FESTIVE PERIOD – MANAGEMENT COVER ARRANGEMENTS

The festive period is nearly upon us and as Managers you will be busy making sure that services still operating during the holidays 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 festive period to ensure that they feel appropriately supported and know who to turn to should a situation arise.

The wider seasonal arrangements for service delivery is currently being advertised on the Interchange.

SJC STAFF – ADDITIONAL DAYS LEAVE AS PART OF 2022 PAY AWARD

As part of the 2022 annual pay award, SJC staff have been given an additional days’ annual leave – pro rata for part-time staff.

From January 2023, SJC staff who are on 52 weeks contract will have the additional day/hours added to their leave cards.  Term time staff will have the hours added to their salary calculation.

For 2022, staff have been given the option, where possible, to take the day in this current leave year or to carry it over into 2023.  Full-time employees who joined Moray Council from May onwards will receive a pro-rata of 1 day as per the table below.

Term-time staff will receive a pro-rata of 1 day in accordance with their contracted hours as follows:

7.25 / 52 x 44.87 (less than 5 years’ service) or 45.88 (more than 5 years’ service) / 36.25 or 37 depending on contract x by no of working hours per week

E.g. PSA with less than 5 years’ service working 15 hours per week 7.25 / 52 x 44.87 / 37 x 15 = 2.53 = 2 hrs 32 minutes

EMPLOYEE CONFERENCE

The first Employee Conference since 2019 went well with employees attending the event at Elgin Town Hall and taking part in a range of activities.  Feedback is being collected from employees which will enable us to consider what would work well for next year.  If you or your team have any feedback regarding the conference please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

CAREER READY

With the dedication and support of our wonderful mentors we are very pleased to announce we have been able to provide five Moray students with a place on the Career Ready Programme.

The programme is full swing, with students having regular meetings with their mentors, creating and reviewing their CVs and publishing their first LinkedIn profile – a chance to celebrate their strengths and reflect on how far they have come since starting Career Ready.  

The students have also attended a number of Master Classes delivered by Career Ready which are designed to both support and challenge the students as they continue on the Career Ready journey. The most recent being Masterclass 5 ‘Success at Interviews and Assessment Centres’.

Moray Council continues to partner with Career Ready to offer these amazing opportunities to students in Moray and we ask that anyone interested in mentoring to contact organisational.development@moray.gov.uk so that we continue to fulfil our commitment of mentors for the 2023 programme.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING PULSE SURVEY 2022

Following on from last year’s mental health and wellbeing survey, Moray Council undertook an organisation-wide PULSE survey of employees’ mental health & wellbeing. The survey was launched in the summer 2022. The purpose of the survey was to check in with employees and to see how they are feeling now as we continue to recover from the pandemic. The results from the survey will help us ensure that we continue to focus our efforts in the right direction.

Thank you to everyone who responded, sharing your views allowed us to obtain a more accurate understanding of how people feel and are coping.

The results have been analysed and the results can be found here: 2022 Mental health and wellbeing survey – Headlines  

The results have already been reported to Committee and are being shared with managers at all levels to identify if any future actions need to be taken to build on our successes and deliver improvements. 

THE WINNERS OF THE STAR AWARDS 2022

STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Awards formally recognise the outstanding contributions of our colleagues.

Thank you for voting for this year’s colleague’s choice award.

The Star Awards ceremony was held in conjunction with the Council’s presentation of Long Service Certificates, allowing the Council to recognise both long term commitment to the Council and achievement of success in other areas at Elgin Academy on the 9th December.

The overall winner of the employee recognition scheme, the Chief Executive’s Award for Excellence, as well as the winner of the Chief Executive Special Commendation Award and the Colleague’s Choice Award were announced as part of the ceremony presentation, more information on the winner can be found here: Star Awards

WORKLOAD TOOLKIT PILOT

Across the council, it is recognised that workload management is a continuing challenge with recent employee surveys having highlighted this as a concern across the workforce. To support and address this concern, a workload management toolkit has been developed that can support managing workload across all service areas, with a recognition that the tools need to be able to support a range of different workforce groups.

The toolkit provides ways to develop a strategy on how to manage and improve workloads within the workplace, from discovery to identification, through to changes that could be required and potential ways to monitor improvements. The pilot is currently running in various services and we look forward to being able to share this corporate ‘tool’ next year. Further information will follow in March’s edition of the HR Bulletin.

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

What’s Live on CLIVE?

In the last HR Bulletin we said that we would shortly be launching a course on social media, and I’m happy to say that this course is now live on CLIVE, and can be found under the CPD tab.

We’ve also just released a series of modules looking at Safe People Handling in the workplace, this is aimed at all staff that are involved in caring for people who need support to move and get around.

Coming to a screen near you in early 2023:

• Climate Change Agenda
• M365 – Recording Meetings

If you have any issues with your CLIVE account, or have any questions in regard to eLearning, then 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 this 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.

During January, Managers will be invited to complete a short survey so that we can better understand the impact of the session and how we can make them even better for 2023.

The next Managers Forums is planned for Thursday 22nd January at 2pm.  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.If you have any queries or would like to book onto any of these courses please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

2023 Courses will be announced shortly.  Please watch out for dates in Connect magazine and the next HR Bulletin.

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

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

This month’s edition has information on Unforgotten Forces new charity partner Fighting With Pride, Poppyscotland Cost of Living Grants Programme, Scottish Governments new website to give information on help to relieve the cost of living crisis, and Age Scotland offering free online energy workshops, plus more!

TIME FOR TALKING

Christmas can be a painful and lonely time for some people, if you or your team need support over the Christmas period please contact Time for Talking (the Councils Employee Assistance Provider) who are open 365 days a year for any support that may be required.

You can access their support by phone (0800 970 3980), email, live chat on their website (www.timefortalking.co.uk – password TfTnow), or via their app.

More information can be found at Time for Talking

LONE WORKING POLICY AND GUIDANCE REVIEW

Following a review of lone working practices within the Council, a comprehensive audit was undertaken to determine the relative position of the Council as a whole as to the level of compliance and to the ongoing suitability of the lone working policy. While the original policy was generally structurally sound and legally compliant, it did require refreshing and updating in order to improve the effectiveness of its implementation, and to adequately reflect the diverse range of services and working environments encountered by council staff.

As part of the process, a Survey Monkey was generated and distributed to the various services within the Council to help determine the level of knowledge and understanding around the lone working issue and to gauge the level of policy implementation and risk control in the various environments. Specific areas considered within the survey included Awareness of corporate policy, risk assessments, training, procedures, incident reporting, etc. The survey was well received and saw a good level of engagement by service managers. The information gathered helped further identify the areas requiring particular attention for improvement. 

A Lone Working Guidance document has also been produced to assist service managers in implementing the policy and navigating the specific issues relating to lone working. While the guidance is generic, it highlights the key points for consideration and provides a basis for the production of a suitable safe system of work.

Work required within services

It is the responsibility of each Head of Service to review their operational practices and protocols while giving full consideration to the revised policy and guidance.

Implementation must be with the full involvement of all staff affected by lone working to ensure all lone workers are correctly identified, and suitable and sufficient risk assessments are produced.

Robust systems must be put in place for the control of risk to employees from lone working including the adequate training of staff and the provision of emergency arrangements where necessary.

Further help and guidance will be available to managers from the Corporate Health and Safety Team.

You can find further information here: H&S Procedures and here: H&S Guidance

JOINT INSPECTION PROGRAMME

Following the adoption of The Health and Safety Partnership Agreement for the period 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2025 at the Central Health and Safety Committee meeting in November 2021 it was agreed that a programme of joint inspections would be developed and implemented across Council services.

A working group consisting of trades union representatives and H&S have developed guidance which details what the joint inspection programme will entail and how the programme will be implemented at service level. Consultation has also taken place with the management representatives of the Departmental Health and Safety Committees.

Two lists of Council premises have been drawn up, one for schools and one for other premises (depots, yards, offices etc.). The lists have been organised in terms of risk with those deemed to be higher risk premises receiving priority.

Agreement has been reached around the forms to be used to capture data during an inspection and the report form to be used to highlight any issues which arise during the inspection. These templates will be sent out with the guidance.

The actual dates of inspection, which premises and who attends specifically will be worked out within the service concerned and agreed through the Departmental Health and Safety Committees

A number of non-school premises have already been inspected as part of the programme and the schools inspection programme is expected to commence shortly.
Heads of service are required to include the Joint Inspection programme as a standing item in Departmental Health and Safety Committee meetings going forward as this has been agreed to be the most appropriate forum to discuss and agree priorities, timescales and resources.

Any issues that cannot be resolved at service level are escalated to the Central H&S committee where required.

If you require any further information or wish to discuss any aspect of the programme please contact SafetyAdviser@moray.gov.uk
 

The guidance and forms can be found here: H&S Guidance and H&S Forms

CAREER READY

Career Ready is a social mobility programme designed to “connect disadvantaged young people with the world of work, unlocking their potential and levelling the playing field.”

Moray Council, in partnership with Career Ready, provide students in S5/6 with a structured, impactful, two-year programme which empowers, boosts social capital and develops work skills.

With a mentor from the world of work, a four-week paid internship within Moray Council, and a series of skills masterclasses, young people leave the programme more confident, knowledgeable, and ready to follow their identified career path.

So a key part of the success of this programme is the amazing support offered by our workplace mentors. And, we are now seeking interest from any employees that would like to join the programme as a mentor.

This opportunity is not just for managers, if you can speak with your staff and discuss if anyone feels that they would be a great mentor. We require interest from any potential mentors to contact us via organisational.development@moray.gov.uk so that we can continue to fulfil our commitment for this programme.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING PULSE SURVEY 2022

You will remember we conducted a Mental Health and Wellbeing survey last summer and the results have been shared with service management teams and are also available on the Interchange.

In order to follow up on this we have now launched a Pulse Survey which is live now. This short survey that will only take a couple of minutes to complete. Please encourage staff to participate before it closes on 1 July.

We have launched this short pulse survey to act as a temperature check to allow us to assess how staff are coping and feeling now as we continue to recover from the pandemic. The responses will be used to assess that the priorities identified from the 2021 survey remain the same and ensuring that we are focussing on the right priorities. Results from this survey will be shared as soon as they are available.

CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME

This year’s scheme is now open and is due to close on 1st July 2022. 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, 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.

Further details can be found here: http://interchange.moray.gov.uk/int_standard/Page_142301.html

MANAGERS FORUM

The next Managers Forum is planned for Thursday 28th of July at 2pm. An invitation will be sent closer to the date to confirm the details.

In this session, we will be focussing on the implications of the rising cost of living and how people are managing, what advice and support would be beneficial?

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

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

STAR AWARDS ARE RETURNING!

We are pleased to announce the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Awards are coming back in summer 2022. They celebrate the achievements of employees as nominated by their colleagues/managers. The date is to be confirmed but watch out for updates shortly!

Following on from the success of the STAR award scheme in previous years, it will soon be time to open the nomination window for the 2022 STAR awards.

STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Awards formally recognise the outstanding contributions of our colleagues. The scheme will follow a similar format as previous years.

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

Affinity Connect are running pre-retirement courses to anyone considering retirement within the next 3 years. The courses will encourage a positive and realistic approach to a financially secure retirement and help employees make informed choices.

To book your place on an upcoming course please use the following links:

Online Course Booking System Link: https://affinityconnect.event-registration.co.uk/events/moray-council/pre-retirement/2-hour-30-minute-course-online

Face-to-Face Course Booking System Link: https://affinityconnect.event-registration.co.uk/events/moray-council/pre-retirement/1-day-course

For any additional information please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES AT MORAY CITIZENS ADVICE

Moray Citizens Advice are very keen to encourage new people to volunteer within the Bureau. Employees that are looking at retiring over the summer might like to consider volunteering?

