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Sefton to shine a light on its workforce and lifelong skills for National Apprenticeship Week

26 January 2023
John McCabe
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council is hosting a series of key events for its staff to consider apprenticeships as a route to develop their skills and career path during National Apprenticeship Week, while also shining a light on the progress of Sefton’s apprentices.

Taking place 6-12 February, the theme for National Apprenticeship Week is #SkillsforLife – a chance for employers to promote apprenticeships and how they prepare the workforce for the roles of the future.

Sefton’s Community Learning Service will also use this week to promoting core skills such as Maths, English and ICT – a level qualification (equivalent to GCSE C/4) will mean progress to higher level apprenticeships and in your career path. 

National Apprenticeship Week also represents a chance for the Council to celebrate its own apprentices online and on social media. 

Cllr Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said:

“It’s never too early or too late to accelerate your career and enhance your skills.  Whether it is something that is on your mind or not, I encourage you to use National Apprenticeship Week to consider your future and what you want it to look like.

“At Sefton Council we promote learning and development, and have a fantastic Apprenticeship team who can support you to find qualifications to fit the many vocational areas. There’s no greater endorsement than that of apprentices themselves so please take the time to read their stories and be inspired by their journeys.

“We regularly recruit new apprentices as a way to join Sefton Council and learn on the job, so keep your eyes peeled for any apprenticeship opportunities and other vacancies on offer.”

Cllr Marion Atkinson, Cabinet Member for Skills and Regeneration said:

“It’s heartening to see apprentices progress with Sefton Council, and in many cases find permanent roles within the organisation. It’s heartening because it shows we’re truly a learning organisation, with a workforce ready to help us adapt to future challenges, and it also shows we’re an organisation where staff feel valued in an environment where they can push on in their chosen career path.

“I hear from apprentices on a regular basis, but it’s still satisfying to use National Apprenticeship Week as a time to hear their stories and reflect on their journeys with Sefton. If anyone within Sefton Council or not yet with us, you should consider an apprenticeship as a great opportunity to be at the cutting edge in your field and to move up in your career.”

To be alerted to apprenticeship or other employment opportunities with Sefton Council, check out the vacancies at our Jobs Go Public website

Visit Sefton Council’s Apprenticeship Service dedicated webpage to learn more about the support they offer, or check out our Community Learning Service webpages to learn more about functional skills and other courses on offer.

Hero healthcare workers honoured by Sefton Council

23 January 2023
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News

Sefton Council will this week celebrate the heroism of healthcare workers across the Borough as it officially awards the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to four NHS trusts.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust, as well as Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, will be given the prestigious honour at a special ceremony at Bootle Town Hall on Thursday, January 26th.

A decision to award the Freedom of the Borough was made in light of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication shown by medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freedom of the Borough is the highest ceremonial honour Sefton Council can bestow. It will stand as a permanent record of the Borough’s endless appreciation and debt of gratitude to the Trusts and their staff.

An Extra-ordinary meeting of council will take place to officially grant the Freedom of the Borough, with an accompanying civic reception for officers of the Trusts and their invited guests.

Organisations receiving Freedom of the Borough gain the ‘right, privilege, honour and distinction of marching through the streets of the Borough on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating and bayonets fixed’.

Cllr Ian Maher, Sefton Council Leader said: “We and the people of Sefton will be eternally grateful for the selflessness and dedication of the Trusts in the face of COVID-19, putting themselves at risk in ensuring the safety of others.

“Their selflessness and dedication saved lives through the pandemic and they continue to strive tirelessly to provide the care that we, our families and our friends all need, when we need it.

“I am confident that people across Sefton will agree that the work of these NHS staff need to be recognised and rewarded, which is why I am delighted to be giving them  Honorary Freedom of the Borough next week.”

Sue Musson, Chair of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:“It is a great honour for the Trust to be awarded Sefton Council’s Freedom of the Borough for our services during COVID-19. The pandemic presented immense challenges for all of us working in healthcare, and this award recognises the remarkable courage, selflessness and resilience of our staff who cared for patients, families and each other at a very dark time. We are so grateful to receive this very special honour and for the continuing friendship and support of colleagues across the Borough.”

Neil Masom OBE, the chair of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust said: 
“This is a tremendous honour for the tireless and often challenging work of colleagues during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
“Every one of them is on the frontline in one way or another whether they are in a clinical, support or administrative role. We all work as one team and one family, ensuring we deliver the best possible care for those in need.”
 
Dame Jo Williams, Chair of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Louise Shepherd, Chief Executive of Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said: 
“We are hugely honoured to be recognised and to have been awarded the Freedom of the Borough from Sefton Council. It is fantastic recognition for our staff and colleagues who have worked tirelessly and bravely during the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
“Alder Hey is privileged to play a vital role in supporting the health of children in Sefton and around the world. This would not be possible without the support we receive from children and families around the Borough and from our friends and partners in the Local Authority and other agencies.”
 
