L o n d o n B o r o u g h o f B e x l e y

Apprenticeship Programme

Since 1991 The London Borough of Bexley have helped over 250 young people bridge the gap between education and employment. Placements have been offered across every Directorate in Bexley and currently we offer apprenticeships in 4 vocational areas:

l Business Administration

l Customer Service

l ICT

l Childcare Learning and Development

Bexley’s vision for the future is to extend these 4 areas to include Accountancy, Building Control, Environmental Health, Youth Work, Health & Social Care and Horticulture.

A fully recognised apprenticeship programme means individuals spend 4 days per week in a work-based placement and attend college one day per week gaining the underpinning knowledge to achieve a vocational qualification in the chosen area.

Our programme is well structured; learners are placed in fully supervised roles where they will perform live work experience in a variety of areas. Our placement coordinator provides on-going support to each apprentice. A mentoring/buddy scheme was introduced at the beginning of 2009 to ease learners through the transition of education to employment.

However, we are not complacent and we are always happy to further develop our local scheme using valuable feedback from our apprentices and placement managers.

The scheme has senior level commitment across the organisation to ensure that it works well, not only for us as an organisation, but in fulfilling the needs of our young people in Bexley. Thank you for considering the London Borough of Bexley as a possible placement opportunity.

Listening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 2 23/06/2010 09:28

About the London Borough of Bexley

The Council’s successes have been recognised by numerous awards and accreditations. These include seven Beacon Council awards for excellence and innovation in a range of service areas, four Charter Mark awards for excellence in public service and a number of ISO accreditations for standards in quality management systems. We are proud of the achievements of the London Borough of Bexley and hope that you will want to be part of our success.

Bexley is an outer London borough which borders Greenwich to the west, the county of Kent to the east and Bromley to the south. Covering an area of 61 square kilometres, it has a diverse population of 223,300. Bexley consists of a number of neighbourhood areas such as Belvedere, Thamesmead, Erith, Sidcup, Bexleyheath and Bexley. Within its boundaries are award-winning parks and open spaces, historic houses and attractive waterways. The River Thames runs along the Borough boundary for five miles to the north and we are a core part of the Thames Gateway.

We have some of the most affordable housing in London, good schools and diverse neighbourhoods ranging from the urban to the rural. Bexleyheath is one of south London’s most successful and lively town centres and we have a number of smaller thriving centres. We have easy access to the facilities of central London,

to major shopping centres at Bluewater and Lakeside and to the beauty of rural Kent, as well as the international rail terminals at Ebbsfleet and Ashford, the Channel Ports and Tunnel.

Bexley is a borough of sharp contrasts which makes it an exciting and rewarding place to work. For example,

l 80% of our residents are home owners but a significant minority remain in need of affordable, rented accommodation.

l Our average house price of £238,000 is close to the average of England and Wales, but well below the London-wide average of £317,000.

l Until the recent economic downturn, our economy thrived and was characterised by low unemployment. However, fewer residents are employed in professional and managerial occupations than the national average.

l We are ideally located for national and international travel, but remain one of the few London boroughs without a tube or light rail transport link.

Bexley is a high performing borough. For the first time in 2009, the Audit Commission teamed up with other inspectorates to present an overall picture of public services in Bexley. Bexley was awarded a ‘green flag’ for its major achievements and innovation in working with local communities to increase recycling - the only Borough in London to receive an award in this category. The Inspectorates were particularly impressed with the Council’s exceptional track record in getting people to recycle,

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 3 23/06/2010 09:28

especially those who find it difficult to do so and need help. This includes working with around 2,500 elderly and disabled residents to find a way of recycling that works for them and helping people who do not use English as their first language.

The Council was assessed by the Audit Commission on their ‘use of resources’ and ‘managing performance’. We were judged as an organisation that is ‘performing well’, and was awarded a score of 3 out of 4 for both areas. Many of its services were also recognised as being among the best 25% for London and still improving.

What kind of projects can we offer?

Below are a few examples of the projects covered by our apprentices during their placements with Bexley

Leah Saunders – Level 3 apprentice in business administration

The idea of learning whilst earning appealed to me and since joining Resources Plus I have been working with the Jobnet Project, which is helping the unemployed people for 9 months or longer who live within the 5 Boroughs that we work with. These are Bexley, Lewisham, Havering, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham. At the beginning of this year, we had a new project come on board called Community

Gold, this helps the 12 months or more unemployed to get help, support and training to help them get back into work. My roles have included all forms of communication, administration, ICT and some basic accounting figures. “I hope to do well, it’s a great opportunity which I feel I am lucky to have been given and I see this as just the beginning.”

