Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities
Renfrewshire Council · 13 February 2025
Back to Joint Consultative Board (Non-Teaching) — 13 February 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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2 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Joint Consultative Board: Non-Teaching On: 13 February 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Finance and Resources ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Health, Safety and Wellbeing Activities ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary This report outlines the activities which have taken place since the last meeting of the Joint Consultative Board: Non-Teaching in November 2024. The report demonstrates the council’s continued commitment to ensuring the health, safety, welfare, and wellbeing of our employees. It supports the aims of the “Our People, Our Future” strategy, the Health and Wellbeing Plan, the Councils’ values and contributes to the delivery of best value outcomes. _________________________________________________________________ 2 Recommendations 2.1 This report is for information only and to note that this is a retrospective record of health, safety and well-being activities undertaken by the Council’s People and OD teams in collaboration with other Council Services. _________________________________________________________ 3 Background 3.1 To support employee wellbeing, People and OD, continue to raise awareness of the Menopause. An action plan of support based on findings from the Menopause Survey conducted in November 2024, will include further RenTalks on Supporting Menopause during February, toolbox talks on support for employees and managers and ‘Let’s Pause’ sessions, our virtual get-together.
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3 3.2 People and OD continue to work in collaboration with the RCA Trust to provide colleagues with specialist support, training, and advice on gambling addiction. ‘Bet You Can Help Now’ training is being rolled out during January and February 2025, with focus groups being set up consisting of line managers, People & OD, and Trade Unions. 3.3 People and OD have been working collaboratively with our colleagues in the NHS/HSCP, to become a Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland employer. Training will be rolled out to the Customer Contact Centre employees initially, to provide advice and signposting people to available facilities and Council locations out with Renfrewshire House. This training will be recorded and developed as a module on iLearn for all employees. A Council website page is being created in the staff information section that will include guidance around reasonable adjustments for staff. 3.4 Wellbeing Support toolbox talks are being rolled out to line managers within HSCP and EH&I. This will also be delivered during the Head Teachers meeting in February. In addition to this, we are planning a series of RenTalks, in collaboration with our employee counselling provider, covering subjects such as: Menopause, Holistic Wellbeing and Raising our Teens. 3.5 As part of the Council’s procurement process, the Health and Safety team review documentation from suppliers when they tender for Council contracts. During the reporting period, the team assessed 2 high risk contracts and 5 low risk contracts. 3.6 The Health and Safety team continue to support the Council’s construction activities. Since the last JCB meeting, the team have been involved in meetings/site visits for the following projects: Paisley Grammar, City Deal, Park Mains High School extension as well as other smaller projects within the school estate. 3.7 The Council’s Workplace Inspection Programme which looks at the welfare and safety arrangements across the Council’s estate has progressed since the last report to the JCB, with the Council’s Health and Safety Team carrying out 16 site visits. 3.8 The Health and Safety team are regularly requested to respond to Freedom of Information/Subject Access Requests on behalf of the council in relation to health and safety issues. 6 have been processed since the last JCB. 3.9 In support of the Council’s Corporate Events Plan, the Health and Safety Team were involved in the planning and delivery of major events such as Winterfest and local Christmas lights switch On’s. Events planning for 2025 has begun.
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4 3.10 The Council’s health surveillance programme is delivered though our occupational health team and during November and December 2024 the focus has been on the School Technicians and Music Instructors within Childrens Services. The current programme has now shifted in January 2025 and the focus is now on the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure, Building Services teams. 3.11 Protecting the mental health and wellbeing of our workforce remains a key priority as defined in the Council’s new Health and Wellbeing Plan. Training for colleagues who are Mental Health First Aiders on how to support colleagues with specific types of mental health conditions, ‘A Conversation on Anxiety,’ was rolled out on 5 December 2024. Further sessions planned during 2025 will be delivered on Suicide, Depression, Self-Harm and Psychosis. The Council’s Mental Health First Aiders support our workforce by initially providing a safe space to discuss mental health concerns and signpost to the available specialist support in areas such as financial or psychological wellbeing. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - Continuing to improve health and safety performance will reduce accidents/occupational ill health, claims and the costs associated with this. 2. HR & Organisational Development This report supports the Councils commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of Renfrewshire Council employees. 3. Community/Council Planning – • Our Renfrewshire is well – this supports our workforce who live in Renfrewshire. • Our Renfrewshire is safe – good health and safety practices provide safe services. 4. Legal - This report will support the Council’s continued compliance with current health and safety legislation. 5. Property/Assets -Ensures compliance. 6. Information Technology -The E-management systems require to be facilitated through the Council’s Businessworld system. 7. Equality & Human Rights - (Please select the statement applicable to the recommendations contained within this board report and delete remaining statements)
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5 (a) 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 because for example 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 document supports and demonstrates the council’s commitment to ensuring effective health, safety, and well- being management. 9. Procurement - Demonstrates compliance and governance. 10. Risk low impact as legal and statutory requirements are being maintained. 11. Privacy Impact – not applicable to this report. 12. Climate Risk - none 13. Children’s Rights - none 14. Cosla Policy Position - None _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Steven Fanning, Strategic Lead Partner (Health & Safety) Finance and Resources, telephone 07747790211 email: steven.fanning@renfrewshire.gov.uk