Creating a Council workforce for the 2030s and beyond will be considered at the next Cabinet meeting on Monday 7 August 2023.
Cabinet Members will be asked to approve a new Workforce Strategy and Delivery Plan, which outlines the Council’s aspirations for the workforce over the next five to ten years, ensuring it continues to be a great place to work and is an inclusive employer of choice.
Like many organisations, the Council has experienced challenges to the recruitment and retention of staff over the past two years. Nationally the labour market is continuing to experience the impact of the pandemic and the recovery in its aftermath.
In common with many local authorities, the Council currently has ‘difficult to fill’ posts, particularly in social worker, solicitor, occupational therapist and social care roles.
The new Workforce Strategy seeks to address this in the short term, whilst in the medium and long term ensuring that the workforce can continue to deliver the Council’s Vision and priorities.
This includes the need for the Council workforce to have greater diversity, so that it represents all of the communities it serves. There are many benefits of having a diverse workforce as this helps the Council understand communities better and helps communities access the Council’s services.
Cllr Silvia Dacre, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources said:
“Currently 70% of the Council’s workforce lives within the borough which means that we have a good understanding and love for our towns and places, but there’s still more that we could do.
“We recognise the value of embracing difference and the benefits that the skills and perspectives of a diverse talented workforce bring to both the Council and our communities.
“We are fully committed to equality, diversity and inclusion as a Council, and our goal is to create a fairer and more equal society. We want to go further to ensure our policies, processes and organisational culture celebrate and champion the diversity of our whole workforce.”
The Delivery Plan which underpins the Workforce Strategy contains a programme of actions to meet challenges around workforce planning, recruitment and retention, review of pay and benefits/reward and employee engagement, equity and improved employee relations.
Council employees will have a vital role to play within the Delivery Plan. The Council has already established forms of engagement with staff including an Employee Reference Group, and networks which reflect the Council’s commitment to equalities and inclusion, including a Race Equality Network, Disability Network and LGBTQ+ Network.
If approved by the Cabinet, the Workforce Strategy and Delivery Plan will be recommended to Full Council for adoption.
A fair and inclusive Workforce Strategy is part of Calderdale’s Vision 2024 to be a place where you can realise your potential whoever you are.
The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday, and there’s less than a year to go. Where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting is on Monday 7 August at Halifax Town Hall from 3pm. The meeting can also be viewed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)