Created: 19/1/22
The inspection/MOT programme for February is available via Connect.
Created: 18/1/22
The Covid vaccination bus will be in the following locations this week for anyone aged 18 or over for 1st, 2nd or booster vaccination and those aged 12-17 (first or second dose) including young people who have recently turned 12.
No appointment needed, please drop in.
Created: 18/1/22
Please provide information on all work undertaken by your service that will require professional indemnity insurance cover for year 22-23.
Professional indemnity insurance covers the council if you are alleged to have provided inadequate advice, services or designs to a client whilst taking a fee for this service. It also provides cover for the legal costs and expenses in defending the claim, as well as compensation payable to your client to rectify the mistake.
The information should be sent to Gillian Brown, gbrown@clacks.gov.uk by Friday 21st January 2021 in order for cover to be in place for policy renewal on 1st April 2022.
Created: 18/1/22
Our travel insurance policy is due for renewal on 1st April 2022.
We require details of any planned trip that will require travel insurance for 2022/23 including location, number of nights and number of staff/pupils etc.
Please email details to gbrown@clacks.gov.uk by Friday 21st January.
Created: 17/1/22
The following Lateral Flow Collection Points will take place next week for council staff.
Each person will be given a 4 week supply for their own personal use and must attend in person as we now have to record who we issue kits to (please note we cannot issue kits from this pop up site for friends and family members due to Standard Operating Procedures issued by Scottish Government).
If you are unable to attend the staff Lateral Flow Collections points or friends/family are looking for supplies please refer to our community Lateral Flow collection points page for locations. This page also contains guidance on testing and isolating.
At the moment all of our deliveries are Innova kits which are throat and nasal swabs with results returned in 30mins. Local pharmacies and community collection points are also receiving Innova kits. Please always follow instructions enclosed in the kit on how to take a test and storage as these can vary.
Please remember to log your test results each time you carry out a Lateral Flow test regardless of the result. This allows for accurate numbers of positive cases to be reported.
School staff should continue to access Lateral Flow tests via your school. Please do not attend a collection point.
HSCP, Social Work, Childcare/Adult Care Staff should continue to email hands@clacks.gov.uk to be supplied with your kits. Please do not attend a collection point.
Created: 12/1/22
Our Staff Survey closed on 23rd December and I would like to thank all those members of staff who took part. I value your views, particularly as we continue to deal with the challenging circumstances as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and those views will help inform what work needs to be undertaken as we move forward.
I would also like to thank managers who encouraged staff to fill out the survey, shared posters of handed out paper surveys.
Our survey provider is continuing to receive postal surveys following the Royal Mail's busy festive period and we hope to be able to share the results soon.
Following on from last year, a cross-service focus group will also be set up to look at the results and a key aim of this group will be assessing how successful our surveys have been ahead of a full review which will be taking place later in 2022.
Regards.
Nikki Bridle
Chief Executive
Created: 11/1/22
Our employee self service portal iTrent has been undergoing an upgrade. This new update offers a more modern user experience, compatible for mobile, tablet, laptop or desktop and allows staff to access whether they are office based, home working or remote working.
The link to iTrent is now working again on Connect, but you can also access iTrent via the icon on your desktop which is called iTrent LIVE (Self Service). People Manager can also be accessed via your desktop using the icon called iTrent LIVE.
To support staff to navigate the new look, our iTrent team will be holding virtual drop in sessions on 12 and 14 January. If you want to join one of these sessions please email itrent@clacks.gov.uk.
New user guides and short videos guides helping with navigation, booking annual leave, time and expenses claims and how to change your bank details can all be accessed when you log into Employee Self Service.
Created: 11/1/22
Our employee weekly walking group, which meets at Kilncraigs entrance restarts on Wednesday 19th January, 12–12.30.
Email kcook@clacks.gov.uk to book your place as numbers are limited to 15.
Why not leave your desk for half an hour and get a walk out in the fresh air. Loosen off tight muscles, clear your head and have a walk and a chat.
The walk is delivered through Clackmannanshire Healthy Working Lives. It is free and is open to all council employees.
