Issue #80, Tuesday 14 November 2023
In this week's issue, on International Fraud Awareness Week learn more about fraud and reporting it, pay reviews for 2022/23, mid-year review deadline is approaching, and much more.
It's International Fraud Awareness Week, and as Council officers it is important that all staff are able to spot and report potential fraud when they see it.
The Council’s Corporate Anti-Fraud team have made several achievements this operational year including recovering 40 council properties to the value of more than £6million, stopped 17 Right to Buy Applications preventing £2million in discounts, seven employees have been dismissed and seven recruitment applications were stopped.
A particular type of fraud we all need to be vigilant against is procurement fraud, which can be committed at any point in the procurement process. It has been estimated to cost local authorities in England between £275m to £2.75bn each year.
If you suspect that a colleague or resident is committing fraud, bribery or corruption against the Council, please report it. You can email the Fraud team or make an anonymous and confidential referral by calling our 24-hour fraud hotline on 0300 003 1099.
If you would like to arrange bespoke fraud awareness training for your team, then please contact Jamie.Branch@walthamforest.gov.uk
We are pleased to confirm that the national pay award negotiations for Local Government Services (‘Green Book’) employees have now concluded and a pay award of the following has been agreed with effect from 1 April 2023:
- An increase of £2,226 for all eligible employees (up to and including spine point 48)
- Eligible allowances to be increased by 3.88%
- Pay spines 49 and above will receive increase of 3.88%
These increases will be implemented along with the appropriate arrears with effect from your December 2023 pay. Please note that arrangements are currently being made to amend the pay scales to reflect this increase. Find out more here.
 Within the Oracle Smart Forms section, alongside being able to search to see if a supplier has been set up, you can now search to see all payments that have been made to a supplier.
You can search by the supplier's name or number, invoice number or by purchase order number if applicable. If required, you'll only need enter one of these details. Please ensure you scroll to the right-hand side of the screen and click on the 'OK' button to start the search.
Your results will show a heading called BACS reference which is proof of payment; suppliers will see on their statements. You'll also see the payment date, number of payment lines and an invoice source e.g. spreadsheet, non-PO, mosaic, or external (paid by purchase order). At the bottom of the results page, you can also export an excel file of your results.
We hope this is a useful and helpful addition in your Oracle journey!
We are currently preparing for next year’s Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Neighbourhood Policing, held in partnership with the Met Police.
Our Citizens’ Assembly will be made up of people from the borough, who will share stories from across our communities about their experiences with the police and make recommendations on how we can get the best possible service from our local police service. The Met Police are backing the Citizens' Assembly and have said they will listen and respond to its findings.
If you live in Waltham Forest, please take the time to let us know about your own experiences and opinions by filling in our survey.
|
Strategic Partnerships invites colleagues across the Council to take part in free training throughout Safeguarding Adults Week 2023 (Monday 20 to Friday 24 November).
The programme will provide guidance on how to better support residents with additional care and support needs in the borough, with information on:
- Team around the person
- Making safeguarding personal
- Making a good safeguarding referral
- Safeguarding unpaid carers
|
Waltham Forest has a strong and meaningful connection to the Armed Forces.
On Sunday 12 November the council publicly renewed its commitment to the Armed Forces community by re-signing the Armed Forces Covenant and launching its new Armed Forces Action Plan. The action plan sets out commitments to the Armed Forces community across eight key areas:
- Having a Home
- Lifelong learning and finding a career
- Health and Wellbeing
- Education
- Being a responsible employer
- Culture
- Communications and awareness raising
- Communities and Partnership
Officers can play a pivotal role by learning more about the needs of the community via the Armed Forces Covenant E-Learning module as well as raising awareness of the support available to members of the Armed Forces community. Please visit the Armed Forces Action plan page to learn more.
|
The Inclusive Mentoring programme will see 20 mentors from the positive action cohort match with 20 mentees, made up of Chief Officers, sharing their lived experiences and generating a shared learning approach.
Find out more and access the application form using the link below.
Applications close on Friday 24 November.
For any additional information, if you would like to arrange a one-to-one conversation with one of our programme representatives or alternatively, be considered for an in person ‘drop-in’ session, please email us at People@walthamforest.gov.uk
|
The Council wants to help residents lower their energy bills this winter and would like to encourage residents to apply to see the support available to them.
All residents in the borough can get tailored support depending on their circumstances, from energy saving advice, to free home improvements that could provide annual savings of between £100 and £1,800.
To access these schemes, residents can enquire at their local library, Family Hub, or via Citizens Advice.
We would like to ask staff working with residents to signpost them to this scheme, as well as encourage staff who could benefit from energy saving measures in their home to apply. Please email grace.couch@walthamforest.gov.uk if you would like any further information.
|
Are you in the early stages of a career in local government and interested in networking with other early career professionals across Waltham Forest Council?
If this sounds like you, please drop Elinor Green an email to help co-design an inclusive early careers group. This could be a space which explores career development, delivers local government masterclasses and offers informal support and knowledge sharing opportunities. If you are interested in shaping this space, or have a question about this initiative, please email elinor.green@walthamforest.gov.uk
Out in the Forest, Waltham Forest’s LGBTQIA+ Network, is celebrating Transgender Awareness Week (13-19 November).
We are proud of our staff for their continued support of the LGBTQ+ community through events like our Quiz Night, which raised over £1,000 for ELOP, and attending Transgender Awareness training. It continues to be crucial to educate ourselves and act when we see transphobia and homophobia.
