Friday 29 April 2022
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Scam alert: Council tax rebate
We’ve heard reports that fraudsters are telephoning people, pretending to be from their local council, to con them into providing their bank details.
The callers refer to the government’s £150 council tax rebate, which was recently introduced to help people with their rising energy bills.
Posing as a local council, they ask the person for their bank details. Our Trading Standards Team flagged the scam recently and said:
“It’s a scam. Councils would never cold call and ask for your bank details to make the payment. Never give your bank details to a cold caller.”
For more information about the rebate, visit GOV.UK – Council tax rebate factsheet.
We’re upgrading Windows 10 devices
Please remember to upgrade your Windows 10 device. Schedule six hours if at home or two to three hours if in the office, at a convenient time for you (this could be overnight) to complete the upgrade before Wednesday 11 May.
Skype to Microsoft Teams migration update
ICT has completed all the migrations that they can in the current phase of the project, this includes all users that do not use contact centre working (Netcall) or Skype Response (Hunt) groups. If you have been migrated, Skype will no longer sign in. We will be looking at removing Skype from devices in the coming months but in the meantime there is a way to stop it loading.
New leadership arrangements for the Council confirmed
In January, we announced plans to consult on changes to the way our services are configured together with proposals for a new, smaller Strategic Leadership Team. Read an update from our Chief Executive, Phil Norrey about changes to the leadership group, including what they are, when they will happen and take a look at the leadership structure.
Head of Virtual School reflects on two years of coronavirus
The number of children in our care - children who are unable to live with their birth parents - rose over the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
We've now passed the two year anniversary since that first lockdown in March 2020, and although a lot has changed, coronavirus is still with us and still posing a challenge to young people's education.
We asked Wendy Ohlson, Headteacher of Devon's Virtual School, to look back to that first lockdown and recall for us the challenges she saw faced by children in care in particular as they continued their education.
What is Devon's 'virtual school'?
Every local authority in England that has responsibility for education has a 'virtual school'. It's a condition of The Children and Families Act 2014.
The role of the virtual school is to make sure that the educational outcomes of children in local authority care is as good as it can be. Councils work with schools wherever in the country children in their care are living. Children in care attend school like any other child, but the virtual school is responsible for their education.
Every virtual school has a Headteacher and a team that works closely with schools, who meet regularly with each child in care, to celebrate success, set targets, and support the child. And every school has a designated teacher for looked-after children, who is the main point of contact for the child.
Last year, the role of virtual schools extended. Now not only children in local authority care, but the education of every child who has a social worker is also overseen by their authority's virtual school.
Reminder: if you feel unwell don't come into an office
Leadership Group advise anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 or who develops symptoms to stay at home and avoid contact with others – in the same way you would if you had the flu or vomiting and diarrhoea.
If you are well enough and can do so, please work from home.
Remember to be tick aware this spring and summer
As April to June brings warmer weather it can be a great time to enjoy outdoors activities, such as a walk in one of Devon’s national parks or a cycle along a coastal path. However, it also brings the peak of tick activity.
Ticks are small spider-like creatures, which feed on blood of host animals, including humans. They can vary in size, from the size of a small freckle to a baked bean.
Some ticks can carry bacteria which pass diseases such as Lyme disease. Public health data shows cases of Lyme disease are significantly higher in Devon when compared to the rest of the country.
It's World Immunisation Week 24-30 April
The annual event, which is championed by the World Health Organisation, promotes the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against preventable diseases – many of which are available through the NHS in England. It is important to know that vaccinations are rigorously tested to the highest safety standards.
Holiday Activities and Food Programme update
Over the Easter break, 10,000 holiday scheme places were made available for children across Devon aged five to 16, who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals, as part of Devon County Council’s government-funded Holiday Activity and Food Programme.
Across Devon, 69 holiday scheme providers arranged activities and experiences for the children and they were all provided with a hot healthy meal. Activities included playing ultra violet dodgeball, swimming, using the climbing wall, roller-skating, Nerf wars and many of the children were able to prepare their own food.
External workshop providers also offered animal experiences, science experiments and circus skills. Devon early years and childcare advisers were able to visit some of the schemes and talk to the children to see what they thought and if it made a difference to them. Here's some feedback:
- Adult: "What would you be doing if you weren't here today?"
