Finance & Resources Health Safety and Wellbeing Progress Report and Plan 2025-26
Renfrewshire Council · 12 June 2025
Back to Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board — 12 June 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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To: Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board On: 12 June 2025 Report by: Director of Finance and Resources Heading: Finance and Resources Health, Safety and Wellbeing Progress Report and Plan 2025/26 1. Summary 1.1 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended) places duties on the Council to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health of their employees and others that could be impacted by work activities. 1.2 This report to members outlines the health, safety, and wellbeing activities and interventions that have taken place during the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. 1.3 The report demonstrates the strong progress made by the service against its health and safety objectives and aligns with the aims of the Council’s People Strategy, Council Values and contributes to the delivery of Best Value outcomes. 2 Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to note the Health, Safety and Wellbeing progress of Finance and Resources. 3. Strategic Health and Safety Management Arrangements 3.1 The Director is, so far as is reasonably practicable, responsible for ensuring the health, safety and well-being of employees and others who may be impacted by the service’s activities. The service continues to make strong progress implementing its approved health and safety plan and policy aims and objectives.
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3.2 All Heads of Service support the implementation of the health and safety plan and policy across their teams, with service managers driving specific activities to support the desired performance outcomes. 3.3 The Health and Safety Co-ordinator gathers information on areas such as accidents, incidents, wellbeing, and performance data for analysis, scrutiny, and reporting. This data is used to drive Service interventions, and the performance of the service is reported to the Service Health and Safety Planning Group where members can review relevant areas for improvement. 4. Strategic Health and Safety Priorities and Progress 4.1 As part of existing risk management controls, the Service has identified key health and safety priorities outlined in Appendix 2 for inclusion in the FARS Health and Safety Plan 2025/26. The plan focuses on employee wellbeing, lone working management, reducing violence and aggression, and preventing musculoskeletal disorders. Aligned with legislative requirements and corporate best practices, it sets out clear actions and measurable outcomes to ensure a structured and proactive approach to workplace health and safety. 4.2 During the period, there were 27 FARS health and safety incidents reported in total. Violence and aggression is the biggest presenting issue, accounting for 67% of all reported cases, mirroring the corporate statistics. No incidents were reported to the HSE. All incidents are fully investigated, and preventative actions are put in place to prevent a recurrence. 4.3 The Health and Safety Planning Group oversees DSE assessments and has recently collaborated with line managers to address outstanding evaluations. The Business World DSE Manager report facilitates proactive compliance monitoring. During this reporting period, 655 employees successfully completed their DSE training and assessments. Employees will continue to be encouraged to reassess their DSE arrangements should their working environment or personal circumstances change, or within an 18 month period. 4.4 A new working group has recently been established within the Service to review the existing arrangements currently in place which supports employees who are lone workers. The current risk assessment is being reviewed with service managers, employees, and trade unions with a view to refreshing and implementing revised training and guidance. This will ensure that employees are better supported when working alone, and appropriate risk and safety controls are in place. 4.5 The Council’s Corporate Health and Safety and Procurement teams have undertaken a comprehensive review of governance arrangements for contractor management. This assessment examined contractor activities, focusing on their processes, methodologies, and the competence levels required to execute agreed works effectively and safely. As a result of this evaluation, modifications were made to the existing procedures to strengthen risk mitigation measures and enhance health and safety standards. These changes aim to ensure that contractors operate in full compliance with safety regulations while maintaining efficiency and accountability in service delivery.
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4.6 A key priority in the Council’s People Strategy is supporting the health and wellbeing of our workforce. The plan supports the Service to take steps to provide a ‘safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace’ that recognises people are individuals with different life experiences and needs that may impact on our Physical, Mental, Social and Financial wellbeing. 4.7 The Service has recently appointed the Council’s first ever Menopause champion. The champion will support employees across the service and the Council by raising awareness of menopause and the supports available. The service was also awarded the Best Employer for Carer Identification at the Carer Positive 10th Anniversary Awards. 4.8 The promotion of Mental Health First Aid support and employee assistance information has been issued through corporate communication channels, ensuring employees know where to access support if needed. The Council now has 91 trained and accredited Mental Health First Aiders, of which 19 are in the service. Plans are in place to help the Council increase the number of Mental Health First Aiders. 4.9 The Service will continue to work in partnership with the Council’s Occupational Health provider People Asset Management and our Employee Counselling provider Timefortalking, to review and develop health and well- being programmes focusing on supporting attendance at work. 5. Training Statistics 5.1 Appendix 1 details the total number of employees within the Service who have undertaken health and safety-related training courses in this period.
