Please find below a copy of UNISON’s initial response to the proposed changes at National Office. This response was written following consultation with our members at National Office and emailed to Lorraine Davidson and Peter Scott on 16th June 2010. We are keen to expand our organisation at head office and will be arranging a drop in session soon for staff to come along to.
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UNISON welcomes the chance to feed in comments about the proposed restructuring of ENABLE Scotland’s National Office. We would though express our disappointment that the notification given to UNISON was very short, which meant we were not able to attend the consultation meetings. Going forward we would hope that as the recognised trade union adequate time is afforded for consultation. Since the notification was received we have begun the process of consultation with our members. This paper represents UNISON’s initial response.
On the substantive proposals there is a sense amongst the members that an opportunity has been missed to engage staff at the formulation stage of the shaping of the new structure to meet the needs of the organisation. If time had been invested to consult staff on what the structure needs to be to meet the challenges ahead there would be a greater buy in at this stage.
Similarly in this vein, whilst it is welcome that there was an indication in Lorraine’s letter to UNISON of 1 June that there would not be redundancies directly associated with the restructure this was not conveyed to staff when the paper was initially issued to them. This combined with the direction to staff to ask for information of managers who themselves were not in possession of this significant information caused unnecessary anxiety amongst staff. We would ask that more consideration is given to communication going forward.
UNISON appreciates the financial pressures ENABLE Scotland operates under and indeed our members have endured the pain of a pay freeze and cuts to the sickness policy. We also note the increasing drive in social policy towards personalisation. Whilst no one would argue against people who have learning disabilities getting more choice and control over their lives rather than just being passive recipients of services, our members have expressed concern that many people who have learning disabilities will not want the added responsibilities associated with becoming purchasers and commissioners. Additionally unless personalisation is properly resourced there is a danger it will push down pay and standards in the sector. We hope ENABLE Scotland will continue to be a quality provider and seek to maintain and improve terms and conditions by not entering in a race to the lowest common denominator.
On the specific areas we would make the following comments:
Practice Development – ENABLE Scotland strives for high standards across its services and our members deliver these time after time. There is a concern that removing this team could undermine the focus and drive in this area.
Operations Department – we seek assurance there will be a suitable posts for everyone.
Training & Quality – We would want to see a continuing and explicit commitment to a highly trained workforce. Something ENABLE Scotland has done well at in the past.
Head of Corporate Support – it is unclear how the new post will relate to existing posts in the organisation. Furthermore at a time when finances are so tight what cost/benefit analysis of this new post has been carried out?
Overall we are worried about an increase in workload for staff that remain in the new structure and thus we seek info on what specific work will no longer be done or what will be done in different ways that will be more efficient?
Members are also asking about what is happening with the 6th floor of the office and how this impacts on matters and would welcome an update on this.
Additionally whilst roles are being restructured in National Office there is also a desire that the physical space is looked at again and that consideration is given to the return of a discreet staff room.
Members have also asked the question how can they access minutes from the meetings of the Joint Board of ENABLE Scotland. Are these open to staff to see? If not we would formally request that they are.
The above represents our initial views on the proposals. We would seek from ENABLE Scotland a timetable for further dialogue and a timetable for implementation. We look forward to hearing from you on the next stages.
