confirm which staff are due to work on Monday 8 May, please speak with them in the first instance if there are any issues. The extra day of holiday will be added to timesheets with no adjustment required from staff.

PAYROLL – EMERGENCY PAYMENTS

Due to new HMRC rules, the council has less flexibility to make emergency payments out with the normal salary payment date and most adjustments will now have to wait until the next pay date for discrepancies to be corrected.

It is therefore very important that services ensure accurate information is passed to HR and Payroll in the set timescales. Furthermore, it is vital that employees check their payslips before the pay date and contact Payroll so that updates can be made before pay date.

CAREER READY – WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Career Ready, a programme designed to connect disadvantaged young people with the world of work, unlock their potential and level the playing field, is looking for volunteers.

We have been supporting this wonderful programme since 2014 by creating opportunities for interested staff to volunteer as a mentor.

Becoming a Career Ready mentor is a fun, flexible way to inspire a young person, unlock their true potential, and guide them through the early stages of their career journey. There is no denying that being a mentor is a commitment. It requires monthly contact (about an hour a month) with the young person over the 2 years and the support of a 4-week summer internship.

We ask that anyone interested in becoming a mentor, contact us so that we can begin to fulfil our commitment to the next programme which starts later this year.

For further information please contact: organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

FIRST AIDERS - HQ AND ANNEXE CAMPUS

Updated lists of First Aiders have now been distributed across the HQ and Annexe campus. Please throw away any copies of old lists held in departments and refer to the updated lists when required. Any queries on this should be directed to Health and Safety - safetyadviser@moray.gov.uk

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (OH) REPORTS

Managers are reminded that when they receive a copy of their employee’s OH report from HR Admin, it is their responsibility to ensure that the employee receives a copy as soon as possible.

Managers should be arranging Formal Absence Review meetings with their employee to discuss the contents of the OH report.

Where managers require guidance on next steps, reasonable adjustments or have concerns about the contents of reports, these should be discussed with your designated HR Adviser.

WORKLOAD TOOLKIT PILOT

Workload management is a continuing challenge. To support and address this, a workload management toolkit has been developed that can support managing workload across all service areas.

The toolkit provides ways to plan how to manage and improve workloads, from discovery to identification, through to changes that could be required and potential ways to monitor improvements. A pilot is coming to a close and we look forward to being able to share this corporate ‘tool’ once the evaluation has been complete. Further information will follow however if anyone wishes to find out more about the tool sooner please contact organisational development on organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

What’s Live on CLIVE?

Are you about to undertake a new project? Then why not check out our Benefits Mapping course on CLIVE. This short module will introduce you to what Benefits Mapping is, help you think about why you’re undertaking the project, what you expect to achieve, and what challenges you may face.

You’ll also be able to generate an action plan to help deal with this issue. An Introduction to Benefits Mapping can be found under the Course for Managers tab.

Coming to a screen near you in early 2023:

• Climate Change Agenda

Login to CLIVE to check out just this course, and why not have a look at the other 70 plus modules we have on offer.

If you’ve got any questions about eLearning please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk.

MANAGERS FORUM

The Managers Forum continues to be an opportunity for managers to meet, discuss and share best practise. During last year’s sessions we have explored a huge variety of topics ranging from supporting mental health, responding to the climate crisis through to printer procurement.

In February, managers got together to discuss the Smarter Working Project. The next Managers Forum is planned for Thursday 30th March at 2pm. This session will provide an opportunity to explore the practical applications of Climate Change and what managers can do to support the strategy.

We would love to hear what topics you would like to be discussed at these or future sessions and if there are any managers interested in hosting a session.

Remember, although facilitated by the OD team, the topics and direction of the forum are led by the forum members.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for future sessions or you would like to host a session please contact glen.dunn@moray.gov.uk to discuss.

CYCLE TO WORK

The Cycle to Work scheme will be returning for 2023, dates to be announced but expected in late spring/early summer.

