 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to this week's edition of Insider
This week, our Chief Executive reminds staff about briefings which are taking place next week, and acknowledges the contribution staff made during the recent storms.
We discover that our highways and transport services are top of the crop, ICT keeps us up to date with developments in their service, and we get to know one of our apprentices a little better.
Contributions to Insider are always welcome - we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Colleagues not receiving Insider? Tell us!
|
Message from Chief Executive
Our Chief Executive, Phil Norrey would like to thank all staff who have worked hard this week in response to the heavy rain and strong winds. He would also like to remind us about the staff briefings which are taking place next week on the following dates and locations:
Council Chamber, County Hall, Exeter on Tuesday 5 November between 12.00pm-1.30pm. This meeting will also be webcast live on the day here. (Please note that headphones are required for this).
Filleigh Village Hall, north Devon on Friday 8 November between 12.30-2.00pm.
We hope to see you there but if you are unable to make either of the briefings and have a question you would like us to consider, please email centre@devon.gov.uk.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Essential users claiming mileage
Since 1 April 2013 Essential Users lump sum payments have been made through the Payroll system. Because of this, Essential Users claiming mileage on the E-travel system now show as casual users. You will still receive payments at the correct rate.
Receipts
Please do not attach receipts to your paper claims. You should retain these receipts yourself for two years in case of an inspection.
|
 New ways of contacting ICT – removal of Social Care Mailboxes
As communicated before, ICT Services is improving the way you can contact them and have replaced a number of ICT mailboxes with a range of online forms.
The ICT IT Support Unit – Mailbox has already been removed. The next mailboxes to be replaced are:
• SSSYSTEM Social Services Systems Support – Mailbox
• SSUTRAIN Social Services Systems Support Training – Mailbox
Find out more (PDF version).
Good tip! Add our ICT Service Desk webpage to your favourites (you can find guidance on how to do this here) and make this your first choice for contacting the ICT & Social Care Service Desk in the future
Possible reasons why Outlook is slow
Do you have problems with Outlook running slowly? Want to give your Outlook a health check? ICT Services have put together this guidance to help you make sure your Outlook is running as efficiently as possible. It provides step-by-step guidance on what to look for and what you can do to speed up your Outlook’s performance
Important information about the recent Windows 8.1 update
If you are running Windows 8 on your own device, please be aware that if you update your PC or laptop to Windows 8.1, the DCC Remote Access Portal will no longer function. You will receive the message ‘an internal error has occurred’. This means that you will be unable to work from home or remotely with this update installed.
Find out more (PDF version)
|
|
 |
 |
|
Password procedure helps to keep data safe
We hold a huge amount of personal information about our staff and customers. This sensitive information is routinely used as part of our day-to-day delivery of services across the county.
It is the responsibility of all staff to Keep Devon’s Data Safe and an important step to ensuring electronic information remains secure is choosing a strong password. (PDF version)
|
Twitter increases Devon’s digital footprint
From school admissions to our apprentices, Twitter is growing in popularity within the organisation – we are all at it!
Many Twitter accounts have been set up for various services across the authority, the newest one being @JourneyDevon, used by our Transport Co-ordination Service to promote public transport through the Journey Devon website.
A list of our other accounts is available here and this link shows the latest tweets from all of our accounts combined. Are we missing any accounts that should be there?
Individual members of staff also connect with colleagues via Twitter so if you tweet why not follow this DCC tweeps list too?
Email our web team for help with getting better connected with Twitter and there is more information on Digital and Social media on our website
|
|
 |
 |
|
Getting to know... Mark Flay
Mark is a business administration apprentice working in our Registration Services team. He has already completed his Level 2 qualification in Business Administration and is now working towards his Level 3 qualification. Get to know Mark! (PDF version).
Mary Trapnell, HR Performance Development apprentice, is spending time in our Communications team on a work placement and was therefore the perfect person to interview him!
|
Win a free ceremony at Larkbeare House
A free ceremony is being offered by Devon Registration Service to celebrate the launch of a new wedding venue in the heart of Exeter.
