Update on John Muir House SPOC and new Collaborative Hub

Preparations are continuing to be made for the introduction of a new ‘Single Point of Contact’ (SPOC) at John Muir House.

Later this Spring, the counter at the Court Street entrance – which handles customer payments and other enquiries - will close to the public. The main reception on Brewery Park will then become the SPOC for all customers and visitors to John Muir House.

Plans are also being made for the relocation of Haddington Police Station to the former Sheriff Court building in 2020. The Court Street entrance will be used to access reception for the police station. A new Collaborative Hub will also be developed within JMH enabling relevant council staff to work alongside colleagues from the police, fire service and other partners.

Joined-up service

“We want to provide the best possible, joined-up service to our customers. The SPOC will be a one-stop shop for people coming to see the council at John Muir House,” explains Eileen Morrison, Service Manager for Customer Services.

“Whether someone is coming in about a planning application, housing or welfare issue, to pay a bill or attend a meeting with colleagues, they will be greeted in one place by Customer Services staff. It will be a smarter and more efficient way of working, as our team will no longer have to work across two counters in the same building.”

Ahead of the SPOC’s opening, some work in and around the current reception area is due to get underway in February.

The layout will be revised to include new spaces and some rooms for council employees to meet and greet customers. This area will include the space behind the front counter (the old planning reception) and extend slightly into the adjacent corridor. The new rooms will be managed by Customer Services staff so won’t be on the booking system.

Anyone meeting a visitor in the reception area will need to advise Customer Services in advance who can ensure there’s a suitable place to meet. There will be additional waiting space for customers calling in without an appointment.

The John Muir House SPOC is part of wider work to make it easier for customers to access council services.

For example, there are a number of digital transformation projects which will enable people to do more online, help the council become even more efficient and focus on delivering frontline services. This includes the new-look website, development of online payments and the introduction of a new on-line Customer Services Platform. It’s also beneficial for customers – meaning they can interact with the council at a time and place of their own choosing.

Partnership working

In 2020, the Court Street counter will become reception for Haddington Police Station, which is due to move into the adjacent former Sheriff Court. There is no impact on the existing marriage rooms.

“This presents an opportunity to enable ‘smarter’ and more integrated ways of working between the council, the police and other partners to support the prevention agenda, to make a positive impact on as broad a range of outcomes as possible and further enhance public service delivery,” explains Tom Reid, Head of Infrastructure.

“That’s why we’re planning to create the new Collaborative Hub which will be an area for relevant council staff to work more closely with colleagues from the police, fire service and other partners on shared priorities. It will include, for example, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Scotland Local Area Liaison Officers and the council’s Safer Communities Team. Work is underway to identify the services that will be based in our use the drop-in/hotdesk facilities in the new Hub.

A project team is in place and a decision will be made on the exact location and occupants of the Collaborative Hub. Look out for more updates in the months ahead!

Importance of FOI

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 was introduced to give the public the right to access recorded information held by public authorities which includes government departments, the NHS, police forces, schools, colleges, universities and local authorities.

Its remit covers all recorded information held by a public authority. It is not limited to official documents and it covers, for example, emails, recordings of telephone conversations and CCTV footage.

Chief Executive, Angela Leitch, said: “It’s extremely important that all FOIs received by the council are answered promptly and ideally well within the 20 working day deadline. Transparency and openness is important for effective government, which the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) plays a part in supporting.”

The FOI Act requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

• publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
• tell the public how to access the information and what it might cost.

East Lothian Council has adopted the Model Publication Scheme produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner.

“Each service manager must ensure that their service information details are regularly reviewed and updated within the Publication Scheme. By adding as much as possible within the Publication Scheme, FOI enquiries can simply be directed to the relevant information rather than having to research and identify new information. This helps us respond quickly to the 1500, or so, FOI requests we receive each year."

All employees are reminded that a learnPro module on FOI is available on the Intranet along with full information of our requirements under the FOI Act.

Work underway on new Whitecraig Community Centre

Work is gathering pace on the new Whitecraig Community Centre. Groundworks began on the site in October, with the finished centre due to open in August 2019.