Weekly fitness classes reminder
For information on weekly exercise classes running at a variety of local venues, please refer to our weekly classes web page.
Created: 11/1/22
Are you prioritising your financial health and wellbeing in 2022? You can get your New Year’s resolutions off to a great start with our Shared Cost AVC benefits scheme.
The scheme supports your financial future by enabling you to save your money alongside your pension. Payments made into your Shared Cost AVC will be free of Income Tax and National Insurance contributions, which is welcome news as the cost of living rises.
You can choose how much you want to contribute, and your money will do the rest. You can learn more about this tax saving opportunity on on our Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Scheme page.
If you are already a members of the scheme, this January you have the chance to win a £200 eGift card of your choice. Register or refer a colleague to register on the Shared Cost AVC website between 10 and 31 January 2022 to enter. The Full Terms and Conditions are also on the website.
Note that the value of an investment can go down as well as up.
Created 06/01/22
You can read a New Year message from our Chief Executive Nikki Bridle on the SLG Message section of Keeping Staff Connected.
In her message, Nikki looks forward to 2022 and thanks staff who continued to work over the Festive period to provide support to vulnerable people and communities.
Created: 5/1/22
New guidance around self-isolation and testing coms into effect on 6th January. We have updated our Staff FAQ page to reflect the most up to date information from the Scottish Government.
Among the information available includes changes to the self-isolation period and advice on testing both for people who have symptoms and those who don't but may have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
We would encourage you to go on to the page and make sure that you are familiar with the latest information.
Created: 5/1/22
The roofing work is due to complete on 28th January. The last section is under construction, with this work taking place from the roof itself or a cherry picker located within the construction zone.
The scaffold has been dropped and we have reduced the footprint of the site compound area to increase the parking capacity. There is one more crane lift that will be carried out at a weekend and this is due to be scheduled - date to be confirmed. The air handling units are now operational.
The internal works require the 4th floor to be closed until the date stated above. There will be a system scaffold installed on the 1904 4th floor side so that the atrium works can be completed. This will not affect any fire evacuation plans, however will close the atrium staircase at floor 3 and 4. Gangway sections will still remain operational for access to and from different areas of the floor. There will be tarpaulin canopies set up to protect workers within the building from falling debris or paint. This will look unsightly however is an absolute must.
After works are completed the temporary entrance will be removed and this will be confirmed by either H&S or emergency planning prior to change being implemented.
Any queries, please email gwright@clacks.gov.uk or call on 07790824042.
Created: 2/1/22
Prioritised booking slots are available at test sites for all essential workers; this includes a number of Council staff including all frontline health and social care staff, staff working in education and childcare, social workers, care workers, environmental health staff and those supporting the homeless. These slots can be accessed by clicking to confirm you are an essential worker when booking a test online.
A full list of essential workers can be found on the Scottish Government website.
Created: 23/12/21
The MOT/inspection programme for January is available via Connect.
Created: 22/12/21
For staff members who are coming in to Kilncraigs, please be aware that the main lift, beside the signing in desk, is currently out of order due to major impact damage.
The repair company have advised that due to supply issues the repair may take longer than normal to complete. The current estimate for the repair work to be carried out is mid to late January.
The lift in the atrium is still available however 4th and 5th floors are not accessible from this lift due to the ongoing works on 4th floor 1904 side.
If your role requires you to come into Kilncraigs and you have mobility issues, please speak to your line manager in the first instance to make alternative arrangements. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Created: 21/12/21
Remaining space on the email server is now almost full. All staff are asked to take some time out before close of business on Thursday 23rd December to
There is a risk of the email server reaching capacity over the festive break, so your assistance with this task is appreciated.
John Allan, IT Services
Created: 20/12/21
Dear Colleagues
As you will be aware, there is a new push to try and get all adults fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before the end of the year.
This is putting huge pressure on the NHS and our Health & Social Care Partnership so we are looking for any volunteer members of staff who could potentially help with the vaccination programme, and our wider care work.
Volunteers will need to have had previous experience in the nursing profession or another health setting. They will also need to have had some training and qualifications.