Each year the bureau normally have 2 intakes of volunteers and run a formal 12 week training programme with them. Their next programme is due to start in Sept/October 2022. As well as face-to-face training and shadowing existing Advisers, Citizens Advice Scotland have built up an Adviser Training Programme with more than 30 on-line courses available on a range of advising topics such as CAB aims and principles, Benefits, Housing and Employment. An overview of the training is available here: https://rise.articulate.com/share/Reiy3LPjwxutgNsJReq9k1Gmb637s22L#/

It is recommended that Volunteers commit to 6 hours a week in the Bureau and this will be the minimum commitment for our new trainees. The first step in the process would be to come in and spend a morning in the Bureau shadowing our existing volunteers and getting to know the office.

To find out more information please contact Moray Citizens Advice on 01343 559004 or www.moraycab.org.uk.

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

The latest edition of the Scottish Military Community Update has been published on the Interchange: May 2022 Update

This month’s edition has information on the treatment of LGBT+ service personnel, free energy advice workshops and a new toolkit to help support wellbeing in communities as well as much more!

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

What’s live on CLIVE?

If you’ve not been on CLIVE lately, you might not have noticed some of the new courses that we’ve launched. In addition to all the existing content that’s already there, we’ve released the following courses:

• Fire Awareness – this module promotes fire safety awareness in the workplace. It can be found within the Essentials Category and we ask that all staff complete this module.
• DSE Awareness – A new eLearning module is available for staff who regularly use Display Screen Equipment as part of their role and will help you set up your workstation effectively and provide you with useful links to further information and useful contacts.
• Leadership: Leading in Complexity – Acknowledging the fact that the public authority is a complex system and that no one person has all the answers raises the question of how do you lead with this uncertainty and ambiguity. This module will explore the concept of system leadership and the skills that are required to lead successfully.
• An Introduction to the 3 Horizons Framework – the 3 Horizons Framework is a tool for looking at transformation and change in the workplace, it has also been referred to as a better way to disagree. This learning bite will introduce you to what it is, and how you could use it.
• Moray Council: Adult Support and Protection – module 1 – this introductory module will introduce you to what ASP is, and what your responsibilities are under this piece of legislation.
• Child Protection Level 1 Recognition and Response – We are delighted to announce that a new module on Child Protection is now available. We all have a role to play in ensuring that children and young people are protected. You are responsible even if your role means you have no or minimal contact with children or young people. This very important module is located within the Social Work & Social Care category of Clive. We ask that all staff, regardless of their role access this module.
• New Mandatory Complaints Handling module – The revised Model Complaint Handling procedure was introduced on 1 April 2021. It requires all staff to know what to do if a customer complains about poor service provision. This module has been prepared to help staff deal with reported complaints. A more detailed article on complaint handling will be published in a future Connect issue.

When it comes to keeping you training up-to-date, there are courses that you need to do on a regular bases, and one that you need to keep updated is data protection. To help with this we have a Data Protection Refresher course that you can complete, and you’ll be able to access it yearly to make sure that you knowledge and understanding is up to date.

Login to CLIVE to check out the new courses.

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

MERI SCHEME

Moray’s Employer Recruitment Incentive - Amy Cruickshank, the Opportunities For All Officer in the Economic Growth and Development Services, is leading on the Meri Incentive. The Moray Pathways partnership have received a funding boost from Scottish Government to support young people and adults into supportive work placements. This funding is to encourage employers to recruit people of all ages with the greatest barriers to employment get jobs and stay in jobs. The incentive is coordinated by the Local Employment Partnership, funded by the Scottish Government, and administered by the Moray Council.

Here is the link to provide information and guidance about Fund Criteria, Eligible Participants, Funding, How to Apply and Funding Conditions: https://moraypathways.co.uk/morays-employer-recruitment-incentive/

NEW CONTRACT INFORMATION

Work is under way on preparing the tender for a new contract for the council’s multi-functional devices for printing, scanning and copying.

Each year more than 14 million items are printed from within the council, and we know that the needs of our colleagues in accessing printing, scanning and copying has changed over the last few years due to the pandemic and flexible/remote working. We’re conscious too of the commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, and what this means for us printing more mindfully and taking the most sustainable approach.

There’s a working group which is reaching out across all services to get insights into what’s needed from our new contract, and we’re also asking colleagues to complete a survey via interchange so we can understand how people access printing, scanning and copying just now – and how those needs might change in the future. The survey will run from 4 – 22 July.

