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Hello and welcome to this week's issue of Your News. In our last issue before Christmas, watch a recording of the Mayor's carol concert, get advice on staying safe in the winter weather, as well as an update on parking in Fellowship Square, plus much more.
We wish you all a safe, healthy and happy festive period.
 At this time of uncertainty, many people are experiencing stress, especially with the upcoming holiday period. But support is available - don't suffer in silence.
Financial support
If you are a Waltham Forest resident, there are many ways the Council can support with advice and guidance you if you are struggling with financial issues such as debt or paying your bills.
Mental health support
Support is also available for all our staff through our Employee Assistance Programme helpline offering you and your family access to information, advice and counselling on a variety of personal and workplace issues such as managing work-related pressures, debt and money worries, legal advice or bereavement and loss support. Any family member over 16 who lives with you can also get help via the programme.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this festive season, allow yourself to take time out. Especially if you find your stress levels rising, you may want to head out for a walk, go out for a coffee or relax on your own, whatever will help you to unwind. Mental health support and advice is available through the NHS along with help with your finances and how to cope.
The festive season is here and it’s a period where many of us will be spending time with family and friends. In order to keep everyone in our workplaces safe, please note the following rules:
- All staff who can work from home should do so
- If you feel unwell, are waiting for PCR test results or have been asked to take a PCR test by Track and Trace, do not come into the workplace until you have a negative PCR test result
- When working from a Council building, ensure you wipe down your desk at the start of the day- before setting up your equipment- using the wipes provided
- Sanitise your hands regularly and wear a face covering in communal areas
- Open windows wherever possible
Taking a Lateral Flow test before meeting up with others is one of the ways you can help protect yourself and others as one in three people who have Covid-19 do not show any symptoms and can spread the virus without knowing it. In the last week 17,000 people claimed their booster in Waltham Forest, so if you haven’t had your jab yet there are appointments available at clinics in the borough.
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In line with government advice, employees will not be required to provide medical evidence of sickness absence for the first 28 days of sickness (this includes non-working days, such as weekends and bank holidays). This means that employees can self-certify for a period of sickness up to 28 calendar days; after that period they will require a fit note as normal.
This change took effect from Friday 17 December, but applies to absences beginning on or after Friday 10 December 2021, up to and including absences which begin on or before Wednesday 26 January 2022.
The self-certification period is set to revert back to seven days for absences beginning on or after Thursday 27 January 2022. If you have any questions please contact HR.
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During the winter months we need to take some additional precautions to keep safe. The onset of autumn and winter brings colder, wetter weather and darker days, which pose health risks when working in the open for even short periods of time. Low temperatures, frosty conditions, and winds can all place the body under stress due to loss of heat. We've put together a set of winter-wellness guidance to help keep you safe as the temperature drops.
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Join the Mayor of Waltham Forest and local schools in a celebration of Christmas music with our special 30-minute recording of songs and sing-along carols for everyone to enjoy.
With special thanks to our friends Waltham Forest Music Service, the video features an introduction from the Mayor, Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste, a message from her Chaplain and a selection of designs submitted for the Mayor’s Christmas card competition. But, most importantly, plenty of your favourite songs for the season sung by our amazing school children!
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On Thursday 16 December 2021 at 9.30am, Chief Executive Martin Esom hosted a special festive edition of the all-staff meeting, joined by Council Leader Cllr Grace Williams and colleagues from across the Council. In total nearly 900 colleagues tuned in.
We heard from several colleagues including graduate trainees Simon Hooper and Aya Bolt who spoke about the plans for the Town Hall's wellbeing rooms, followed by a celebration of each directorate's highlights for the year delivered by Jenni McCarthy, Nicholas Peart, Nadia Rabah, Harshil Shah and Salma Chand. Joe McDonnell was also there to give an update on the Covid-19 situation.
If you missed the all-staff meeting, you can watch it back at the link below.
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The Council is proud to support the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP), a two year scheme for graduates who wish to pursue a career in local government.
Applications to the scheme close on Wednesday 5 January 2022 so if you're interested in finding out more, follow the link below.
If you think your service could be a good fit for a six month NGDP graduate placement, business case applications are also now open to all services to apply, closing date on Friday 28 January 2022.
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Every year, the Local Government Graduate Finance Programme brings together local authorities and other public services to recruit and train graduates who want to pursue a career in public finance. Join one of them on a secure, four-year contract and you will gain exposure to every aspect of public finance while studying towards a CIPFA Level 7 Apprenticeship, including the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification.
At Waltham Forest we have designed our Finance Graduate Trainee Programme to ensure that we can develop the leaders of tomorrow. In four years with us, you will gain invaluable finance and leadership experience, through a programme of rotational work placements of varying lengths. We are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals to join our team and help drive forward improvements. Find out more and apply at the link below.
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A reminder to all colleagues and visitors that vehicular access to Fellowship Square will change from Tuesday 4 January 2022. All vehicle traffic must enter the site from the Farnan Avenue/Magistrates entrance where the new dedicated Council parking is situated. Parking on the east side of the campus (Sycamore House) will be closed permanently due to the commencement of the Phase 2 construction works which are being delivered by the Council’s development partner Countryside. Access to the Town Hall cycle store and pedestrian access to the Assembly Hall will remain unchanged.
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The lead story in the latest edition of Waltham Forest News gives thanks to the 230+ donors who helped raise £12,500 for local organisations that are supporting new and existing refugees in our borough. The story features details about Waltham Forest Migrant Action and other recipients of funding, talking about their inspiring work.
Pictured from left to right are Liam, Melodie, Melanie and Jessica who raised over £2,000 as part of a sponsored run. Well done to everyone involved in this wonderful initiative
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Our wonderful waste and recycling crews will be working hard over Christmas, including the bank holidays, to make sure that residents’ waste is collected. The dedication of our refuse collectors is a source of pride every day for us as a council, but we commend them for their ongoing service.
We have a dedicated webpage for anybody who lives in Waltham Forest to find out what day their bin will be collected:
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Learning, development and your wellbeing
You no longer need to email HR to book on to our training courses - just click the link next to the course you want and book yourself on directly.
Find out about upcoming wellbeing events at the link below.
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Wellbeing at Work
Wednesday 12 January at 9.30-12.30pm
DSE Assessment & Homeworking
Tuesday 18 January at 9.30 -12.30pm
Working at Height (including ladder use)
Wednesday 19 January at 9.30-12.30pm
Fire Safety
Wednesday 26 January at 11-12.30pm
Manual handling
Thursday 27 January at 9.30-12.30pm
These course (apart from Manual Handling) will be on Microsoft Teams – to book please email: healthandsafety@walthamforest.gov.uk |
Events
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Light Up Waltham Forest colour change
Thursday 23 December
The Light Up Waltham Forest light installations across the borough will change colour from green (for the winter solstice) to yellow in time for Christmas. The town hall projections will host bright stars, and the William Morris gallery will illuminate with tree designs as an ode to Morris himself.
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Jobs
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