. Training & Development Latest_News Training and development . Events Staff StaffDiscounts discounts Events Staff News Disclaimer: The council does not endorse, guarantee or assume responsibility for any product or service advertised or offered. Staff should check with the supplier that the discount stated here is still available before they agree to purchase the product or service. The council is not a party to any transaction Latest News Healthy Lifestyle Appointments Healthy Lifestyle appointments for all staff are still available at Brownhills Depot, Essington Lodge and Educational Development Centre. Book in for a one-to-one Healthy Lifestyle with One You Walsall as part of the Walsall Council Staff Health & Wellbeing Offer. The Healthy Lifestyle Check will include: · A 45 minute one-to-one assessment with a healthy lifestyle specialist followed by 12 weeks of support (via a variety of methods including telephone, text and face-to- face). · Direct support and sign-posting to specialist services including healthy eating, physical activity, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol and emotional health & wellbeing. · Follow-up appointments at six weeks and 12 weeks. Appointments are available in the following Council venues subject to demand: Brownhills Depot (11 March), Essington Lodge (14 March) and Educational Development Centre (15 March). One You Walsall, funded by Walsall Council Public Health, are delivering this support in line with ‘Understanding Staff Needs’ one of the key themes within the staff health & wellbeing offer. For more information please click on the link. To book your place call 01922 444044 or e-mail [email protected] quoting Walsall Council Health Checks and your preferred venue. ‘Fly a flag for the Commonwealth’ event Staff are advised that the Council House entrance will be closed from 9:50am–10.10am on Monday 11 March for the Fly a flag for the Commonwealth flag raising ceremony. Parking on the forecourt will also not be permitted. Staff who wish to attend the ceremony are welcome (with approval from their manager). Flying the Commonwealth flag celebrates our membership of an amazing worldwide family of nations sharing common purpose. Flags will be flown in significant positions across the UK to publicly and collectively celebrate the continuing success of the Commonwealth in building on common traditions and our shared values of democracy, rule of law and human rights in order to advance the opportunities for development and growth for all. Mayor of Walsall Councillor Marco Longhi will host the flag raising ceremony at the Council House forecourt followed by tea and coffee in the Mayoral Suite. The event will start at 10.00am and will last for approximately one hour. Please arrive on The Council House Forecourt by 9.50am. Please email [email protected] to confirm your attendance or for any further information. Royal Mail annual price increase With effect from Monday 25 March, Royal Mail’s new price tariffs come in to effect on standard franked mail and postage stamps. The price increase on 1st class is quite substantial this time, with 1st class incurring an increase of 4p to 38p and 2nd class items incurring an increase of 2p to 19p across all categories, namely letter, large letter, small & medium parcels. Stamps are also increasing from 67p to 70p for a 1st class letter, with 2nd class increasing from 58p to 61p. See attached for the price increases in more detail. All staff are reminded that postage is a non-essential spend so the most cost effective option of 2nd class should always be used, unless specific legislation dictates the use of 1st class or there is a specific business time critical need for 1st class, for example situations where the council needs to be seen to have acted swiftly. All letter size items should be presented for posting out in a typed format with a full address and postcode, as these items are classed as “Clean Mail” so the Council gets a discount on these items, for example a 2nd class clean mail compliant letter costs 34p, as opposed to 41p if the item is handwritten. If you would like examples of clean mail compliant letter formats or wish to discuss the price increase in more detail, please contact Kerri Crutchley on 01922 650315. Draft Housing Allocations Policy consultation open Walsall Council is reviewing its Housing Allocations Policy and we are seeking public feedback on the draft policy being proposed. The draft policy aims to ensure those with the greatest housing need are given a fair opportunity to be housed and also includes changes in law. To view the draft policy and find out how you can have your say, visit the Housing News page on the council’s website. Private fostering Do you know what ‘private fostering’ is? Would you know how to recognise it? Would you know who to report it to? When a parent arranges for their child to live with someone else, such as a distant relative or family friend and they remain there for longer than 28 days, this is called a private fostering arrangement. Privately fostered children may need extra help. The carers of privately fostered children may need extra support. Here are some examples of private fostering arrangements: A 15-year-old has been staying with his girlfriend’s parents following an argument with his mother. It was agreed that he should stay there until the situation at home had calmed down. So far, he has been at his girlfriend’s for four months. A woman is due to appear in court and expects to receive a custodial sentence. She asks the godmother of her six-year-old son to look after him. The child is expected to stay with his godmother for at least three months. A 14-year-old student from France will be visiting the UK on an exchange programme. The student will stay with a ‘host’ family for six weeks. A man is father to a 12-year-old girl. The man and his girlfriend have recently separated and he has moved out of the house they all shared. As he is now living in a small bed-sit, he has left the 12-year-old with his ex-girlfriend, who is happy to continue to care for her, saying that it prevents her from having to change schools. If you know of a child who lives with someone who is not their parent, grandparent, aunt / uncle or brother / sister then call the Initial Response Service, who will ensure the family receives the help they might need. Walsall Initial Response Service 01922 658170 Victims’ Fund Applications The Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson is encouraging organisations across the West Midlands to submit applications to his Victims’ Fund, which helps pay for support services for people traumatised by criminal activity. Individual funding of up to £20,000 is available for each voluntary or community organisation that helps support victims to cope and recover from their experiences. Groups can apply on their own or they can join together and form a partnership. The Victims’ Fund opened on 1 February and will be taking applications from agencies through to 18 March. For further information and details on how to apply please click here. Training & Development Upcoming Learning & Development Courses: Places still available Learning and Development can offer a wide range of learning opportunities to staff, including agency and temporary employees. For information, please visit our webpage on Inside Walsall. Adult Social Care staff should also visit our workforce development website for opportunities targeted at the wider adult social care workforce. Full information on all of our e-learning and classroom courses is available by logging onto eCentral. Course title Target audience & overview Date, Time & Location Agile Working – This elearning module is available to all Walsall Council staff as an introduction Click here to book on generic to agile working and the benefits that it can bring. Basic Business This elearning module is available to all Walsall Council staff and is aimed at helping Click here to book on Maths those who lack confidence in using mathematics for business & within Excel. Coaching Skills The Learning and Development team are offering supervisors, team leaders and managers the Click here to book on Gym Cohort 2 opportunity to acquire basic coaching skills in line with the council's coaching agenda. Modern Slavery & Awareness raising sessions on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking targeting specific Click here to book on Human Trafficking audiences. These courses are mandatory for all first responders & front line staff. Awareness Other staff may attend T2 course or complete the elearning module on eCentral. Vital skills for This course is aimed at budget holders. Click here to book on budget holders Health & Safety for This course is for all employees who have line management for employees 14/03/2019 WMBC Managers, Line and/or the building they work in to ensure that they are aware of their 9.30am – 1.30pm, EDC Room 6 Managers & responsibilities and duties. Click here to book on Supervisors (inc building managers) (H&S) Corporate This course is aimed at any new employees joining the council who are 27/03/2019 Induction recommended to attend the course within the first two months of joining. Staff 9.30am - 4.30pm in Oak Room, HR, Civic Centre are encouraged to discuss this with their line manager as part of their workplace Click here to book on induction. This course is aimed at any new employees joining the council. Safeguarding for The aim of this two day workshop is to support staff with the responsibility of 25 and 26/04/2019, Managers (Internal being the Safeguarding Enquiry Manager of section 42 Safeguarding Enquiries to 9.30am - 4.30pm at Forest Arts Centre Adult Safeguarding be able to implement their key legislative duties and responsibilities introduced Click here to book on Staff Only) by the Care Act 2014.