The salary sacrifice scheme offers an opportunity for all employees to hire a bike (manual or electric) and/or accessories over a 12 month period, with the option of purchasing the bike at the end of the 12 month hire period by either taking out an extended hire agreement at no additional cost or returning the bike. To qualify for the scheme the bike should be utilised for 50% of travel to your work place. This is a hire agreement so please ensure you fully read all the terms and conditions surrounding the scheme.

So if you or your team fancy a new bike, get window shopping now!

Further details will be communicated in Connect and on Interchange soon.

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

Are your retirement savings on track? Do you know how much income your pension savings may provide? And have you thought about how much income you might need when you retire?

Financial education specialists ‘Affinity Connect’ would like to personally invite you to attend an interactive full day course around the key aspects of planning for a financially secure future.

Retirement might be up to 10 years away but it’s never too soon to start planning. This course is perfect for anyone thinking about retirement or already at the planning stages.

During the course you’ll learn how to:

• Help you plan for the lifestyle changes ahead
• Maximise the benefits of your State and workplace pensions
• Make the most of your tax-free cash
• Understand the income options available from your pension
• Achieve your retirement goals

You can find more information on how to join a course here - Planning for the Future

FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND

Training delivered via Moray College will be available late summer.

Further information will be communicated nearer the time.

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

The latest edition of the Scottish Military Community Update has been published on Interchange: Latest Updates

This month there is information on grants and funding, changes to the benefit system, networking events for the North of Scotland, dementia workshops, plus much more!

Plus we have a new addition to the page, with information on the three Cadet Forces in Moray.

RAF BENEVOLENT FUND

The RAF Benevolent Fund aims to help many RAF Veterans and serving families in Moray. They are offering grants to help cover home fuel costs, you can apply for financial assistance for debts, and as well as financial support, they also offer support for general welfare, independent living, family & relationships, mental & emotional wellbeing and friendship & connections. More information on these can be found below.

Link for professionals to refer RAF Veterans or Serving direct to the Fund for any of the services we provide. https://www.rafbf.org/request-our-help-form

Link for clients to apply direct for and financial funding that is less that £750.00 https://www.rafbf.org/apply-for-financial-help

Link with some information about the fuel grant. https://www.cobseo.org.uk/raf-benevolent-fund-offers-grants-to-cover-home-fuel-costs/#:~:text=RAF%20Benevolent%20Fund%20offers%20grants%20to%20cover%20home,costs%20amidst%20the%20current%20cost%20of%20living%20crisis

Please feel free to forward this information to any of your staff who may find it useful.

TIME FOR TALKING

The winter blues are very common, with many of us experiencing a mood shift during the colder, darker days before the warmer, lighter days of spring appear. During these times, we may need a bit of extra support, guidance or advice. We may look to family, friends or colleagues for this, but there could be times when someone independent or professional is preferred.

Time for Talking (TfT) the Councils Employee Assistance Provider, can assist with those over whelming moments, just by listening or offering advice without judgement.

They offer a number of resources, from blogs and podcasts to videos, planners and online information on their website.

You can contact them 365 days a year, via their website www.timefortalking.co.uk, by phone on 0800 970 3980, by app (downloaded from the app store or google play) or chat online to a counsellor through their Live Chat using the password TfTnow

All chats are totally confidential, people don’t need to give their name or email address unless they want to.

More information can be found at Time for Talking

SMARTER WORKING

The Smarter Working project continues to gain momentum, phase one of the project includes staff based at HQ, Annexe and North Guildry Street. Engagement Workshops for managers in scope have been held throughout February and March. Following these workshops, managers have been asked to discuss and engage with their teams regards their working arrangements, ensuring that 1:1 discussions and team sessions are held that will help inform and shape how services embed smarter working in these areas.

ACCESS TO WORK

A grant from Access to Work may be available if you or a member of your team need practical support to help with a disability or health condition.

