Purpose

Sefton Arc & Careline Service requires a restructure due to the number of historic posts without correct job descriptions and service changes over the years.  Staff are fulfilling roles that haven’t been reviewed for a considerable amount of time i.e., 10 years + to which duties and service delivery has changed.

Clear structured reporting lines are required, and staff job descriptions have been updated or re-assessed through the Job Evaluation process to help maintain and provide the best possible service to the customer.

The approval of the proposed restructure will mean all staff having a role and Job Description assessed through the job evaluation process which will result in the correct grades being paid to staff and a clear reporting line structure that will give support to all staff and provide an efficient and sustainable service moving forward.

Decision

Decision(s):

(1) That the Sefton Arc and Careline Service restructure as set out in the report be approved.

Reasons for the Decision(s):

To provide a more robust service delivery model, which lends itself to the requirements of the ARC & Careline allowing it to provide a significantly improved quality service to security and vulnerable service users and people across the borough of Sefton.

This new structure allows fairness and transparency to staff who have not had any type of review or evaluation of their roles and service area with clear reporting lines of support to all staff throughout the service. To provide an up to date and better standard of service delivery model and provide a higher quality service to the customer both internal and external of Sefton Council and private customers.

Align team members through job re-evaluation utilising current staff to become multi-skilled and able to fulfil roles as and when required, additional apprenticeship opportunities which would give the opportunity for growth within the team whilst providing existing team members the opportunity to develop and transition.  This will create a fully reflective operating model which aligns itself fully to the remit of Security, Careline and is able to meet the quality standards as set out in accreditation NSI and the TSA framework.

Staff will have clearly defined roles independent to the service area which will significantly improve communication and performance.

Introduction of management line will provide clear reporting lines and a support service to staff which will improve communication, service monitoring and a higher standard of service delivery whilst keeping up with new business opportunities within the current market.

Historical structure doesn’t suit the current needs of the service and staff have outdated job descriptions which causes issues with supporting staff through reporting lines and pay grades.

Sefton Arc teams consist of an Electrical team, Alarms Engineers team, Sefton Careline team, ARC & Patrol and an Admin team.  The current structure and job descriptions for all services doesn’t have a clear reporting management line making it difficult to manage performance and quality monitoring with budget and procurement requirements.

The posts of Seniors within the structure are mainly based onsite performing work tasks which has an effect on managing each service area.

Admin team:

Currently operating inefficiently due to a lack of shared knowledge within the team.  Four members of admin staff work in separate teams throughout the services which means cover for sickness or annual leave is difficult to manage.  The admin staff also don’t have any official reporting line in place.  Workload across this function is not streamlined and requirements of the role within the team are not being fulfilled due to these inefficiencies.  Within the new structure the admin team will work as one central admin function with shared knowledge which will support each member of staff with working tasks as well as providing a better service throughout Sefton Arc and Careline services.

ARC:

Change of job titles for the roles of ARC Manager, Shift Managers and Operations Managerto ‘Officer’ titles which will give clear reporting lines for staff.  Staff who work within the ARC monitoring the service have historically been appointed to the role of patrol staff, System Auditor & Police Controller, CCTV Operator /

 Admin Assistant job description which doesn’t reflect the working duties.  A new job description has been written to create the post of ARC Operator, and having been assessed through Job Evaluation has been confirmed at grade D.

The Arc Operator will also support the function of ID badge services to improve service delivery with waiting times.

Careline:

Careline advisor role doesn’t reflect the outdated job description.  A new JD has been written, and having been assessed through Job Evaluation has been confirmed at grade E.

Trusted Assessor role doesn’t reflect the outdated job description.  A new JD has been written, and having been assessed through Job Evaluation has been confirmed at grade F.

Manager Role:

A new ARC Manager role to be introduced to manage, support and monitor the operations of ARC and Careline services. JE process complete and confirmed at grade J.

Electrical and Alarms Manager role to be introduced to manage, support and monitor the operations of Electrical and Alarms unit services.  JE process complete and confirmed at grade J.

Apprenticeships:

Sefton Arc currently has 2 apprentice electricians.  Within the proposed restructure this will give the apprentices a route to full time work once the apprenticeship is completed as an electricians mate to give the staff experience of further onsite works to help them maintain further opportunities in the work place.  JE process complete and confirmed at grade B.

Two apprentice admin staff.  Given the age structure within the service, the apprentice route helps the Council secure the future by giving apprentices the experience and skillset to secure future employment.

Alarms Team:

Senior Fire Technician change of role title to Senior Alarms Technician.

A New Alarms Support Technician tole to be introduced to help support the alarms team function.  A new JD has been written, and having been assessed through Job Evaluation has been confirmed at grade F.

Roles:

Historically staff have been appointed to a Patrol team post but have been working within other teams throughout Sefton Arc and Careline services.  The new restructure will give each member of staff a job description for the correct role and graded through job evaluation which will result in a confirmed set structure for the service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: (including any Risk Implications)

None