If you meet the criteria above and are able and willing to help out, please speak to your line manager in the first instance and then contact Linda Donaldson by email at linda.donaldson2@nhs.scot.
Thank you
Nikki Bridle, Chief Executive
Annemargaret Black, Chief Officer Clackmannanshire and Stirling Integrated Joint Board
Created: 21/12/21
No young person should ever feel alone. Can you share an hour of your time?
The Council is supporting mentoring charity @MCRPathways who match young people with a volunteer mentor to meet in school 1hr a week. This 1-to-1 relationship could have a profound impact on a youn person's confidence and their future.
If you are interested, you can find more information on MCR Pathways website.
Created: 16/12/21
Winter health information to help you and your family keep well and access the right services is available from NHS Forth Valley here.
Created: 6/12/21
I am pleased to advise staff that on 01 December 2021 agreement on the 2021/2022 pay award was reached between CoSLA and the recognised Trade Unions.
The agreement reached was:
The above are based on a nominal 37 hour week. Note that Clackmannanshire Council working week is 35 Hours.
I appreciate the continued hard work and commitment shown by staff in the Council and have asked our payroll team to progress the pay award as soon as possible. Our payroll section are working through all the tasks needed to implement the award and have advised that the uplift to salary and backdated arrears will be paid in January. The new salary scales are available by following the link or via Connect home page.
I am also advised by our payroll team that early payment of salary will be made in December as normal.
I am also aware that there will be staff who are in receipt of Universal Credit which may be affected by these changes. The pay increase together with the payment of arrears may mean you will either receive less Universal Credit than normal or you may even earn too much to qualify and your Universal Credit claim will close. If your claim closes, you will see a message on your UC Journal telling you about this.
As Universal Credit is calculated on your personal circumstances the Council as your employer do not know how, or if, you may be affected. I have therefore provided below some FAQs that I hope may be useful.
Nikki Bridle
Chief Executive
Will Universal Credit Payments Start Again Automatically?
No. If Universal Credit payments stop because you have had additional pay, you must start up your claim again. You should do this as soon as you can to make sure you do not miss out.
Log into your UC journal and select the “Reclaim” tab. You will find this at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to a new screen where you will be asked to answer a few simple questions. If you have any problems doing this, contact your Work Coach or visit your local Jobcentre Plus.
You can get independent help and advice about Universal Credit from Advice First or by visiting your local Jobcentre Plus.
You can access your UC Journal at www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
An overview of Universal Credit can be found at www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Created: 17/11/21
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has raised the UK terrorism threat level from SUBSTANTIAL (an attack is likely) to SEVERE (an attack is highly likely).
Please ensure you revisit the Run, Tell, Hide training available via Clacks Academy.
Please also continue to work from home where possible. If you need to visit a Council building, you will begin to see signage around access/exit points, reminding us all to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
You’re also reminded to make sure that all doors are closed properly behind you, that you wear your ID badge at all times and that you don’t allow anyone to tailgate you through doors.
If you see something that doesn’t feel right you can report via gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency always call 999.
If you have any concerns about any of these actions or about your safety or security, please speak to your manager in the first instance.
Created: 12/11/21
The last date IT Services will accept requests for IT kit/licences etc for financial year 2021/2022 will be Friday 4th February 2022. This is to allow time to obtain prices, place orders, receive goods and process the resulting invoices in time for the financial cut-off date in April 2022.
Any requests for items after this date will be accepted but will not be processed/invoiced in this accounting year.
Created: 11/11/21
An important reminder from SLG that staff must continue to follow Scottish Government guidance to work from home. SLG closely monitor staff numbers, and a rise in those attending Kilncraigs has been observed over the past week.
All managers have been reminded that any additional staff requests to work in the office must be authorised in advance by SLG or a director.
Those staff who are able to must continue to work from home in the same way as they have for the past 18 months. This situation is expected to continue for some months to come, and while we know it is difficult for some, it is an important part of the mitigations we are following to help reduce community spread and protect our NHS.
Created: 27/10/21
As part of our continued commitment to flexible working, we are once again promoting our Scheme of Enhanced Leave (holiday buy back) for the leave year 2022/23.
