Last week saw a flurry of activity following the Chancellor’s pre-budget speech containing a number of controversial measures to control public sector spending. I was quite literally inundated with calls from the media asking for a PPMA view on the proposals. It is very satisfying that we are now demonstrating our objective of being the ‘voice of public sector people management professionals.’ I think the degree to which our view on such issues are sought is testimony to our success with this objective.

I feel that the tone that the government is trying to set around public sector pay transparency is entirely the right direction of travel. However, the focus on senior pay and overburdening control by the Treasury is difficult to justify. I’ve posted most of my comments on the blog so you can follow my view and let me know if you agree or not!

On Thursday this week I had the pleasure of speaking at the first of our regional launches of the tHRu portal. The product has been supported by a number of ‘experts’ and in particular EurekaStep, KPMG and IES have been involved. I also want to thank Martin Reddington for his support. Above all I want to thank and congratulate Martin Rayson for bringing this product to fruition. It really is a superb addition to our product portfolio for members. I would highly recommend attendance at the regional events if you haven’t already booked!

Finally, can I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the privilege of being your President over the past 8 months and I hope 2010 proves to be the most successful ever for PPMA.

Best wishes

Gill

The following articles feature PPMA President Gill Hibberd:

1. Perils of a public sector pay cap - published 13th December 2009 in The Sunday Times
2. Public sector faces job losses ‘on unprecedented scale’ published 11th December 2009 on peoplemanagement.co.uk

The following articles feature PPMA President Gill Hibberd:

1. Government must reform public sector pay systems not implement a cap, experts warn - published 10th December 2009 on personneltoday.com
2. Pre-Budget Report 2009: Public Sector Pay and Pensions - published 9th December 2009 on xperthr.co.uk

The Social Worker Task Force today (1.12.09) delivered its long awaited report on the future of the profession. A summary of the main recommendations follows:

1. Calibre of Entrants: that criteria governing the calibre of entrants to social work education and training be strengthened.
2. Curriculum and Delivery: an overhaul of the content and delivery of social work degree courses.
3. Practice Placements: that new arrangements be put in place to provide sufficient high quality practice placements, which are properly supervised and assessed, for all social work students.
4. Assessed Year in Employment: the creation of an assessed and supported year in employment as the final stage in becoming a social worker.
5. Regulation of Social Work Education: more transparent and effective regulation of social work education to give greater assurance of consistency and quality.
6. Standard for Employers: the development of a clear national standard for the support social workers should expect from their employers in order to do their jobs effectively.
7. Supervision: the new standard for employers should be supported by clear national requirements for the supervision of social workers.
8. Front Line Management: the creation of dedicated programmes of training and support for front line social work managers.
9. Continuing Professional Development: the creation of a more coherent and effective national framework for the continuing professional development of social workers, along with mechanisms to encourage a shift in culture which raises expectations of an entitlement to ongoing learning and development.
10. National Career Structure: the creation of a single, nationally recognised career structure for social work.
11. National College of Social Work: the creation of an independent national college of social work, developed and led by social workers.
12. Public Understanding: a new programme of action on public understanding of social work.
13. Licence to Practise: the development of a licence to practise system for social workers.
14. Social Worker Supply: a new system for forecasting levels of supply and demand for social workers.
15. National Reform Programme: the creation of a single national reform programme for social work.

PPMA will be closely examining the report and its implications and will be debating the issue of social worker recruitment and retention in more detail at the next Policy Board meeting.

Click here to download a copy of the full report

Regards

Gill