One couple will have the chance to win the prize to celebrate the launch of Larkbeare House, where people will be able to have their full marriage ceremony and reception from January. Take part in the competition
|
|
 |
Meetings in Session
People Scrutiny – Thursday 7 November @ 10.00am. Agenda available soon
Health and Wellbeing Board - Thursday 7 November @ 14.00pm. Agenda
Job vacancies
View this week's DCC vacancies
|
 |
|
Devon Adoption
To coincide with National Adoption Week (4-10 November 2013), We are launching a campaign to encourage more prospective adopters.
Devon Adoption will be tweeting during the week and will be offering extended opening times for anyone to drop in and find out more about the adoption process. Devon Adoption social workers will be on hand to assist and provide advice.
The number to call for information is 0345 1551 076, visit Devon Adoption website or follow the tweets @DevonCC.
|
Early Help feedback needed
Early Help is about more than just child protection: it is about making sure that children living in Devon are safe, healthy, happy and well educated.
When a child’s needs increase, and more than one service has to be in place to meet the needs of the child and their family, “Early Help” is the name given to the way services work together to help the child and their family.
Families, carers and young people who access, or have accessed Early Help are being encouraged to take part in an Early Help questionaire, which aims to look at how the service can be improved.
Staff who work in these areas should encourage those they support to complete this early help questionnaire before 8 November
|
|
 |
SEND Pathfinder Briefing
As a Pathfinder, Devon has been testing out the proposals in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Green Paper and has now started to roll out the new processes in line with the Draft SEN Code of Practice, which also includes specific duties on Health & Social Care services.
Please read the latest update from our SEND Pathfinder Project, which includes training dates for Southern staff, including schools, Integrated Children's Service staff and mainstream social care among others.
|
|
 |
 The Big Knit keeping communities warm
Great fun was had at Tumbly Hill Day Care Centre in Kingsbridge recently as service users knitted 52 hats for the tops of Innocent Smoothies, in aid of The Big Knit 2013.
The Big Knit is a joint campaign between Age UK and Innocent drinks to help vulnerable older people. They knit the hats, Innocent drinks wear them and 25p of every drink sold goes to Age UK. (PDF version)
Pictured: Left to right: Mrs Grace Sheen, Mrs Rose Jeffery and Mr Ron Tandy
|
 |
|
Public satisfaction for highways and transport services
Our Strategic Director Place, Heather Barnes would like to thank staff for their hard work as our highways and transport services are given the thumbs up in a public survey. (PDF version)
|
Discoveries at Hemerdon Mine unearthed
After two years, our Historic Environment team’s archaeological investigations being undertaken on the site of the tungsten mine at Hemerdon, near Plymouth, are winding up.
This work, undertaken during the long wet summer of 2012 and the blistering heat of 2013 has involved the recording of the historic mine buildings, excavation of prehistoric cairns and a detailed investigation of the tin works that will be affected by the tungsten mining activity. (PDF version)
|
|
 |
Award nomination for Town Quay Bridge
The landmark £1.1 million bridge over the River Teign in Devon has been shortlisted in the ‘Pedestrian Footbridge’ category at the Structural Awards 2013.
The awards are organised by the Institution of Structural Engineers to celebrate international excellence in structural engineering
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Over three million people in Britain are terrified of answering their phones due to unsolicited marketing calls, a debt charity claims in a new report
|
|
|
|
Who said
“Of course, she has come out with silly remarks, so we thought why not?"
Send answer
Last week's quote
"Some people might be mildly shocked but I think we've all got used to a bit of that these days."
Last week's winner
Courie Amado-Maese, Social Work Resource Assistant, Estuary House
Last week's answer is Sir Tim Rice
|
|
|
|
World leaders, the Pope and ordinary citizens have all fallen victim to digital espionage, but have a look at how these plots compare to previous eavesdropping operations by secret intelligence agencies around the world
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
A: Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD, Devon UK.
T: (01392) 380 101 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