Once completed, the centre will be include a multi-purpose games hall, creche and café. Changing facilities for Deantown Welfare Bowling Club members are also included in the plans as the new centre is on the site of the club’s former clubhouse.

The structural frame for the games hall is in place with blockwork beginning in that area. The timber frame for the main part of the building will be put in place in early 2019, unveiling the shape and scale of the whole project.

Cabinet member for Wellbeing Councillor Jim Goodfellow visited the site  to see the progress that is being made. He said: “It’s great to see the new Whitecraig Community Centre taking shape. Having the hall’s frame in place is starting to give a sense of the scale of this investment. I’m sure the community are looking forward to it opening so they can benefit from the modern facilities.”

The new community centre has been designed by East Lothian Council’s in-house team following extensive community consultation. Hadden Group was awarded the £1.4m contract following a competitive tender process. Hadden Group previously worked on the extension to Law Primary School in North Berwick.

Steven Brady, Managing Director from Hadden Group said: “We’re pleased to have been chosen to deliver this new community centre for Whitecraig which continues our excellent working relationship with East Lothian Council. Our construction team are progressing well with the build and we look forward to delivering a first-class community asset.”

Education services celebrates Professional Learning

At the tail end of last year, 14 teachers were presented with Professional Learning certificates at a special event held at John Muir House.

 The certificate ceremony is held for participants on our First Steps into Leadership, Next Steps into Leadership and the Coaching for Success programmes - all three programmes now have the prestigious Professional Recognition award from the GTCS.

 In February 2018,  First Steps into Leadership and Next Steps into Leadership both received Professional Recognition which recognises the enhanced, significant and sustained enquiry a teacher has undertaken.  In order to meet the criteria for Professional Learning, the learning must meet the characteristics of masters level learning (SCQF Level 11).  It recognises the teacher as an accomplished practitioner in a particular area. A key characteristic of professional recognition is evidence that the participant's practice is underpinned by ongoing reflective enquiry.

As part of that on-going reflective enquiry, before their certificate ceremony each participant is given a series of five questions which ask them to reflect on the impact their learning has had on their practice.  At the ceremony participants work in small groups to discuss how their professional learning has informed their practice and impacted on them, their colleagues and most importantly their pupils. 

David Scott, Quality Improvement Officer, presented participants with their certificates, on sharing his thoughts on the afternoon David said: “Today we saw the participants asking critical questions about themselves and how they would apply their learning in their future work. This is professional learning in action, and shows how effective leadership can enhance learning and teaching. I was really struck by the enthusiasm and passion that all these participants had to make a difference to the children and young people of East Lothian.”

For more information on these training courses for Education Services staff, contact Margo Cunningham, Training and Development Officer on 01620 828767

Casual Workers Policy consultation

A consultation is currently taking place on the council’s Casual Workers Policy.

Casual workers are an essential part of service provision in a variety of areas, particularly in frontline services such as schools, residential and domiciliary care. The council recognises that, while the contractual relationship with casual workers is fundamentally different, they work alongside permanent and temporary staff in delivering services as valued members of a team.

Updates to the current 2009 policy are proposed in order to incorporate clarifications regarding its practical application, national changes to teachers’ conditions of service and the pension rights of Local Government Employee Group casual workers.

The consultation runs until 18 January - have your say

Look out for MyHr coming this April

Last year details were included in Inform about progress for the introduction of a new HR and Payroll system.

The aim of the system is to enable the delivery of more efficient processes for our employees, managers and core support services. Making it easier to book holidays, submit expense claims or overtime requests, access online pay slips, record training and enable remote access to your employee profile.

The council’s project team have been working with the appointed contractors gathering the essential information required to implement the new system.

A key difference for staff will be how they access the system. There will be two separate portals into the system – the first will be MyHr an on-line system for individual employees. The second - MyPeople will be for supervisors and line managers to use to manage their employees' HR details including leave and expense claims.

MyHr will be available from April and, to those employees already used to accessing their payslips online via Hr 21, it will offer similar online information including personal HR details, job title and pay information. The benefits of an online system will be available to more employees, including school based staff, when MyHr launches.

Further information on what will be available from the launch of the new system will be provided to employees over the coming weeks.