Please encourage your teams to complete this short survey. Interchange is available both inside and outside of the council’s computer network, so colleagues can access via their smartphone or tablet if they do not have access to a work computer but do require ad-hoc printing.

Hard copies can also be printed from: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BNL2G3Qand should be scanned and returned to: andy.donegan@moray.gov.uk by 25 July.

COVID UPDATE

Absence

The current arrangements for Covid related Special Leave will end on 1 July 2022. Currently, up to 10 days special leave is afforded if someone is unwell due to Covid-19 and unable to work as a result. With effect from 2 July 2022, normal sickness absence procedures and arrangements will apply for employees who are unwell and unable to work due to any reason, including Covid-19. There will no longer be separate arrangements in place where the reason for absence is Covid-19.

As a reminder, all non-health and social care staff should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as coronavirus and if they have a high temperature or if they do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities. See further Stay at Home guidance here. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19.

Health and social care workers should continue to follow the guidance issued to this sector. https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/publications/covid-19-information-and-guidance-for-social-community-and-residential-care-settings/covid-19-information-and-guidance-for-social-community-and-residential-care-settings-version-21.

Individual Risk Assessments

1. 1) Individual Covid 19 Occupational Risk Assessments: The use of the covid age tool and risk assessment guidance have been withdrawn from the Scottish Government webpage with the safer workplaces and public settings guidance having been updated. There is no longer a need for an individual Covid 19 Occupational Risk Assessment for those with, for example, underlying health conditions. The focus is on supportive discussions with those staff who may be anxious as far as the workplace is concerned. The link to the guidance is here.
2. 2) Pregnancy Risk Assessment: The separate, specific guidance that was in place for Covid 19 and pregnancy risk has been removed which means there is no longer a specific approach to managing a pregnant employee’s risk to Covid-19. However, the non-Covid-19 specific risk assessment process for pregnant staff should continue to be followed.
   https://secure.moray.gov.uk/interchange/secure/docs/pandplib/HS_Health%20and%20Safety/New%20and%20Expactant%20Mothers.docx
   https://secure.moray.gov.uk/interchange/secure/docs/file130800.doc

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

The official public holidays for the Council over the spring period are:-

• Friday 15th April
• Monday 2nd May
• Friday 3rd June (additional for Queens Platinum Jubilee)

If you are a 7 day service then as the manager you should confirm the allocated public holidays for your service to your teams.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING SURVEY

Following on from the Mental Health & Wellbeing Survey completed in July 2021, the results and recommendations for improvements have been analysed and the findings will be cascaded to you shortly. You should arrange to share and discuss the findings with your teams. An employee booklet will also be shared on the interchange so you should also make sure all line managers, supervisors and team leaders are briefed on this and that they alert their teams to lookout for forthcoming communications on this.

PLATINUM JUBILEE

To remind all managers, it is the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and to celebrate the council have given an additional day of annual leave fixed to 3 June 2022 (pro rata for part-time staff) to all staff in recognition of this significant occasion. All schools have also been approved to close on this date.

Those staff unable to take the leave on this date because they do not work that day, or for service reasons, will be able to take the extra day of annual leave at another time as agreed with their line manager.

STAR AWARDS ARE RETURNING!

The appreciation scheme was really successful in acknowledging and appreciating the scale of effort being made every day by everyone to keep services going and bring services back on board during the pandemic, in place of the STAR awards.

We are however pleased to announce the STAR (Special Thanks and Recognition) Awards are coming back in summer 2022. They celebrate the achievements of employees as nominated by their colleagues/managers. The date is to be confirmed but watch out for updates shortly!

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

2021 long service awards are in the process of being organised. There is a bit of a backlog to work through as we try to catch up on normal work however they will be distributed over the coming months.

PRE RETIREMENT COURSES

Affinity Connect are running pre-retirement courses to anyone considering retirement within the next 3 years. The courses will encourage a positive and realistic approach to a financially secure retirement and help employees make informed choices.

The booking process has changed for 2022 and there will now be an automated delegate registration system operated directly by Affinity, accessed by a link.