Joe Rafferty CBE, Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: 
“Like all other NHS organisations, the COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges for Mersey Care and I see this honour as recognition for everyone who have worked so hard during some of the most difficult times in the history of the NHS.
 
“We’ve had to adapt, quite often find different ways of working, but I’m extremely proud of the way we’ve continued to care and kept our mental health and community health patients and service users safe.”

Previous organisations to have been granted Freedom of the Borough include RAF Woodvale, in 2011, and No. 238 (Sefton) Squadron, 156 Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport, in 1982. Individuals who have had the honour bestowed upon them include Jamie Carragher, in 2004, and Donald “Ginger” McCain in 2006.

HMS Mersey will receive Freedom status in April while England footballer Alex Greenwood will also receive the Freedom of the Borough in a ceremony planned for late 2023.

Sefton Council’s Chief Executive announces retirement

23 January 2023
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

 

Sefton Council Chief Executive Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson, Chief Executive of Sefton Council

Sefton Council’s chief executive will retire later this year after more than four decades of public service.

Stepping down

Dwayne Johnson, Chief Executive of Sefton Council, today (23 January) announced he will retire later this year, stepping down from the post he has held since 2019.

He has worked in local government for over 40 years and started out as a Care Assistant in County Durham and worked for a number of Councils in the northeast. Dwayne has worked in local authorities across the Liverpool City Region, first in Knowsley then Halton, before finally arriving at Sefton in 2015 as Director of Social Care and Health, and became Chief Executive after the Council’s previous CEO, Margaret Carney, retired in 2019.

Integrity and transparency

Leader of Sefton Council, Cllr Ian Maher, said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Dwayne for everything he has done for Sefton over the last 8 years.

“As Chief Executive he has acted with integrity and transparency, and he is highly respected in Sefton, as a dedicated, effective Chief Executive.

“His open and honest approach, with staff, elected members and partners alike, has gained him respect across the Liverpool City Region.

“I know many of our staff have welcomed Dwayne’s approachable and friendly manner, many of whom look forward to reading his fortnightly blog, with hundreds of staff watching and engaging with his monthly “Teams Q&A” live sessions.

“Dwayne led the Council’s response to Covid-19, which saw Sefton at the forefront of testing, with the first ever dedicated walk-through Covid-19 testing sites in Cheshire and Merseyside being deployed by the army and Council staff in Sefton. He also chaired the Merseyside Resilience Forum’s Test and Trace cell, ensuring swift and easy access to testing for all Merseyside residents.

“He will be greatly missed by all of us across the Council, and I know everyone who has worked with him will wish him and his family all the best in his retirement.”

Enormous privilege 

Dwayne said: “Sefton is a very special place, and it has been an enormous privilege to work here to serve the fantastic people of Sefton.

“When I started as a care assistant 40 years ago, it was never part of my career plan to become a Chief Executive. Until very recently I still retained my social work registration and it’s been an honour to serve the profession for so long.

“All of my colleagues across the Council have been amazing, and I always felt an immense sense of pride of having the privilege to lead such a wonderful workforce. We have been through some tough times, but with each one our staff met the challenge and delivered, coming out stronger as a result.

“I would like to thank all colleagues and members for their hard work and dedication, and for making my time at Sefton so enjoyable.

“I am proud of what we are achieving in the borough by working together with our partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors. We are making significant steps forward in integrating with health and with regeneration, with many exciting developments across the borough.

“Sefton will always be special to me, and I will continue to take a keen interest in the borough and will watch it develop and go on to achieve future successes.”

Process to recruit

The council will now begin the process to recruit a new chief executive, with Dwayne stepping down once the new Chief Executive is in post.

The post is expected to be advertised in February with the interview process spanning March and April.

More information will be available on the Sefton Council website. 

Sefton Council makes ‘Care Experienced’ a protected characteristic

19 January 2023
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Featured Friendship News, Front Page, Latest News

At a full Council meeting last night, Sefton Council voted to make ‘care experienced’ a protected characteristic, putting it on equal footing with race and gender when it comes to fighting discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity for all.

It follows England’s Independent Review of Children’s Social Care which recommended care experience be a protected characteristic following lobbying by people with experience of the system.

The move is the latest in a line of changes aimed at strengthening the voice and needs of cared for and care experienced children and young people in Sefton and strengthens the council’s role as a corporate parent.

Care experienced includes all children who have had prolonged contact with our social care team; some may have been fostered, some placed with family members or others may have received support in a placement. This cohort face significant challenges upon leaving the care system and are statistically more likely to struggle across a range of areas including education, employment and housing.