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Appendix 1 Finance and Resources Training Statistics (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025) Training Course Title Completed Asbestos Awareness 7 Control of Contractors 2 Display Screen Awareness DSE 655 Evacuation Process Renfrewshire House 156 Fire alarm Investigation 12 Fire Warden Training 14 Hand Arm Vibration Awareness 6 Investigating an Unplanned Fire Alarm Activation 1 Ladder Safety Awareness 11 Managing Distressed Behaviours (Module 1) 22 Manual Handling Awareness 20 Promoting Positive Behaviour Legislation and Guidance 4 Sharps awareness 5 Stress awareness and risk assessment 12 Supporting Employees Experiencing Domestic Abuse 4 Using the Lifepak Defibrillator 3 Violence and aggression at work 27 Waste Recycling in Schools & Nurseries 4 Total Training Courses Completed 965
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Appendix 2 FARS Health and Safety Action Plan Action Status Timeline KPIs FARSAP01 Promote health and wellbeing within the service through corporate initiatives covering topics: Mental Wellbeing Physical Wellbeing Social Wellbeing Financial Wellbeing Q3-Q4 2025 All identified teams/department briefings undertaken. FARSAP02 Managers regularly communicate with staff to support mental and physical wellbeing. Ongoing Spot checks to confirm communication. FARSAP03 Continue to introduce mental health first aiders across FaRS departments. Ongoing Increase on current FaRS mental health first aiders registered. FARSAP04 Deliver lone working training to relevant staff. Q3-Q4 2025 100% of relevant staff trained FARSAP05 Ensure regular welfare checks are in place. Immediate/Ongoing Spot checks to confirm communication. FARSAP06 Develop and introduce conflict management training for staff in frontline roles. Q3-Q4 2025 100% front line staff trained FARSAP07 Liaise with local police for possible collaboration regarding V&A de- escalation courses. Q1 2026 Course approved and published. FARSAP08 Encourage reporting and track incidents via Business World. Ongoing Year-on year increase of V&A reporting FARSAP09 Review Incident data quarterly to identify trends and mitigate common issues. Ongoing 100% of V&A incidents assessed. FARSAP010 DSE assessments are undertaken as a matter of course every 18 months. Immediate/Ongoing Year-on year increase of DSE Assessments conducted. FARSAP011 Provide manual handling training for relevant roles. Ongoing 100% of relevant staff trained
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Implications of the Report 1. Financial - Continuing to improve health and safety performance will reduce accidents/occupational ill health/claims and associated costs. 2. People & Organisational Development - This report supports the Council’s commitment to the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees. 3. Community/Council Planning – This report and plan supports the objectives contained within the Community and Council plans. 4. Legal - The Council will continue to comply with current health and safety legislation. 5. Property/Assets - Having a robust health and safety management system in place and an effective risk control system can reduce the risk of property damage and potential loss of premises which could be caused by fire for example. 6. Information Technology - Not applicable. 7. Equality & Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report as it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - This report supports and demonstrates the council’s commitment to ensuring effective health and safety management. 9. Procurement - Finance and Resources, People & Organisational Development Health and Safety Section has a valuable input to the Council’s procurement system. 10. Risk - This report supports the overarching management of risk within Renfrewshire Council. 11. Privacy Impact - Not applicable. 12. Climate Risk – Good health and safety practices support environmental controls. 13. Children’s Rights – Not applicable 14. Cosla Policy Position - Not applicable. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers - None ________________________________________________________________ Authors: Ryan Philips, Project manager
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Steven Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health and Safety)