Minutes:
The Director of Human Resources attended the meeting virtually to update the Committee regarding issues that had been experienced with the completion of mandatory training and appraisals. The Chairman asked if sanctions had been used with respect to those staff who had failed, or refused to complete mandatory training courses. The Director responded that the final take up of the cyber security course had been in the region of 90% and so sanctions had not been required. He said that he preferred to encourage staff to take up the training courses and that enforcement should be a last resort. A discussion took place around mandatory and non-mandatory courses and the Director expressed the view that just because a course had been designated as non-mandatory, it did not mean that it was any less important than a mandatory course.
A Member asked for a list of non-mandatory courses to be provided to the Committee. The Chairman felt that this was not appropriate and that if such a request was made, it should be directed to the GP&L Committee. The Member responded that he would write to the Director post meeting.
A Member commented that although the final take up of the cyber security training had been good at 90%, it had taken a long time to get to that position and he asked how this would be remediated going forward, and how many staff had some sort of action taken against them. The Director responded that the numbers had been achieved through a process of encouragement which had meant that no one had been required to be sanctioned. The Head of Audit and Assurance stated that she was satisfied that in view of a 90% completion rate, the risk had been mitigated, but it would be a matter that would be kept under review. The Assistant Director for IT pointed out that in terms of reporting, the numbers of staff completing compulsory training courses was being reported to COE (Officers’ Executive Group) and to the Corporate Leadership Team.
The Vice Chairman raised the matter of appraisals, and expressed concern that 25% of staff were not getting an annual appraisal which he regarded as key in monitoring staff progress. The Director explained that whilst appraisals were important, this was just one way in which staff progress could be monitored. He felt that it was more important to have regular staff feedback. He said that staff needed more regular feedback than 6 monthly appraisals. He stated that it was possible for staff to be recommended for reward based on evidence other than formal appraisals. A Member expressed the view that Appraisals were a key factor in performance management. She said that Appraisals were important as they were documented and asked what training was given to managers with respect to undertaking appraisals. She expressed the view that the conducting of annual appraisals should be a matter that managers should be held accountable for and that relevant training should be provided. The Director said that consideration could be given to making this a formal management requirement.
RESOLVED that the update from the Director of Human Resources be noted.