Requests for additional leave should be submitted to your line manager no later than 14th January 2022.
For full details of the scheme, application form and example figures, please see our Annual Leave page.
25/10/21
Please be aware that the planned drop-in sessions for the new iTrent Employee Self Service will now be taking place on the 12th and 14th January 2022.
The new updated iTrent service will now go live on 27 December instead of 29 October due to some technical difficulties.
This new update offers a more modern user experience, compatible for mobile, tablet, laptop or desktop and allows staff to access whether they are office based, home working or remote working.
The drop-in sessions will support staff who would like suport to navigate the new look once it is launched. If you want to join one of these sessions please email itrent@clacks.gov.uk.
New user guides and short videos guides helping with navigation, booking annual leave, Time and expenses claims and how to Change your Bank details can all be accessed when you log into ESS.
Created: 12/10/21
Adult social care staff currently working in Kilncraigs, have temporarily moved to the 3rd floor 1904 side while roof works take place.
Created: 24/9/21
There is now a dedicated email address for the submission of Daily Payment Vouchers (DPV's) to the Creditors Team.
All daily payment vouchers (DPV's) must be sent to CreditorsDPVS@clacks.gov.uk.
When submitting a DPV for payment, can you please ensure that the appropriate back-up is attached in pdf format.
Blank daily payment voucher forms can be found on Connect Finance system resources and Forms pages.
Created: 16/09/21
The national flu vaccination programme is due to start shortly and, this year, it will not only be available to health and social care staff but also teachers, nursery teachers and support staff in close contact with pupils (working in both council and independent settings) and social care workers who deliver direct personal care (the full list of eligible groups is outlined below).
Eligible groups for this year's Flu vaccine:
Flu vaccine information for health and social care staff
From Tuesday 21st September health and social care staff will be able to book an appointment online for flu clinics which will run from Monday 27th September until the end of November 2021. Further details and links to the national booking portal will be shared as soon as it is live. Flu clinics will be held at Falkirk Community Hospital, Stirling Health and Care Village, Stirling University and Clackmannanshire Community Healthcare Centre.
Healthcare staff will also be able to book appointments at staff vaccination clinics run by NHS Forth Valley’s Occupational Health Service at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and there will also be a peer immunisation programme.
Flu vaccine information for all eligible groups
All eligible groups, including health, care and education staff, will also be able to book appointments at 55 community pharmacies across the Forth Valley area if this is more convenient. Details of the participating pharmacies are available on the NHS Forth Valley website at www.nhsforthvalley.com/staffflu Pharmacies will be offering a mixture pre-booked appointments, drop in clinics and set clinic times so please contact your nearest pharmacy to find out more and make arrangements.
Covid-19 Booster Programme
The Scottish Government has also confirmed details of the Covid-19 booster which will run alongside this year’s flu vaccine programme. Booster vaccines will be offered to all adults over 50, frontline health and care workers, younger adults with certain health conditions that put them at higher risk and adult household contacts of people with suppressed immune systems. The JCVI has also advised that there should be an interval of at least six months between a second dose and a booster dose.
Frontline health and social care workers will be able to book their Covid-19 booster appointment online through NHS Inform from Monday 20 September 2021. The details for this programme are still being finalised however, where possible, eligible people will be offered the Covid-19 and flu vaccines together.
For more information and updates, please visit the staff flu and Covid-19 vaccine pages on the NHS Forth Valley website – www.nhsforthvalley.com/staffflu and www.nhsforthvalley.com/staffcovidvaccine.
Created: 15/09/21
Dear Colleagues
As the Council continues to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are urgently seeking expressions of interest from those who may wish to volunteer for redeployment, or take on additional hours in supporting our Care at Home service.
We are offering this as either additional hours for currently contracted staff, or as a temporary redeployment. You can find the full information on redeployment at www.clacks.gov.uk/coronavirus/redeployment.
We will provide full training and induction for anyone who would like to offer their support for this Service. In the meantime, you will find some details below:
Role Description
Care at Home Support Worker (Grade 5)
Essential Requirements
Candidates are required to have an enhanced PVG for Adults.
