Jan confirms that we have submitted a formal notice, known as an HR1, that is legally required from organisations considering redundancies. It does not mean that we will definitely make redundancies but, if needed, it allows for discussions to take place within a legal context. No decisions have yet been made that will impact specific service areas. 

Maria Price, our new Director of Legal and Democratic Services, joined us on 24 October 2022.

Maria has had a few weeks settling in and finding her way around our buildings. She would like to introduce herself to the rest of the DCC family and will hopefully be meeting more of you in person soon. Get to know Maria.

Digital and Technology Services has a project to roll out new hybrid meeting room equipment using Microsoft Teams technology that is compatible with your laptop.

With our Estates colleagues we are reviewing which rooms will be fitted with new hybrid meeting room equipment.

Let us know if there are any meeting rooms you would like to be considered as part of the roll-out.

Have you had your flu jab?

💉 Due to vaccine availability, we have a flu vaccine clinic booked at Taw View in Barnstaple on Friday 16 December. Clinic time is approximately between 10:30am to midday with bookings at two-minute intervals. As the number of vaccines is limited, we will not be able to accommodate walk-ins, so this is by appointment only.

If you are frontline staff but are unable to book a clinic, you can get a vaccine at a pharmacy and reclaim the cost through iTrent if not eligible for a free vaccine. Please remember to record your flu jab on iTrent.

Are you a frontline worker in need of a seasonal coronavirus (COVID-19) booster? Book or manage your vaccination.

Our practitioners at the Devon Youth Justice Service (Devon YJS), a service we manage on behalf of agencies including the police, probation service and NHS, have been called our ‘greatest asset’ by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation. Find out more on our new pages.

This sunflower has been made by young people and staff at the Atkinson Secure Children’s Home, Exeter, after reading about the significance of Ukraine’s national flower.

In a recent Ofsted inspection (where the home achieved a ‘Good’ rating), the inspectors made positive comments about the collaborative nature of the project.

Find out more on Inside Devon.

Yesterday (Thursday 23 November) was Carers Rights Day.

Lesley Reilly, Social Care Assessor, shares her experience of being a carer and how we have supported her to balance work and her caring responsibilities.

We sent out a special Carers Rights Day bulletin yesterday letting people know where to get help and support and to raise awareness of the needs of carers.

To mark the 16 Days of Action campaign (from 25 November until 10 December), organisations and community groups across Devon are hosting a series of events and activities to bring communities together to stand against violence against women and girls, celebrate the strength of victims and survivors, and shine a light on the support available.

Find out more on the Safer Devon website.

Are you looking for a better way to collaborate with your team? Do you still feel like you need an in-person meeting to get all your ideas down on paper? Microsoft Whiteboard might just be the thing for you.

Learn more about Whiteboard and how you can use it in your Teams meetings on “Whiteboard for Online Meetings” with the Digital Change Team. The next session takes place on Thursday 1 December.

Book on this and future Whiteboard sessions, as well as any of our other Office 365 support sessions.

New Microsoft Excel training course dates have been added. Scomis is running half day, virtual tutor-led courses to help you learn the basics of formulas and functions to increase productivity and work smarter! Find out more and book onto a course in 2023.

Shop local this Christmas and find some great gift ideas and help support Devon businesses.

You’ll be amazed what’s Made in Devon and be happy to know you’re supporting local, legal and honest companies that go out of their way to support the Devon economy, communities and the environment.

Take a look at the Made in Devon - Devon Discounts on offer exclusively to DCC employees. To access the page you will need the password: DCC.

The Smarter Devon team has brought together a selection of data experts from the community to present topics linked to data.

Sign up to take part in the special festive events the team is hosting during December and explore the countdown on Inside Devon. 

🎄 The first session is Thursday 1 December – Do they know it's Smarter Devon – 1:30pm to 2:15pm

As part of the Devon Wellbeing Hub, colleagues working in healthcare, social care and the police across Devon are able to sign up to take part in a free Mindfulness Course run by the University of Exeter through the AccEPT Clinic.

Expressions of interest are now being accepted for the next courses starting in January 2023.

Virtual Manager programme:

• You - Wednesday 7 December
• People - Wednesday 8 February

Pre-retirement - Tuesday 24 January

Communicating and engaging with your team - Tuesday 31 January

Focus on your finances - Thursday 2 February

✔️ A reminder that your username for DeL is now your iTrent assignment/payroll number. This is the number you use to log into iTrent.

• Did you know that there's a new feature in Teams called Speaker Coach? It gives you feedback on your speech, including information on pace, repetitive language and filler words.
• ICT is aiming to increase their Egress Prevent User Acceptance Testing programme over the next few weeks, so will be selecting staff members to add to the trial.
• In our Events and Activities community, Jolly Running is seeking marshals to help at the Extremely Jolly 10K at Escot Park, Ottery St Mary on Saturday 10 December.