This year, we encourage you to engage with content by or about trans people!
|
Last week we hosted our autumn wedding fair, welcoming hundreds of people through the Fellowship Square doors to see what our brilliant Marry Me team can offer.
Meet our lovely registrars Charmaine, Amber, Debbie and Ginny, over on our TikTok channel.
To sign up to our next wedding fair in February 2024, click the link below.
|
Mid-year reviews are an opportunity for staff to discuss with their managers their performance for the year so far, review the goals set in April, consider how you can be supported to develop and ensure that there are clear SMART goals for the remaining year.
The deadline for this is Friday 24 November.
Managers, please check your structure on Oracle as soon as possible to ensure it is accurate. To do this, click the “My Team” tab and then click the “My Team” app. If your structure is incorrect it will not work in Clear Review. Please submit a Hornbill request to change your organisation structure on Oracle.
If you have any further queries, please contact ODMailbox@Walthamforest.gov.uk
From Monday 20 of November, the current booking portal for The Language Shop will no longer be in use and a new booking portal will go live.
All partners are being contacted to ensure a seamless changeover. In the next two weeks, users will receive notification about these changes. Training will be available upon request and on the new portal. Users will only need to change their password.
Users will only need to change their password to use the new portal, and all users will be emailed instructions on how to do this. All information and bookings will be transferred and copied into the new booking system.
For any queries please contact The Language Shop at bookings@thelanguageshop.org or Zainub.patel@newham.gov.uk
|
Stop Hate UK in partnership with No Space for Hate will be hosting a training session on Wednesday 15 November, to help ensure that Waltham Forest remains a safe and welcoming place for members to live, visit and work in.
This one hour session will cover topics such as the definition of hate and discrimination, recognising the different types of faith-based hate crime, and reporting and understanding the impact hate crime can have upon individuals, families and communities.
Click on the link below to access Learning Pool and search for "Stop Hate faith-based Hate Crime Awareness training" to book your place.
|
World Prematurity Day raises awareness of premature birth and the impact it can have on families.
Waltham Forest Council are proud to support The Smallest Things, a charity dedicated to promoting the good health of premature babies and their families. We were one of the first organisations to sign up to The Smallest Things Employer with Heart Charter signifying our commitment to offer extended leave at full pay for parents of premature babies (born prior to 37 weeks).
In addition, we encourage managers to offer their full support to any parent returning to work following the birth of a premature baby. Consider flexible working patterns to help parents juggle work commitments amid family medical needs and appointments. Read more on how the Council supports our employees below.
|
Talk Menopause “Café” - Wednesday 15 November 11am-12pm
Going through menopause can leave you feeling confused and frustrated but talking to others can help.
Wellbeing and The Women of Waltham Forest Network are here for you. Join us on Wednesday 15 November 11am-12pm for our Menopause Café: a confidential space to help and support you through the possible challenges that Menopause can bring. This is a space for you to talk and be listened to without judgment, and we welcome all colleagues.
Our Menopause Cafés are an opportunity for all who may be experiencing symptoms of Perimenopause, Menopause, or post Menopause to come together via teams to create a space to talk and share experiences. Please come along, to listen or share, in the hope that we can offer and receive support whilst dealing with the complexities that menopause can bring.
We are always here to help and can be contacted via wellbeing@walthamforest.gov.uk
We invite you to join the “MenoPause for thought” Teams channel which is a private group. Please email womens.network@walthamforest.gov.uk and request to be added.
Employee Assistance Programme
With ever increasing pressures at work and home, there are times when we all need some extra support to balance the demands of everyday life.
Care First are an independent, leading provider of professional employee support services. Care First offer confidential, professionally qualified counsellors and information specialists, who are experienced in helping people to deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues such as wellbeing, family matters, relationships, debt management, workplace issues, and more.
The service is free of charge to use just call 0808 168 2143 - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and is accessible by phone or online. All staff are entitled to eight free counselling sessions per condition per year.
To access Care First services online you will need to log in.
Care Firsts website
Username: WalthamForest
Password: employee
|
My Possible Self App
Are you interested in tracking your moods and learning more about yourself? You can now download the My Possible Self app
My Possible Self contains a mood tracker, visual and audio exercise to boost your mood and relax, as well as insights on your behaviours to help you do more of what you like.
To create an account on the app, first access the My Possible Self website:
http://bit.ly/MyPossibleSelfPortal
Password: SoD2021!
Please note that this app has replaced the Thrive app.
|
Brain in Hand: digital self-management support system
We are working with Brain in Hand: a digital self-management support system for people who need help remembering things, making decisions, planning, or managing anxiety. It is not condition-specific, but is often used by people who are autistic or managing anxiety-related mental health challenges. Combining practical human support and simple digital tools, Brain in Hand helps people live more independently.
To refer a service user or find out more, contact Luke at LukePawlikow@braininhand.co.uk or Sabila at Sabila.Hafejee@walthamforest.gov.uk
The Wheel of Life
Dates from May-November
Online
Being overwhelmed can leave you feeling out of control and unsatisfied. This session will help you to identify appropriate work/life balance that will enhance your overall wellbeing by identifying and aligning the many facets that make up your life.
Qigong: practice of cultivating vital life-force
Dates from June-December
Online
Qi Gong is the gentle mindful movement for physical and mental relaxation. This practice helps to energise the body, release stress and increase overall feelings of wellbeing
Learning & development
We have a range of training courses and learning and development opportunities available.
Please visit the link below to view.
|
|
 |
Jobs
Got an item for staff news?
If you would like to share news in the next edition, please send no more than 100 words (and an image) to yournews@walthamforest.gov.uk by 12noon on Monday 20 November.
|