In the meantime, if you have any questions please email hrpayrollsystem@eastlothian.gov.uk

Enjoy eResources at East Lothian libraries

East Lothian Library Services have a wide variety of eResources that are available free to East Lothian Library members. These resources are useful if you are thinking of learning a new skill, developing your PRD or even taking up a new hobby. These resources might also benefit customers or clients you work with.

Universal Class- This offers over 500 courses including Yoga, Digital photography, Computer Basics, Excel, Stress Management and many more. With real instructors guiding the learning, video based lessons, graded lesson tests and certificates of achievement students can enjoy an engaging and measurable learning experience.

Theory Test Pro- This is a highly realistic online simulation of the UK’s driving theory tests for all vehicle categories. It contains all the official test questions licensed from the DVSA.

Transparent Language Online- Online language course which provides free unlimited access to library members. Unlimited access to over 90 languages from Afrikaans to Zulu. English Learning for Beginner and Intermediate levels with English materials for speakers of more than 25 languages.

ArtistWorks- Whether you are starting out or just looking to improve your skills you’ll get the help you need with ArtistWorks Step by Step learning videos from some of the world’s sought after musicians and teachers. It offers everything you need for musical and artistic instruction.

Ancestry Library edition- This has over 4 billion records available to search, from historical censuses and parish records to military and passenger lists. Please note this can only be accessed from a computer at one of our libraries.

Encyclopaedia Britannica – Library members have access to three versions of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Full Library Edition, Britannica Student (aimed at 12-18 year olds) and Britannica Student (aimed at 5-11 year olds)

SCRAN- Scran is a charitable online learning resource base with over 360,000 images and multimedia files from Museums.

We also have a range of eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers, eComics, eFilms and concerts available available.

Visit our library homepage for more information on all these resources and how to access.

Not a Member? - If you’re not already a member then it’s really easy to join. Please see the link for more details on becoming a library member.

If you would like material about these resources to provide to customers please contact Kelly Gallacher, Senior Library Assistant

Graduation event celebrates students' success

A celebration event took place at the Brunton Hall in late December as seven young people graduated from the Musselburgh Construction Skills Academy ready to move into the construction industry.

The S5 pupils, who originally attended Preston Lodge and Ross High schools, studied at the Construction Skills Academy from June until December working towards a Level 5 SCVQ Pre-Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery. The course is delivered in partnership between East Lothian Council and Edinburgh College and based within the Construction Skills Academy at Musselburgh Grammar School. It combines practical woodwork and tool experience, employability skills and health and safety legislation to leave them workplace-ready. Previous students have moved into paid apprenticeships within the construction industry or employment after completing the course.

Cabinet member for Education Councillor Shamin Akhtar attended the event alongside students’ families, councillors, representatives from the county’s secondary schools, the police and Developing Young Workforce (DyW) staff. She said: “I was delighted to attend tonight’s event and to meet with the students and their families and to hear more about the difference this course has made. It was obvious how much they had gained from their time at the Construction Academy. They were rightly proud of their achievements and excited for the next steps. Having Jewson, Wickes and Howden support their efforts with a toolkit that they can take on to their working life was a lovely gesture and we’re grateful to those firms.”

Jewson, Wickes and Howden Joinery firms provided each of the student with their own toolkit, worth £150, ready for their next steps into the industry.

Clare Hindle, Principal Teacher of Construction and Technology at Musselburgh Grammar School, leads the skills academy. She said: “I’m very proud of the students and the progress that they have made. Apart from learning a skilled trade, they have all grown in confidence and self-esteem. They have a better understanding of the industry and how they can contribute to it. They’re leaving the course ready for the workplace with a national qualification, a CSCS card and, thanks to the three local companies, their own professional tool kit. It was lovely to come together with their families to celebrate their achievements.”

The Musselburgh Construction Skills Academy was set up in November 2016 to give pupils in East Lothian an opportunity to get a head start in construction while also responding to industry needs. The centre is a partnership between East Lothian Council, Edinburgh College and industry. Pupils attending the county’s six secondary schools can choose to study at the centre for a SCVQ in level 4 or 5. Courses include Joinery and Carpentry, Plumbing, and Painting and Decorating.

Christmas came early for Knox Academy Meadowpark pupils

Pupils at Knox Academy, Meadowpark, Haddington received an early Christmas present of digital cameras kindly donated by Canon UK. The cameras will be used by the pupils, who have a range of communication difficulties, to record their learning projects and progress.

Charli Prime, Deputy Head Teacher of Meadowpark Communication Provision, Haddington, said: “We are very grateful to Canon for their generous gifts which are appreciated by both pupils and staff. We believe passionately that all young people at Meadowpark deserve the very best education with an expectation that they will be able to continue a lifelong journey either into work, further study or in some cases, independence. The cameras will provide extra opportunities for the pupils to express themselves and to record their work.”

Cabinet member for Education and Children’s services, Cllr Shamin Akhtar, added: “It was great to see how delighted the young people at Knox Academy, Meadowpark were on receiving the cameras from Max Sykes. The school has developed a great partnership with Canon UK which is helping to support the young people develop their digital skills. Thank you to Canon UK for their donation which I think is a great example of how businesses can support our schools and our young people. I hope that this will encourage other businesses to do the same”.

Max Sykes, Canon UK, said: “The Directors of Canon UK Ltd are proud to support the Digital Skills and Learning of the students by donating a selection of digital cameras to be used to explore the exciting world of photography. Digital skills and the world of digital imaging is an exciting place, we hope the young people enjoy their new Canon cameras to explore and discover the world of digital photography.

“Enabling young people to learn supports the Canon philosophy of Kyosei which lies at the heart of our brand, business and sponsorship activities. Kyosei is a Japanese word that means living and working together for the common good a principle that is embraced by all Canon employees. It shapes our mission and our values, the way we treat our people and conduct our business.

“We look forward to seeing the photographs taken by the young students at Meadowpark School.”

 

Did you know that you may be eligible for UK citizenship under the Windrush scheme?

The windrush scheme is for long term residents of the UK who do not have documents to demonstrate their status, as well as Commonwealth citizens and their children (the ‘Windrush generation’).

The scheme is open to ANY NATIONALITY as long as you arrived in the UK before 31 December 1988 and you have lived continuously in the UK since your arrival, as well as Commonwealth citizens and their children (the ‘Windrush generation’).

 It is FREE to apply and you can apply for a document that confirms that you:

• are already a British citizen
• have the right of abode in the UK
• already have the right to live permanently in the UK

Full details of the Windrush scheme, along with the Application Form are available on the Home Office website.

If you have any queries or need help in completing the application please contact the Home Office on 0800 678 1925. The line is open Monday – Friday 9 – 5 and Saturday and Sunday 10-3.

 

Could you be a Listening Ear?

Would you like to be a Listening Ear?

Would you be interested in finding out about becoming a Listening Ear providing support in a voluntary capacity for other ELC employees when they need someone to talk to in confidence? Perhaps they are having a bad day, problems at home or just not feeling too great.

To become a Listening Ear you would need to complete the two day Mental Health First Aid course. The next dates for this are the 11^th and 18^th February (Penston House) or the 18^th March and 25^th March (Penston House/John Muir House).

If you are interested, please contact Rebecca Grangeret.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people who:

• Have generally good mental health – you may or may not have a mental health condition currently or in the past. For example, you may have depression but are managing this well.
• Are good listeners, non-judgemental and accepting of others concerns
• Able to keep other’s information confidential except in an emergency situation
• Are able to recognise the limits of the role – a first point of contact for signposting and a listening ear, not trying to solve the problem

Benefits to you:

• Volunteering our time makes us feel good
• Learn and enhance skills which could be useful outside work or for another role/current role
• Be part of a network of people who you would meet up with regularly

Give Blood as a New Year resolution

Only 3% of eligible Scots give blood.

Yet each pint of blood can save or improve the lives of up to three people.

The next East Lothian visits by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service will be to Dunbar Grammar School on Thursday 17 January at 4.00pm-7.30pm and Corn Exchange, Haddington on Thursday 24 January 2.00-4.00pm and 5.30-7.30pm

To find out if you can donate blood check out https://www.scotblood.co.uk/