Child: "Probably in bed watching Netflix like normal."
- Child: "If I had to rate this club out of five, it would be a five because you can meet new friends. It's a good way to connect and learn new skills."
- Child: "It's great fun! The best things are climbing trees and the climbing wall."
Parents were also asked about the difference the fully funded schemes made to them.
- Parent: "It's great, they come home positive about what they've done - and they're tired!"
- Parent: "I wouldn't normally pay for a day at the zoo because I don't know how my son will be, and unfortunately that means both him and especially his older sister miss out. These days out mean I don't need to worry about that, and there isn't the stress of making sure everyone is enjoying it and getting their money's worth."
- Parent: "What a superb holiday club, my kids have absolutely LOVED it. I have been blown away by all the experiences they’ve had. My three rave about the food and can't wait to tell me what they’ve done each day. Thanks so much!"
For more information about the programme please visit our Holiday Activities and Food Programme webpage or visit our Facebook page. Email enquiries to childsc.holidayactivitiesfoodprogramme-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
More foster carers needed who can look after siblings
In Devon, there are currently four sibling groups in the care of Fostering Devon who are looking for foster homes where they can live together.
Emma Nobes of Fostering Devon said:
"We always try to keep siblings together in the same home where ever possible, but at the moment, there simply aren't enough foster carers who can care for more than one child
"It's incredibly important to keep brothers and sisters together so that they can share experiences and support one another through challenging times."
Caring for siblings can be extremely rewarding and life-changing, so if you feel you have the qualities needed to provide a loving home, we want to hear from you.
Download your free information booklet.
Families get their preferred primary school places
More than 99 per cent of Devon families have got places in one of their preferred primary schools this September.
7,189 families have been offered a place at one of their three preferred schools, with 97 per cent of the families who applied offered their first preference.
Recognise the symptoms of scarlet fever and chickenpox
Parents and carers are being reminded of the symptoms of scarlet fever and chickenpox, following a rise in cases across the country. Levels for both are what we expect to see at this time of year, but there has been an increase compared to 2021, when coronavirus restrictions kept cases below average.
Cllr Nick Kelly, Cllr Judy Pearce and Cllr John Hart at one of the Freeport sites
Devon backs Freeport proposals
Councillors have agreed our support for the development of the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport sites. The project has the potential to unlock £314 million of inward investment, and create more than 3,500 jobs, building on the area's global reputation for marine innovation and advanced engineering.
Councillors backed proposals to borrow up to £15 million of capital investment to kickstart transport infrastructure schemes, vital to the project. And they approved Devon County Council becoming a founder member of a company, limited by guarantee, to operate the Freeport, alongside South Hams District Council and Plymouth City Council.
A full business case for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport will be submitted later this month. Three main sites have been identified to unlock 130 hectares of development land, to provide space for high value advanced manufacturing and logistics companies: Langage Energy Park, Sherford Employment Zone, and South Yard in Devonport.
The BIG FIX returns!
The BIG FIX returns after a two year break, on Saturday 14 May, with one aim - to fix and breathe new life into as many broken things as possible!
Skilled menders, fixers, tinkerers and tailors from all over the country will give their time and expertise for free to help fix items that might otherwise be thrown away. Broken clocks, jewellery, clothing and textiles, gardening equipment, broken electronics... they can all be brought in for repair.
Get involved in Naturally Healthy May
The Naturally Healthy campaign is all about the power of nature and physical activity to improve our health and wellbeing, and May is a fantastic time to head outside and enjoy some fresh air and spring weather. To support events in May, Devon Local Nature Partnership will be running free, 20 minute lunchtime webinars about how to spot different wildlife while out and about around Devon.
And finally...
Ramadan comes to an end this weekend. We wish all of our Muslim residents and colleagues in Devon a happy Eid Mubarak for this bank holiday weekend.
Members' Area
Don't forget your Members' Area SharePoint site is your one-stop-shop to access resources to aid you in your role as a Devon County Councillor. Key documents from the Council's various service areas, including induction resources, are posted in the Document library, and the Who's who? highlights the best person for you to contact to help answer any queries you may have.
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