How it works - Employees register online via a bespoke link, they’ll receive a confirmation email and a reminder email one week before the course date. Employees can also opt to receive a text message reminder 24 hours before the course is due.

When courses are fully subscribed employees will be able to register on a waiting list and they’ll automatically be booked should a space become available. If there are no date’s available, employees will still be able to click on the link and register their interest for upcoming dates.

All employee information recorded is for course registration purposes only and will not be shared with any third parties or used for marketing purposes.

To book your place on an upcoming course please use the following links:

Online Course Booking System Link: https://affinityconnect.event-registration.co.uk/events/moray-council/pre-retirement/2-hour-30-minute-course-online

Face-to-Face Course Booking System Link: https://affinityconnect.event-registration.co.uk/events/moray-council/pre-retirement/1-day-course

For any additional information please email organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

DIGITAL CHAMPIONS

The Digital Champions network is now live. A huge thanks to all who have volunteered, we are very fortunate to have a wonderful team who are ready and able to help.

Not only have they been assisting colleagues with queries ranging from using PDFs through to editing photographs they have also contributed to a review of our eLearning platform and published a digital skills survey that will enable us to plan how best to support colleagues to become more digitally confident.

If you or a colleague have a technology-related query & need to know how to do something please contact the Digital Champions team via DigitalChampions@moray.gov.uk with an outline of what help is needed and an available champion will be in contact.

Finally, if you are interested in becoming a champion please get in contact via the same email address and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

MANAGERS FORUM

The next Managers Forum is tentatively planned for Thursday 31st March at 2pm. An invitation will be sent closer to the date to confirm the details.

In this session, we will be meeting with Rod Lovie, Principal Climate Change Strategy Officer and discussing the Moray Councils Climate Change Strategy and our plans to become carbon neutral by 2030.

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

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 .

DISTANCE AWARE SCHEME

As restrictions ease and more of us begin to return to the workplace, it feels like we’re getting closer to pre-Covid ‘normality’.

For some of us, that will be welcome; others perhaps not so much. If you’re feeling nervous or anxious about mixing with others, in and out of the workplace, please be reassured that as employers we’re supporting the Distance Aware scheme.

Distance Aware badges or lanyards are available in libraries, most Asda stores, or available to purchase online. Wearing one lets people know – colleagues, customers, friends or family – that you feel more comfortable when you have more room, and it’s a non-confrontational way of asking others to respect your individual space.

If you have any concerns about your or your team’s safety at work, please raise these with your line manager. Equally, if you see that a colleague is anxious or struggling, please be kind and offer your support.

HYBRID WORKING

The Scottish Government recently advised that organisations can resume hybrid working following the loosening of Covid-related restrictions and some colleagues have been returning to the office.

We understand that there remain ongoing requirements for information and training needs with adopting and managing hybrid working, remote and virtual teams, and would like to remind you that there are a number of resources on interchange that could be helpful to your current situations.

You can access information and guidance on hybrid working through the Manager Support link. This page will link and signpost you to a number of resources to support a remote or hybrid workforce, guidance documents, hints and tips alongside training resources to assist with your ways of working.

Guidance Documents include support on:

• Hybrid Working Good Practice Guide (Word)
• Treating-staff-fairly-in-hybrid-working
• Supporting-and-managing-staff-in-hybrid-working
• 10 top tips for conducting online meetings
• Effective Online Meetings April 2020
• Tips for managing conversations about mental health and wellbeing
• 10 top tips for healthy remote working (MC) (managers)
• 10 Top Tips for Managing Culture and Behaviours Remotely

You can find more assistance with managing remotely on:

• Managers toolkit for ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of all employees
• Interviews
• Home Working & Staying Healthy Infographic

Elearning packages are also available through the Council’s learning management system (CLIVE).

Modules to assist you with managing hybrid/remote working include:

• Managing Remote Workers
• Managing Effective Meetings (available soon)
• IT Security
• Coaching & Mentoring
• Questioning & Listening
• Time Management

Further information and guidance is also available by contacting the OD Team at organisational.development@moray.gov.uk

SCOTTISH MILITARY COMMUNITY PAGE

The latest edition of the Scottish Military Community Update has been published on the Interchange: February 2022 Update

This month’s edition has information on the treatment of LGBT+ service personnel, free energy advice workshops and a new toolkit to help support wellbeing in communities as well as much more!

