"Placements" for Scarborough Borough Council Staff

Tuesday, 11 May 2021 14:36

By Carl Gavaghan, Local Democracy Reporter

Scarborough Council is to send its officers out on placements with businesses and voluntary groups in the hopes it will help them to “see life through the eyes” of local residents.

The initiative is part of the borough authority’s “Pride in Our People” workforce development programme which aims to help its employees to step outside of the world of local government to allow them to deliver on public priorities.

It is one of a number of measures being suggested, including a revamp of the staff awards scheme.

A report, which will go before the council’s cabinet on Tuesday next week, lays out its hopes for the scheme.

It states:

“One key part of this programme is that we want our officers to have experience of the outside world so they gain a real understanding of what is important to our local residents and communities.

“With that in mind, we have approached local organisations to arrange placements for some of the officers who will be embarking on the programme.

“We hope this will enable our officers to see life through the eyes of our local community and businesses and develop a network outside of their normal council cohort.

“We have already received significant interest in offering placements from external organisations including the National Park Authority and local businesses but would also welcome interest from any external body that would like to help us, including placements with voluntary groups.”

The report adds that a working group of staff has suggested that an employee success event be rebranded under the heading of STARS meaning the Scarborough Borough Council Team Awards and Recognition of Success.

The full list of proposals will be debated by the cabinet next Tuesday.