Access to Work can support you to:

• hire disabled people who have the skills you need
• retain an employee who develops a disability or long-term condition (keeping their valuable
  skills and saving both time and money recruiting a replacement)
• demonstrate that you value and will support your employees

If your staff member has a mental health condition, they will be offered assistance to develop a support plan. This may include steps to support them remaining in, or returning to, work and suggestions for reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

Applications can be made online which makes applying quick and easy.

SUPPORT WITH EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND DISABILITY

The government is building and testing a new online service providing advice and guidance to employers on managing health and disability in the workplace. We are supporting the development of this service through testing. By taking part, you’ll receive free information on disability and health-related employment issues. Any feedback would be gratefully received - it will make a real difference in the development of the new service.

Go to the test site Support with Employee Health and Disability to find out more and make your voice heard.

HEALTH ADJUSTMENT PASSPORT

The Health Adjustment Passport is a form which enables individuals to identify the support and changes (known as reasonable adjustments) they might need when they are ready to move closer to, or move into employment, or just stay in work. The document is owned by the individual and completion is voluntary.

The Health Adjustment Passport aims to improve employers’ confidence and awareness of the types of adjustments and support available, for any disability or health condition. It can act as a tool to help you support individuals with disabilities or health conditions by improving your understanding of any reasonable adjustments the individual may need in work.

THE DANGERS OF LITHIUM BATTERIES

The range of products and types of equipment containing lithium-Ion batteries increases by the day. Everything from mobile phones, tablets, laptops, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-cigarettes, powertools and even musical birthday cards contain them.

With the numbers of lithium-Ion battery fires on the increase, it is important to know and understand the dangers associated with them and what we can do to reduce that risk.

Due to the chemical composition of the batteries, fires start with a process called thermal runaway. This can be caused by a number of things including damage, overcharging, overheating or short-circuit. The resultant chemical reaction produces chemical gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and methane and heat which very quickly leads to rapid development of fire and explosion.

Mitigating the risks of battery fires

Preventative measures:

• Treat lithium-ion batteries and the devices which contain them, with the respect they deserve. Protect the batteries against being damaged through crushing, puncturing or immersion in water as this increases the risk of fire.
• Always use the charger that came with your device. If you need to buy a replacement, choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. Don’t buy cheap foreign imports.
• Avoid storing, using, or charging lithium-ion batteries at very high or very low temperatures.
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete, e.g., don’t leave your devices plugged in overnight.
• Battery experts recommend that a good charging range is from 20% up to 80% and then recharge from 20% back to 80%. Lithium-ion batteries don’t perform well when they are constantly charged from 1-2% up to 100% and back again.
• Never charge a device such as a mobile phone under items such as pillows. Lithium-ion batteries need to be kept within a good temperature range, with good circulation of air around them. Always charge them on a hard surface.
• When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium-ion batteries together, especially on a plane.
• Avoid fast charging an aged or low-performing battery.

Containment measures:

• Stop using the battery and/or charger if the temperature of either (or both) rises more than 10ºC (18ºF) on a regular charge.
• If a Lithium-ion battery overheats, hisses, or bulges, immediately move the device with the battery away from flammable materials and place it on a non-combustible surface. If at all possible, put the battery safely outdoors to burn out.

How should Lithium-Ion batteries be recycled?

Lithium-Ion batteries should be recycled at the end of their working life rather than being sent to landfill, in order to protect the environment. Waste batteries should be stored safely outside a premises and protected from the effects of the weather while awaiting disposal by a specialist contractor or the supplier.

The terminals of waste batteries should be protected to prevent shorting between batteries.

However, lithium-ion batteries that have been damaged should not be disposed of in either general waste or in recycling containers. Damaged batteries should be removed from the premises and placed in a location well away from combustible materials.

This can be a significant problem in the waste industry as batteries mixed through other combustible materials can be crushed resulting in self combustion and fire within the refuse vehicle or at the waste site.

Lithium-ion battery fire video