Somerset County Council Learning Disability Provider Service

Staff Survey

Analysis of findingsSeptember 2015

Andrew Hedges – Change Officer

Chris Rae – Change Officer

(Survey June to July 2015)

Disclaimer

• It is worth mentioning that not all of the questions were filled out by all of the respondents.

• This could have been because it is not relevant, or they didn’t feel comfortable answering it.

• In both 2014 and 2015 there were almost the same amount of respondents making comparisons relatively easy.

• Where possible we have tried to compare last years survey with this year, but some questions have changed or been added, so this is not always possible.

Demographics

OverviewThe Headlines•Survey timeframe end of June to end of July 2015•There were 304 responses •55 staff identified themselves as CAG reps•12 job roles •45 homes / bases covered•Highest response rate 84.71% (base) – Cliffe View•Highest response rate (role) – Support Worker (days) (96)

Response rate by job role

Response rate by base location

Communications

Effectiveness of CAGs – CAG RepsThe majority (80%) of CAG reps feel equipped to brief their team after each CAG meeting and run any given exercises with them. This commitment from the CAG reps shows in the next few slides about how other staff feel.

Effectiveness of CAGsAccording to the staff survey 90% of LDPS staff say they are kept informed about the plans for the SEP with 7% saying they are ‘sometimes’. This is a relative success. Of course we can always strive for 100% but having 97% of people informed all or most of the time is excellent

Effectiveness of CAGsA relatively large number of people take part in CAG exercises. Given that it can be difficult to get time away from a very strenuous job, I think this is a relative success.

Effectiveness of CAGsAgain, this is another success. Obviously improvements can always be made, but given the stresses and strains of the job, having 90 percent of staff being able to talk about concerns they have is another positive result.

CommunicationsCAGs are the most successful form of communication. This is not surprising given the amount of effort that went into setting them up and maintaining them. This really emphasises the need to, not only improve the other forms of communication but to really use the CAGs to their full potential, bringing up problems that were identified earlier in the various meetings.

CommunicationsIt was very clear that people wanted to be contacted every month for every type of communication.

Communication – LD Change WebsiteCAG reps are asked to visit the LD Change website as part of their role. But it appears staff in general don’t visit the website on a regular basis. With only 36% visiting it on a monthly or more regular basis.

Just over half (56%) of the staff who answered this question agreed/strongly agreed that the website was easy to use and the content useful. This is something we need to improve and we will be doing further work to identify what we can do within our current resource to make the website more accessible.

Communication – LD Change Website

Freetext answersWhat changes would you like made to the

website to improve it?. Theme ExamplesAccessibility • More accessible for customer

Awareness • Only visited the website once, as found out about it last week.

• Only heard about website last week.

Clearer Information • Too many big words.• Some of the terms put in simple

terms.• Clear simple information, easy to

understand.• Improve layout, sections, news

feed.

Freetext answersWhat changes would you like made to the

website to improve it? - continued. Theme ExamplesDon’t use it • Haven’t been on it yet.

• Have never accessed it.• Haven’t a clue as no access to it at

my level.• Don’t have time to visit as too busy

at work.Internet issues • Just to have quicker speed.

• Links aren’t always available.• Took 20 mins to load the events

calendar.It’s ok • I believe the website is ok.

• It’s fine as it is.• I feel the website works well.

Freetext answersWhat changes would you like made to the

website to improve it? - continued. Theme ExamplesMore updates • Not updated enough.

• More up to date info.• We could do with a live feed, to

make information available quicker.Staff access • All staff need access to a

computer.• Don’t know as not allocated work

time to access it.• Doesn’t apply to me as I don’t have

a laptop or computer.• Made available at workplace.• Staff training on using internet

Freetext answersWhat changes would you like made to the

website to improve it? - continued. Theme ExamplesUser friendly • Less ‘clonky’ easier to navigate to

different things, more user friendly.• Simplified.• Easier to access and read.• Clearer information.• Clearer indexing.• I would like to see big buttons used

to link pages, instead of text.

Service Improvements

Proposed changes improve services delivered to service users

There is a lot of room for improvement in question 6. This question is fundamental to getting staff on board and feeling confident that the potential provider will be able to improve the service for customers. It might require the potential provider giving reassurances once the contract as been won.

Comparison Summary

2014 Respondents 2015 RespondentsLevel 1 – 3 118 Level 1 – 3 114Level 4 - 6 142 Level 4 - 6 184

Level of belief that the changes will improve is better this year

Changes to LDPS

Confident changes will take place as described

Unlike question 6, the improvements for question 7 can come in part from the LD Programme team. I think there is more we can do about this directly. Perhaps asking a question CAGs about how we can reassure them.

