Employees at heart of council success A new strategy has been agreed to support council employees in their roles in delivering vital services to local residents. The council’s People Strategy recognises the critical role that a motivated, skilled and capable workforce plays in every aspect of service delivery and continuous improvement. The strategy sets out a framework for key activities and actions over the next five years. In common with many other organisations, the council faces particularly difficult challenges in maintaining and improving the quality and effectiveness of service outcomes whilst achieving ever tighter efficiency targets. The People Strategy aims to provide employees with the necessary support and development to continue to improve the services we deliver.
Julie Whitelaw, acting head of corporate services said: “The People Strategy is designed to support the council’s key aim of improving the quality and value of the services we provide to the people of West Lothian. “The quality and effectiveness of these services rely on the commitment, dedication and ability of each and every member of staff, who on a daily basis make a difference to the lives of our customers. “At the core of the strategy is the recognition that the continuing ability of the council to achieve this aim depends ultimately on the skills and commitment of our employees.
“The strategy sets out a plan for the key activities and actions over the next five years which will support and drive the development of staff.” The People Strategy has been developed in conjunction with the Customer Service Strategy and the Improvement Strategy and is key to the successful delivery of the council’s Corporate Plan. It has been developed in conjunction with key stakeholders including senior management, staff and Trade Unions. Further information about the People Strategy and what it means for you will be communicated to you through your service manager over the coming weeks.
To view the People Strategy, please go to www.westlothian.gov.uk/jobs/mytoolkit1/
Equality key to People Strategy One of the key elements of the People Strategy is to further support equality of opportunity in the workplace. The council’s equality outcomes were published in 2013 and include a number of commitments to tackle inequality and promote diversity. Building on the outcomes that relate to the council as an employer, the People Strategy is underpinned by a focus on promoting and celebrating equality and diversity throughout the council by consulting, engaging and acting on the views and concerns of employees.
Already, work has begun to develop a new learning strategy for council employees in relation to equality and diversity. Later this year, an exercise to better understand the profile of our employees in relation to equality will be undertaken, enabling more focused efforts to tackle the most persistent inequalities. We will continue to promote equality through events and initiatives throughout the life of the Strategy, the first of which took place in February to celebrate LGBT History Month 2014.
help organisations to: tackle discrimination; promote equality and promote good relations. Areas covered by the “protected characteristics” of the Act are: n Age n Disability n Gender n Gender identity n Religion or belief n Marriage and civil partnership n Pregnancy & Maternity n Sexual orientation n Race
The Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty in Scotland are designed to
The West Lothian Disability Equality Forum, who were instrumental in creating the council’s equality outcomes.
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