Bob Heaton Executive Director

Resources

London Borough of Newham

Topics

• Needs

• Plans and Targets

• Achievements

• Highs and Lows

• The Future

- Almost 6,000 (46%) of the workforce in semi-skilled jobs (scale 4 and below)

- Many don’t need SfL

- But still a tall order

Scale of Need

Plan

- Commence January 2006

- Courses- Literacy- Numeracy- ESOL- ICT- Communication Skills

- 30 hours – 3 hours a week over 10 weeks

Plan

- Voluntary enrolment

- Use ULRs to ‘spread the word’

- Encourage enrolment using ICT as an incentive

- ICT installed at depot

- Make it convenient and flexible…..and fun!

Targets

Target Areas- Refuse and Cleansing- Catering & Cleaning- Care Workers- School Support Staff

Target Numbers- To exceed LDA ‘required outputs’ of

providing 80 ‘learning opportunities’

- 171 learners attended

- 215 courses completed

- 198 qualifications achieved

- 39 national tests achieved

- 42 achieved more than 1 qualification

Achievements

- 70% male (v 30% workforce)

- 73% over 40

- 7% disabled (v 3.8% workforce)

- 60% white (v 56% workforce)

- 72% Scale 4 or below

- 67% Refuse and Cleansing

- 18% Care

Our 171 learners were…..

Lows- Senior managers on board but not front-line

managers- Staff not wanting to admit need and be exposed- Key staff dependency - risk- Pressure on services to improve performance - Scale of need – most at Entry Level- Not embedded in corporate processes and

systems from day one eg induction, appraisals- Dilution of impact - unable to release staff from

same teams

Highs

- Open up communication lines between management and front line staff

- Improved/different working relationship with unions

Examples of staff progressing

- Street cleaner now working in Customer Service

- Drivers now able to provide office cover

- Learners to ULRs

- Confidence gained to speak at a conference

Quotes “I can use a PC, I can’t believe it, I’ve been frightened of

them for years. It has opened up a whole new world for me.”

“I’ve learned how to do percentages. My son is just starting school, at least I now have a hope of being able to help him with his homework.”

“I have never been able to read or write properly. I’ve spent the last 26 years supporting my children through their education. They have their degrees – now it’s my time.”

But don’t just take my word for it…

Other benefits

- Time-sheets completed correctly

- Instructions understood

- Helping kids with homework

- Encouraging members of their family (our community) to learn

The Future

• Open up SfL courses for all of our workforce• Focus on embedding within organisational

processes eg induction, appraisal• Convince front line managers of the benefits• Introduce use of the IT bus• Extend the programme eg ‘brush-up your

maths’ – 20 already signed up including up to PO6 staff

Everyone’s a Winner!