Comparison Summary

2014 Respondents 2015 RespondentsLevel 1 – 3 147 Level 1 – 3 119Level 4 - 6 128 Level 4 - 6 178

Level of belief that the changes will take place as described as increased in 2015

Social Enterprise Partnership

Understanding of Social Enterprise proposal

The majority (81%) of staff who answered this question rated their understanding of the proposal to create a Social Enterprise company along with external partner/s between 4 and 6 (high understanding)

Becoming a Social EnterpriseThese are also probably going to be addressed once a provider has been chosen. I believe that the potential provider will be better placed to give reassurances to staff regarding these questions.

Level of understanding about social enterprise

1 Low 6 High

I have the skills to do my job effectively in a Social Enterprise

1 Disagree 6 Agree

Comparison Summary

2014 Respondents 2015 RespondentsLevel 1 – 3  93 Level 1 – 3  58Level 4 - 6  187 Level 4 - 6  240

The level of understanding about the social enterprise in 2015 has improved

2014Staff clearly feel they have the skills to undertake their roles, with a very small number saying they do not - Level 4 to Level 6 (279 respondents) and Level 1 to Level 3 (6 respondents).2015Given the mild change in the question it is understandable that the result were very mildly lower. Staff who felt that they had the skills to undertake their role in the SEP was an average of 5.3. Last year the answer was 5.4

Free text CommentsSocial Enterprise Partnership

What opportunities will being in a Social Enterprise offer/bring to you, the service and our customers?

Theme ExamplesAutonomy • More local autonomy

• More autonomy over running my business• Greater autonomy

Career • Possibility of a different job role• Support in climbing up the employment ladder• More staff opportunities• Hopefully, would be able to further career

Choice • It should bring greater choice• More choice & flexibility• Hopefully more choices for service users• More choices for customers

What opportunities will being in a Social Enterprise offer/bring to you, the service and our customers? - continued

Theme ExamplesCommercially aware & ability to compete with market

• Enable us to compete with other operators in the business• Freedom to operate in the open market• Being more marketable and competitive

Enhanced Services • Freedom to work in a more person centred way• Ideas for different services may be suggested• More scope to undertake new ideas

Exciting Future • Hopefully it will give us a new and exciting future• Hopefully it will bring new and exciting opportunities for both services users and staff

What opportunities will being in a Social Enterprise offer/bring to you, the service and our customers? - continued

Theme ExamplesExpertise • It will hopefully bring experts and money

• Wider range of expertise and knowledge through cluster working

Financial • Financial boost, fresh eyes

Flexibility • More flexibility, ability to make changes more quickly• More flexible service• More freedom• Greater flexibility

Growth • Potential growth• May be able to grow customer base• Continued growth

What opportunities will being in a Social Enterprise offer/bring to you, the service and our customers? - continued

Theme ExamplesReduce Local Government bureaucracy

• Less regulation hopefully• Less red tape• Less restrictions from SCC• Less paperwork and politics• Freedom to give ideas and not be restricted by red tape

Opportunities • New opportunities• More opportunities for the service users that SCC are currently unable to offer• Lots of new opportunities

Property • Better living places• Access to new premises

Additional CommentsTheme Examples

Change Management • It worries me that so many changes happen within the programme and how these changes in who is involved effects the smooth running of the programme.

Communications • As a member of the IG I feel well informed.

• With staff working shift and some part-time you don’t always get to hear things.

• The CAG rep and our team manager are really good at keeping us informed and encouraging participation.

Additional Comments - continuedTheme Examples

Computer access • Allow all staff to access technology like other organisations do.

• As a support leader access to the computer is limited.

• I have nothing to say as I haven’t any access to a computer at work.

• I would like the opportunity to use a computer at work to go on the LD Change website.

Exciting • Can’t wait for it to happen.

Motivation • It is difficult to motivate some staff to take an interest as they feel their voice won’t be listened to.

Additional Comments - continuedTheme Examples

Management • Have had letter inviting me to attend presentations, but told that I cannot be released from duties, due to lack of staffing.

Staff – Terms & Conditions

• All clear so far, but I feel staff concerns around terms and conditions needs to be addressed as soon as a partner is selected.

Additional Comments - continuedTheme Examples

Standards • The major concern I have is that when we go who will set the standard? Will the general standard everywhere drop?

TUPE/Redundancy • Need more clarity on TUPE and staffing structures. As staff are concerned.

• Have concerns that our jobs will not be needed, as I believe the new partner will have their own business support. Under TUPE jobs are only secure if there is no staff restructuring, which I think there will be.

Valuing staff • How about valuing your staff and praising the hard work they do.