You & the Council

At the heart of everything the council does are our four core values:

• Achieving results
• Engaging with others
• Valuing diversity
• Learning effectively

The core values are there for all staff and council members working on behalf of the council. They offer a way to understand and assess what we do as a council.

Alongside the core values is the Leadership and Management Framework. Developed from the core values this sets out the expectations we have of our managers. The Framework links our recruitment, probation, induction, learning and development and personal development and review (PDR) processes.
You and your line manager

As well as directing your day to day work your line manager is key to improving your performance, encouraging your professional development and supporting your general wellbeing. It is important that all new starters understand and actively participate in the processes and systems that managers use.

Performance and Development Review (PDRs)

The core business in the council is identified through the Planning Framework where the objectives and strategic plans for the organisation are determined each year. Once the strategic objectives for your team have been agreed your line manager will carry out a PDR with you to agree the work, targets and goals which you will be responsible for. At your PDR there will be an opportunity to review your performance and consider any professional development needs you may have. The individual training plan section of the PDR will set out your the on the job training, reading or training courses. The PDR is reviewed after six months.

One- to-one and supervisory meetings

All managers are expected to provide on-going guidance and support through one-to-one or supervisory meetings. These meetings ensure accountability and quality of work and examine whether you are meeting your agreed targets. They are there to provide information and advice. Managers also use one-to-ones to discuss personal professional matters including sickness, work-life balance issues and the worker’s professional development.

Team Meetings

Team meetings provide a space to share information, review team progress and to plan the work. Their frequency is determined by the individual teams/service areas. Staff will also use the team meeting to share information about any training or special activities they have undertaken. The council encourages team away days to support strategic planning, strengthen team functioning and improve the way we work together.

Induction

Induction is one of the first important steps on a journey that will open up a host of learning and development opportunities during your employment with the council. We are committed to providing a programme of effective induction for all newly appointed employees, as such all new employees must go through the induction process.
You need to be aware of essential health and safety procedures and your obligations on issues such as confidentiality and equal opportunities. The council’s legal and statutory obligations to its employees and the people it serves will be explained during your induction. There will be three stages of your induction process:

• Local Induction
• Corporate Induction
• Directorate Induction

You will be invited to the next session for both corporate and directorate induction upon starting the organisation. Local induction starts on day one.
If you are joining the organisation as a manager you are also required to attend our new managers’ programme. This will introduce you to the council’s key management processes.

Local Induction

Your local induction starts on the day of your arrival. An appointment will have been booked for you to meet with your Human Resources Officer to complete your documentation, inform you of your annual leave entitlement and explain our policies and procedures. Your manager will have arranged for you to meet your team, familiarise you with your workspace and to complete necessary paperwork and housekeeping arrangements. Appointments should also be made for you to meet the key people you will be working in your new directorate.

Corporate Induction

This is led by the Chief Executive and Joint Director of Human Resources. It covers the council’s strategic vision, our vibrant history, population, economy and council structure, finishing with a tour of the borough.

Directorate Induction

Your directorate induction covers the key areas relevant to you as an employee and is specific to the directorate you will be working in:

• Directorate structure
• Directorate strategic plan
• Equalities and Inclusion
• Human Resources
• Health & Safety
• ICT
• Finance

Evaluating the effectiveness of the council’s induction process and activities is fundamental to ensuring that the we can continually improve induction and we will seek your views on what works well and what can be improved upon.

Learning and Development

The Organisational Development team, in the Human Resources Department, run a lot of the training and development in the council. They oversee learning, management and professional development and ICT training among other things. Induction, equalities, core-values and training specific to your directorate will be handled by your directorate team.

In order to access training you must go through your line manager. The training you are requesting should be related to your particular area of responsibility and you should be able to demonstrate how it will help improve your work performance or outputs.

Contact your directorate training section for:

• Induction
• Directorate-related in-house courses
• Training in the council's core values
• Equalities training

Contract Organisational Development for:

• Customer care
• Management development
• Human Resources training
• ICT training
• Professional development
• Health and safety
• Finance and achieving value for money.

Training for safeguarding children is available for the Children’s Services training section and adult protection training is available for the Adults Health and Wellbeing training section. Training for councillors is available from the Corporate Training section.