In recognising ‘care experienced’ as a protected characteristic, the Council will actively seek out and listen to the voices of care experienced people in the same way they would ensure voices across the spectrum of age, gender, race and disability are heard. It will ensure that all decisions the Council make, the policies they set and the services they commission always consider the specific needs of care experienced young people and the impact on them.

 

Speaking at the Council meeting last night, Cllr Diane Roscoe, Cabinet Member for Education said:

“Care experienced people face some of the greatest inequalities in life and the biggest hurdles. There are invisible barriers that hold care experienced children back. Instead of the love and care they need and deserve, they can face discrimination, stigma and prejudice.

“We as councillors our officers and partners are all corporate parents of care experienced people and we need to give them a voice and consider their needs in everything we do. We call upon other bodies to adopt corporate parenting principals such as signing up to our Caring Business Charter and join us in ensuring that our Care Experienced people are supported and have the tools to build a happy, healthy future

“Good parents continue to support, champion, care for, and be ambitious for their children throughout their life and the council and our partners have a responsibility to ensure that children in its care have the same opportunities and outcomes as children in more traditional families.”

 

The move to make ‘care experienced’ a protected characteristic was inspired by the work of Terry Galloway, a campaigner who has care experience and was in over 100 different placements as a child.

Speaking after the motion was agreed last night, Terry Galloway said:

“I am delighted to see Sefton Council make ‘care experienced’ a protected characteristic. It is encouraging to see local authorities willing to listen to care experienced people, learn from our experiences and commit to improving their services.

“When I left care, my life was chaotic and I was not well supported; it did not feel like anyone had a responsibility to care for me. I campaign for the rights of those leaving care to ensure that no one in my position feels like they are on their own when they reach adulthood.

“Recognising ‘care experienced’ as a protected characteristic will give a voice to those most in need and represents a lifelong commitment to cared for young people who are approaching adulthood; it signals that they will be supported, listened to and valued.

“The next step is to engage with care experienced people of all ages to find out what discrimination they have face, both direct and indirect. It has to be deep and not just through the lens of what services local authorities provide, but go right out into the community in places like prisons, education, DWP and Health because discrimination is everywhere.  When we hear that voice and understand it, then change will happen.”

 

ENDS

Sefton Council leader calls Government’s Levelling Up announcement ‘another slap in face’

19 January 2023
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News
Cllr Ian Maher
Council Leader Cllr Ian Maher

Responding to news that the Government has once again turned down Sefton Council’s Levelling Up Fund bids focused on Bootle and Crosby, the authority’s Leader Cllr Ian Maher said:

“By once again ignoring our bids that would have supported the revitalisation of Bootle and Crosby, the Government has confirmed it has no interest in real levelling up in this country.

“Despite us pointing out that these were areas which were hardest hit by COVID-19 and where some of the country’s highest levels of deprivation are found, the Government’s so-called Department of Levelling Up insisted on assessing our bids in the lowest category.

“This has meant deprived urban areas like Bootle and Crosby’s needs have been assessed against places like the Royal Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Windsor where the Royal Family live, Cambridge and the City of London.

Slap in the face 

“Sadly, this is yet another slap in the face for local people which represents neither a ‘stepping up’, ‘gauging up’ or ‘enhancing communities’ no matter what this Government wants its MPs to call it.

“It’s a setback to our ambitious plans, but we are determined to do what this Government refuses to step up to deliver the boosts our local communities, economies and businesses deserve.

“However, if Sefton is to nonsensically remain in the lowest level of priority, we need to reflect on whether we should be continuing to invest our scarce resources in these incessant beauty contests, which this time has seen funding awarded for the Prime Minister’s own constituency and for Rutland, one of the least deprived constituencies in the country.”

Bootle

In Bootle, Levelling UP funding would have helped underpin the major regeneration scheme to transform the town centre, focused on the iconic The Bootle Strand. 

The plans will result in a more diverse and better-quality town centre with new food and drink; culture, arts and entertainment space which will be branded Salt and Tar and will host Comedy and Music festivals later this year. There will also be a new, hi-tech gigabyte fast digital hub, education and training, business support and a new integrated health and social care hub will all be available on the high-street.

Crosby

In Crosby, the funding would have underpinned a programme of regeneration that will enhance the viability and vitality of Crosby town centre and support local businesses by helping to attract more residents and visitors. Among the elements of the plan are a new learning, skills, health and well-being hub housing a library, GP/community health care and a place for people to both work and develop skills.

A significant upgrade of the main gateways into Crosby town centre, better pedestrian and cycle access and new electric vehicle charging points in car parks, is also planned.

You can find out more about Sefton’s bids here.

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