PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE
3RD JULY 1989
EDUCATION POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE
11TH JULY 1989
EDUCATION REFORM - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ORGANISATION
A JOINT REPORT OF THE COUNTY MANPOWER SERVICES OFFICER AND THE
COUNTY EDUCATION OFFICER
Introduction
1. The Personnel Sub-Committee at their meeting on 10th April 1989
considered a joint report by the County Manpower Services
Officer and the County Education Officer relating to the
organisational and staffing implications arising from Education
Reform. Consequently the Sub-Committee approved:-
* The outline organisational structure for the
Education Department based on:
three HQ directorates accountable for:
Policy and Programming;
Curriculum;
Operations;
with four divisional offices accountable for the
provision of direct services to the public as well as
the support services required by schools and colleges
engaged in local management;
* The establishment of ten senior managerial posts
responsible for managing the three HQ directorates
and the four divisional support teams. Appointments
to these ten posts have now been made.
2. The purpose of this report is to make recommendations to put
into place the detailed organisational and staffing
arrangements for the Education Department. Members will be
aware that local management will be the subject of phasing
during the period April 1990 to April 1993. Consequently the
proposed staffing structure will require changes over that
period. