Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Human Resources

Purpose of report

To provide the Personnel Committee with an update on Cherwell District Council’s workforce including measuring staff well-being and to highlight the actions officers are taking to address any issues.

Recommendations

The Personnel Committee resolves:

1.1      to review and note the workforce data for quarter 2 of 2024/2025 provided in appendix one, devised to provide insight that will enable officers of CDC to address challenges and efficiencies in the workforce more effectively.

Resolved  

(1)      That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 2 of 2024/25 (financial year dates) be noted.

The Assistant Director Human Resources submitted a report to update members on Cherwell District Council’s workforce including measuring staff well-being and to highlight the actions officers are taking to address any issues.

In response to Members’ questions regarding levels of absence linked to work related stress and what support was offered to staff, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that several processes were in place to support staff, such as the return to work meeting, risk assessments, occupational health referrals, phased returns as well as the employee assist programme.

In response to Members’ questions regarding access to employment and the interview process for minority groups, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that the interview process was under review whilst data was gathered, and that an “Inclusion Champion network” was to be created to feed into the process.

In response to Members’ questions regarding a request to include data on neurodivergence, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained officers will look to include any relevant data within the report due for the next meeting of the committee.

In response to Members’ questions regarding the inclusion and support for British Sign Language (BSL) users within the council, the Assistant Director Human Resources explained that previous workforce data did not include BSL as a category, but would look to include it going forward, and that the EDI working group would be best placed to look into the inclusivity of BSL within the Council.

Resolved  

(1)      That the workforce profile statistics for quarter 2 of 2024/25 (financial year dates) be noted.