Decision details

Declarations of interests:

None

Witnesses:

Leatham Green, Programme Director for People and Change, East Sussex County Council

Kevin Foster, Chief Operating Officer, East Sussex County Council

John Stebbings, Chief Property Officer, Surrey County Council

Tobe Puckey, Applications Support Officer, East Sussex County Council

Holly Igglesden, Executive Assistant, Surrey County Council

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.   Officers delivered a presentation to the Committee on a strategy which had been developed to implement an effective and engaging induction programme for new members of staff joining the Orbis Partnership. Members were informed that inductions have the potential to contribute significantly to the success of Orbis by helping to create a happy, motivated workforce which can improve staff and skill retention thereby reducing costs arising from the recruitment process. Officers stressed that inductions should also improve the experience of managers and team members by instituting a process which enables new starters to begin their new role as soon as possible.

2.   The Committee heard details of how the Orbis EPIC Induction Programme proposed to engage new starters and improve the experience of existing staff. Following consultation with managers and staff, an induction programme had been developed which included developing a buddy system, allocating IT equipment and support as standard on the first day and providing feedback on why the new starter was interviewed and appointed to the position. Members were further informed that an app was in the process of being developed which staff can access on their phone as a supplement to the induction process. Officers stated that the aspiration was to embed the process across ESCC with specific elements of the programme tailored for those joining the Orbis Team.

3.   Members requested information on who was responsible for implementing the First Day Makers programme and were informed that at SCC the process was owned by the Training Team whereas at ESCC this was still in the process of being decided. The Committee asked to receive an update on the implementation of the EPIC Induction Programme at its meeting on 20 January 2017 as part of a Service Spotlight including information on who was responsible for the induction Programme at ESCC.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

The Committee to receive an update on the implementation of the EPIC Induction Programme at its meeting on 20 January 2017 as a Service Spotlight. The update should include information on who was responsible for the induction Programme at ESCC.

RESOLVED:

The Orbis Joint Committee reviewed and noted the approach outlined in the report for inducting new staff into Orbis.