Josh Harris – Level 2 apprentice in ICT

Joining the apprenticeship scheme has been a challenging and rewarding experience for me so far. I have learnt many new office skills and developed key communication skills that are vital for working in a big company. My placement in the Web team has allowed me to use my knowledge of IT systems to help improve our Internet and Intranet systems to provide a better service to the public and the employees of the Council. My supervisor has shown a lot of confidence in me and has handed over major projects from top members of the Council for me to take charge off such as the Chief Executive’s blog and a Members’ portal for the Councillors, which have given me a chance to show what I am capable of. These projects turned out to be a great success, albeit stressful at times, but the support from my colleagues and supervisor helped me to achieve what needed to be done.

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 4 23/06/2010 09:28

Luke Redpath – Level 2 apprentice in Customer Service

When I saw this work based learning scheme, I knew it would be ideal for me because it was a customer services placement. Being naturally bubbly and people-friendly a placement in one of Bexley libraries suited me perfectly.

Since being on the scheme I have received some very valuable training - Computer Literacy and Information Technology training which led to a formal qualification. This helped me to improve my knowledge of computers and IT. Disability Awareness training - this allowed me to see how actions and words can be misconstrued as discriminating, it also allowed me to get some idea of what it is like to live with a disability which I found very useful.

Charlotte Moriarty – Level 2 apprentice in Customer Service

I am very much enjoying combining learning whilst earning and this scheme is opening my eyes as to what the working world is like. I feel lucky to have

been given the opportunity of working towards a formal qualification (NVQ Level 2 in customer service) whilst achieving good work experience. This will help me move up in my career.

Danni Powell (Level 3 Apprentice in Childcare, Learning and Development

I joined the scheme in September 2008. I was lucky to secure a placement at Pearswood Primary School whereby I have spent lots of time in the nursery, reception and year 1 classes. I have worked with a variety of groups of pupils helping them with their reading, writing and creative projects. I have accompanied them on school trips and worked with them in Christmas nativities. I have now progressed onto a level 3 apprenticeship whereby I am being further challenged in my role.

Quote from a placement manager …

“We are delighted to be helping to develop young talent in the Borough. As a service that often has to develop programmes and messages aimed at our younger residents there is nothing better than having a young person contribute to this work, or indeed, produce it”.

Kevin Taylor Head of Neighbourhood Services

February 2010 students working towards OCR CLAIT qualification

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 5 23/06/2010 09:28

Facts/Figures and a few of our success storiesl Over 135 young people who secured

a placement with the Council have achieved a fully recognised level 2 qualification since 2003.

l Approximately 24% of level 2 learners progressed onto a level 3 apprenticeship

l 22% are currently still part of our workforce

l In 2008 one of our learners won the national “learner of the year” award

l A mentoring scheme was attached to the programme to help ease the transition of education and employment for new recruits to the scheme

l Ex-apprentices are now in careers such as: nursing, teaching, police force, fire service, journalism, retail and the food industry

Our Benefits Package

Below are just some of the benefits that we can offer you when you come to Bexley:

l Starting training allowance of £100 per week

l full support and guidance whilst on the scheme

l all training costs met by the organisation

l apprentices are eligible for staff benefits

l Local authority discount scheme providing discounts to staff on a range of specially selected goods and services

l Additional training offered at various times such as CLAIT (Computer Literacy and Information Technology), behaviour management, minute taking and job skills.

For further information on Bexley’s Apprenticeship Scheme please contact Cheryl Jones, Apprenticeship Consultant on 020 8836 8095 or email cheryl.jones@bexley.gov.uk

The Council’s Mission and Priorities

Mission statement

The Council has agreed a mission statement as follows:

Listening to you, Working for you, Delivering Value – Bexley First

This mission statement reflects the aspirations of elected members to respond to and deliver for local residents, and the importance placed on efficiency and delivering value for money in all that we do. It also reflects the aspirations of the Council to be at the forefront of the way modern councils deliver services, and to increase the profile and recognition that Bexley receives locally, regionally and nationally for the way that it serves its residents.

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 6 23/06/2010 09:28

Key Priorities

Bexley remains focused on continuous improvement. The ‘Transformation Strategy to 2014’ now being developed by the Council aims to implement a ‘one Council’ vision under which all of the Council’s resources and people will work together in a creative and imaginative effort to achieve the Council’s agreed priorities.

