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No. | Item |
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Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared. |
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To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Minutes: Resolved that the Minutes of the People Policy Development Committee held on 17 February 2021 be approved and signed as a correct record. |
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Development of a Volunteers Strategy. (Verbal) Minutes: Amy Hawkins, Interim Head of Adult Services provided a verbal response in
relation to the development of
a Corporate Volunteering Strategy. Background She stated that we
had worked alongside volunteers during the Covid response
and the impact had been tremendous both within the Council and within
communities. Connect
volunteering opportunities within the Council was an action in the Community
Support work stream of the Council’s Recovery Plan. Why should we have a corporate volunteering
Strategy? ·
To
ensure the nature and value of volunteer involvement is understood at all
levels of the Council so that volunteers and the Council mutually benefit from
the contribution that volunteers make. ·
We
know that many hundreds of volunteers are already contributing within the work
of the council and for wider community and social benefit, for example;
Committees, Museums, libraries, School Governors, PTA members and Community
Sports Coaches, Events Coordinators, Community Centre Volunteers and Friends of
Groups. ·
The
range and quality of services, facilities, activities and cultural life
benefits from the involvement of volunteers. ·
Volunteering
improvement of quality of life of volunteers themselves and the people and
communities that they support. ·
The
managing and support of volunteers is important and the volunteering strategy
will ensure there is the appropriate support and recognition for those
volunteering and those supporting volunteers. Volunteering Key
Principles: 1.
Volunteering
is undertaken by choice. Individuals
have the right to volunteer, or indeed not to volunteer. 2.
While
volunteers should not normally receive or expect financial rewards or
incentives, they should be reimbursed for reasonable out of pocket expenses. 3.
The
contribution of volunteers and paid staff should complement one another.
Volunteers should not be used to replace paid staff or to undercut their pay
and conditions of service. 4.
Volunteers
should enhance the quality of the Council’s activities. 5.
Effective
mechanisms should be in place to support and develop volunteers. 6.
Volunteers
(and paid staff) should be able to carry out their duties in safe, secure and
healthy environments that are free from harassment, intimidation, bullying,
violence and discrimination. 7.
Volunteers
should have access to appropriate opportunities for learning and development. 8.
There
should be a recognised process for the resolution of problems, for both staff
and volunteers. 9.
Volunteering
should be open and accessible to all. 10.
Both
the volunteer and the Council should benefit from the volunteering
relationship. 11.
The
contribution of the volunteer should be recognised. Current Progress: ·
Secured
some short term funding is for a temporary increase of additional hours for
current employees on a task and finish basis to map existing and potential
opportunities within their service areas and directorates. ·
We
are currently gathering information about the various roles that volunteers are
already undertaking. ·
As
well as opportunities for roles that could be developed with services across
the Council. ·
The
processes and procedures already in place.
·
The
experiences of staff who are currently working with volunteers. ·
Information
about mutual benefits – the benefit of the volunteering role to the service and
the benefits for the volunteer such as training, qualifications, etc. ·
Additional
regional actions in support of this strategy; Volunteer Training and Toolkits
to support organisations in a variety of volunteering themes including; First
Steps to Volunteering, Volunteer for a Career, Volunteering Safely – these will
be added to ours and partners websites. Next Steps ·
Finish
the mapping; ·
Co-produce
the volunteering strategy; ·
Develop
and refresh existing volunteering policies / procedures to support the
implementation of the strategy; ·
Sign
off, launch and implement. Further information
could be obtained from either: Anthony Richards Anthony.Richards@swansea.gov.uk or Amy Hawkins Amy.Hawkins@swansea.gov.uk Amanda Carr and
Julia Manser, Swansea Council for Voluntary Services
(SCVS) who manage the Swansea Volunteer Centre were also present to provide
advice and guidance and would support the work of the Committee in order to
ensure Swansea be recognised as a Council of Volunteer excellence. The Chair thanked
all the Officers for their attendance and looked forward to receiving further
information at the next meeting. Resolved that the verbal item be noted. |
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Young Carers Strategy. (Verbal update) Minutes: Gavin Evans, Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People provided a verbal update on the Young Carers Strategy: ·
Councillor
Ceri Evans had been invited to attend future meetings of the multi-agency
group, the next meeting was scheduled during the first week of April 2021; ·
The
Draft Strategy was scheduled for the end of April 2021; ·
The
group had been looking at achievements and priorities and the focus would be on
completing the Young Carers Strategy; ·
Whilst
Education was currently represented on the group, representation from all
schools was sought to ensure the work would be embedded at that level; ·
It had
been “Young Carers Day” on Monday, however a Young Carers Action Week had taken
place with various on-line activities for Young Carers and their families; ·
The new
ID card had been launched with Swansea being one of ten Local Authorities in
Wales involved; ·
Corporate
Communications had gone out with various quotes from the Minister and Cabinet
Member for Children Services. The Chair thanked the Principal Officer for Early Help, Partnership and Young People for the verbal update. Resolved that the update be noted. |
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Work Plan 2020-2021. PDF 224 KB Minutes: The Chair outlined the Work Plan for 2020-2021. Alyson Pugh, Cabinet Member for Better Communities suggested
that the Committee could assist with the employability issues in respect of
various schemes such as the Kick Start scheme which involved a variety of
outside agencies. The Council were
currently responsible for the triage of these schemes to ensure the correct
people were matched to the most appropriate project. Resolved that: 1) The Work Plan be noted: 2) The Committee consider adding “Employability” to its Work Plan for 2021-2022. |