Desirable Criteria
Ideal candidates should have experience of working in a social care environment.
Key Tasks
Care at Home Support Workers provide a range of support to vulnerable people in our communities. This includes:
Required Hours of Work
Both dayshift (07:00am – 13:20pm) and backshift (15:00pm – 21:30pm) are currently being offered.
If you are interested in either redeployment or additional hours, please send any initial expressions of interest to Ali Hair at ahair@clacks.gov.uk. Colleagues in HR may contact you to confirm details, or request completion of an Expression of Interest Form.
I would like to thank you for your continued support.
Nikki Bridle
Chief Executive
Created: 2/9/21
Some staff have continued to park in the front Kilncraigs carpark despite it being closed due to building works.
From Sunday 5th September, Marshall's will occupy the parking area next to Maxi's compound in the front carpark. Any cars parked in this area should be moved now.
Any issues should be emailed to gwright@clacks.gov.uk or t: 01259 22 5171.
Created 24/08/21
A reminder to all staff that building works are ongoing within Kilncraigs and Council staff SHOULD NOT give works personnel access to any part of the building without prior consent from Stuart Kennedy in FM Services.
We would ask that staff should continue to be vigilant, particularly if someone you don't know is following you into the building without using their own access card.
Any concerns about health and safety or building security should be reported via https://uk.sheassure.net/EastScot/Portal/Clacks/Index
Kilncraigs continues to remain closed to members of the public as a result of the Covid pandemic.
Created: 10/08/21
A new "Staff Health and Wellbeing" section has now been added to our e-learning platform Clacks Academy.
This section contains various mental health and wellbeing related e-learning modules, such as Resilience, Healthy Living, Domestic Abuse and Menopause, Stress Management, How to Support staff who are experiencing a mental health problem and many more.
Most importantly, recordings of some of the mental health and wellbeing webinars organised by our Healthy Working Lives Group, for example during our first Winter Wellbeing Week and Stress Awareness Month, are now available on this section of Clacks Academy.
Recordings of future webinars will also be uploaded so that staff who were unable to attend/participate in the actual webinar can access these.
You don't need to have access to Citrix to access Clacks Academy.
Created 05/08/21
The new process has been published on Connect.
Created 04/08/21
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in cyber crime and "phishing". When cyber criminals go phishing, you are the fish and the bait is usually contained in a scam email or text message.
The cyber criminal’s goal is to convince you to click on the links within their scam email or text message, or to give away sensitive information (such as bank details). Messages may look like the real thing but they are malicious. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords.
If you thing you have received an email that is suspicious, please do not open it. You can forward it to the National Cyber Security Centre's Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk
You can also find out more about SERS on the NCSC's website https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails.
Created: 11/6/21
Staff are reminded that the electric vehicle charging points at Kilncraigs should only be used if the vehicle is to be charged. These charging points are available for public use and council vehicles that are not being charged are blocking public access.
Created: 7/6/21
Council and Committee dates and deadlines from August 2021 to June 2022 are available on Connect.
The programme of Council and Committee Meetings is also available on the Council's website.
Created: 14/5/21
The confidential waste storage that used to sit in the Kilncraigs front car park has been relocated to Kelliebank. Confidential waste generated within Kilncraigs will temporarily be stored in one of the glass offices in the atrium then taken down to Kelliebank twice per week. Access into this temporary storage area is controlled by mail room staff.
Please contact mail room staff for confidential waste bags and all queries regarding confidential waste at mailservices@clacks.gov.uk.
Created: 1/4/21
From 1st April we will be moving to a new way of reporting accidents, near misses and violence and aggression. This is the first step in a wider transformation of all our Health & Safety processes.
Any employee will be able to access the mobile portal from any web enabled device or using the mobile app.
There are 5 types of submissions which can be made:
These replace the paper forms currently in use. If you have any questions about the new system, please contact the H&S team on x2225.
Created: 24/2/21
With many staff continuing to work from home, we would like to remind staff again about our Data Protection obligations in all areas of our work. Please follow the link to our Working from Home section.