Four strategic themes underpin this strategy -

l Business Transformation,

l Transforming Procurement,

l Maximising Income and

l Value for Money.

Core Values

The Council has also defined the core values that it wishes to embrace in the way it delivers services to residents. A major programme of cultural change will support the adoption of these values.

Innovation

We are committed to continually improving what we do and the services we provide. We actively seek ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs. This means continual change, taking calculated risks and unlimited opportunity for learning.

Listening and Responding

We encourage everyone to participate in discussion and we actively seek out views. We encourage debate and challenge.

Once we have listened and taken those views into account, we make a decision and act upon it. We respect the final decision and suspend any individual cynicism.

Open and Accessible

We believe in openness in all of our dealings with every facet of our diverse community - this means communicating bad news as well as good. This helps to create trust and integrity, as you know where you stand with us.

Leadership

We are proud of Bexley. We seek out opportunities to promote our achievements and engage others to commit to our mission, values and objectives.

Partnership

We work together with mutual respect. Only by sharing ideas, identifying the best and taking responsibility for delivering will we achieve our objectives.

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 7 23/06/2010 09:28

How the Council is organised

A new organisational structure was implemented on 1 April 2009. The revised structure will ensure that the Council is able to deliver what is required in the future and enhance its ability to deliver objectives. Services will be organised and delivered through 6 Directorates:

l Chief Executive

l Children’s and Young People’s Services

l Customer Services

l Environment and Regeneration Services

l Finance

l Social and Community Services

Details of the services detailed in each area are set out at www.bexley.gov.uk/service/service.html

Bexley First

The Council has embarked on a major programme of change under the title Bexley First.The aim of Bexley First is to improve the Council’s efficiency and delivery of services to local people, putting Bexley at the forefront of the way modern councils operate.

The programme’s aims are:

l Effective delivery of services to customers

l Consolidation of staff onto a single site

l Improved and modern facilities

l Reduction in the Council’s running costs

l Introduction of more efficient ways of working

l To invigorate and energise the Council

A programme that sees staff changing the way they work, introducing modern flexible ways of working and making best use of technology, is already well under way.

By the end of February 2010 around 1,200 Council employees had been set up to work from home as if in the office, using laptops and their home broadband.

Planned for the future is a move for staff from the Bexleyheath Civic Offices to temporary accommodation to allow the site to be redeveloped with a more economical central civic office.

Further information about the Bexley First Programme is available at www.bexley.gov.uk/bexleyfirst

People in Bexley

Bexley employs approximately 8,032 staff. Many services are provided by the Council’s partner organisations.

For example, residential and other services for older people, for people with learning disabilities, home care services and support for people with physical disabilities, are all delivered by staff employed by partners.

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 8 23/06/2010 09:28

We believe that there is a strong link between the delivery of high quality services and the retention and development of a skilled, flexible and well motivated workforce. Our staff development and appraisal processes reinforce our core values as well as providing the framework for recognising potential and rewarding staff for their part in the achievements of the Council’s objectives and plans.

We were re-accredited with the Investors in People standard in April 2008, which reflects the Council’s commitment to improving performance through the development of its workforce at all levels.

We seek to provide a supportive working environment for staff based on clear policies and procedures (including flexible and remote working), excellent engagement and communication with staff, well-established appraisal and performance management systems and effective team work, networks and support groups. This is embraced in our Valuing Diversity Policy.

Equality and diversity

London Borough of Bexley is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service delivery. The Council intends to achieve all its targets in respect of the equalities agenda and become recognised as a leader on equalities.

What the Council is doing

The Council is developing policies, procedures and equalities schemes supported by action plans to promote equality and prevent discrimination on the grounds of disability, ethnicity and gender and more recently on age, religion or belief and sexual orientation. A range of innovative processes are in place to deliver equality outcomes for the workforce and create a workplace culture that enables all staff to feel valued.

Progress against the Council’s Equality Schemes are monitored Quarterly with a regular review of priorities in order to achieve improvements. In September 2009, Bexley achieved Level 4 under the Equalities Standard for Local Government and through implementation of the Corporate Equality Action Plan, strives towards excellence.

If you would like to know more about the services the Council provides, or would like either a translation of this document or the information in a different format, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 020 8303 7777 and press 0, quoting reference: 603906/6.2010

Listening to you, working for you www.bexley.gov.uk

603914 Apprentice A5 8pp.indd 1 23/06/2010 09:28