NEW E-LEARNING CONTENT

We’re pleased to announce that the following eLearning modules have launched on CLIVE:

• An Introduction to the 3 Horizons Framework
• Leading in Complexity

The 3 Horizons Framework and Leading in Complexity were part of the Leadership Development programme in 2019. These two modules are designed as a refresher for those that have completed the original programme. We will shortly be writing out to those managers that weren’t able to take part in this programme, offering dates for future intakes. In the meantime, please feel free to access these modules.

These new courses will cover the following:

An Introduction to the 3 Horizons Framework:

Explore present challenges and tensions alongside some possibilities of what the future might look like. We will:

• Explore each horizon
• Consider steps to transformation - Letting go of the old and embracing the new
• Consider reflections and observations

Leading in Complexity:

Following on from the 3 Horizons Framework session, this workshop will build on the key outputs from the 3 Horizons exercise and consider how we can lead collectively across Moray Council.

• Working in Complexity
• Whole Systems Approach
• Personal leadership, Organisational leadership, System leadership
• Leadership Challenges
• Characteristics of Collective Leadership
• Leading Collectively in Moray Council
• Actions and next steps

CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME

This year’s scheme is due to open before the summer, details are yet to be finalised. 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, 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.

Further details will be communicated nearer to the launch.

DRIVING SAFELY – BEING PREPARED

Driving to work and as part of our daily working routine may well be the most hazardous thing any of us do on any given day. When you’re behind the wheel of a car – whether alone or with passengers – driving safely should always be your number one priority. We have more distractions around us than ever, so it’s crucial to know the basics of safe driving and practice them every time you’re on the road in order to drive responsibly.

Police road accident data shows that every year over 500 people are killed (almost one third of all road deaths), 5,000 seriously injured and more than 40,000 slightly injured in collisions involving drivers or riders who are driving for work. This includes other road users, as well as at-work drivers and riders themselves. In fact, 70% of those killed in a work-related journey are passengers, pedestrians and riders rather than the at-work drivers and riders.

We should all try to keep up to date with any changes to regulations and guidance including the recent updates to the Highway Code - Changes to the Highway Code - and mobile phone/hand-held device requirements - Mobile Phone Requirements

Here are some safe driving tips:

Focus on the driving - Ignoring distractions while driving and maintaining focus on the road is key to driving safely. In order to keep focused while driving, you should follow these steps:

• Keep 100% of your attention on driving at all times – no multi-tasking.
• Never use your mobile phone or any other hand-held electronic device while driving. (Council policy strictly prohibits their use while driving)
• Slow down. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident.
• When you’re on the road, pay attention to the changing road, traffic and weather conditions.
• Be ready to slow down and take more care if you need to, particularly on bends and exposed roads. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security - even if you drive every day on the same stretch of road.

While all council vehicles are maintained to a high standard of serviceability by the fleet department, it is incumbent on all staff to follow council driving safety policy and driver handbook while being responsible for a council vehicle.

Breaking down is never a pleasant experience – especially if you have to wait for recovery in the cold and rain.

You’ll want your vehicle to be in the best condition to handle difficult driving conditions in severe weather. This is just as relevant to your own personal vehicle as it is to council vehicles.

• Ensure you have enough fuel for your journey
• Check fluids are topped up
• Damage - check wipers, lights, etc. for signs of wear and tear or damage
• Electrics - check lights, indicators and controls are working properly
• Rubber - are your tyres well inflated, legal, with good tread and free from damage?
• Yourself - are you fit to drive? - have you slept well? - are you taking any medication(s) that could make it unsafe for you to drive?

Carry an emergency kit of handy items including a first aid kit and torch. Other items such as warm clothes, blankets and cold weather footwear may also be appropriate in the winter months.

Updates on the Move

• When you take a break, take the time to check the traffic conditions on the road ahead.
• Keep listening to the radio for traffic and weather updates or visit www.transportscotland.org
• Alternatively, you can download the Traffic Scotland mobile app.