Agenda item

Annual Health, Safety and Wellbeing Report 2019/2020

Minutes:

Sally Brandrick, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Tech Specialist, presented the report. There have been no Health and Safety Executive interventions in 2019/2020, a 50% reduction in all significant accidents and many employee wellbeing actions have been initiated. Last year, a new health and safety auditing process was implemented which had introduced a new measuring and rating formula, so they were able to carry out a new benchmark in auditing services and have a standard format for all wellbeing services. She continued that design services, waste management, construction and children and families had all been successfully audited with positive feedback. There had been a focus on work safety and workplace inspections for staff which have been improved by the new auditing system.

 

Sally Brandrick continued that 107 schools and 280 social care workers in Warwickshire signed up or have access to the Employee Assistance Programme before the Covid-19 lockdown, so teachers from these schools and these workers can access counselling and grief support. She stated that work had been carried out on employee wellbeing, to ensure staff knew where support and help was; for example, with home schooling children. Sally Brandrick concluded that they are looking at reinstating and recovery and they can refer to occupational health for Covid-19 to ensure safety for officers when they are reinstated at work.

 

The Chair endorsed the work done in the report including the 2000 employees who participated in the staff survey, and the staff who provide the mental health advice and help on the intranet.

 

Following a question from Councillor Dirveiks, Sally Brandrick stated that there is online training and a video on desk exercises on how to use IT equipment safely. Legally the council must provide this information.

 

Councillor Direveiks and Sally Brandrick conversed about violence involving pupils and support for staff. Sally Brandrick reiterated that schools try to report all incidents even if it involves just one pupil and it is minor; Councillor Dirveiks expressed his concerns with this and its impact on school staff. It was clarified that the Health and Wellbeing service are involved to make sure the appropriate support is in place. Sally Brandrick informed the committee that schools where incidents are a frequent occurrence receive the appropriate guidance.

 

In response to Councillor Stevens, Sally Brandrick divulged that only officers who work from home contractually worked that way pre-Covid-19 and the council does not have legal responsibility for an officer’s home working environment.

The Chair added that a new homeworking policy was recently implemented. Sarah Duxbury, Assistant Director (Governance & Policy), reiterated that several policies have been reviewed due to the vast majority of officers that are homeworking but this will be based on information already provided and £100 has been provided for any officers who need additional equipment to work from home.  

 

Resolved

That the Staff and Pensions Committee:

 

1.     Notes the information contained within this report

 

2.     Endorses and supports a proactive approach to the management of       health, safety and wellbeing

 

3.     Endorses and supports the promotion of a positive health, safety and       wellbeing culture

 

Supporting documents: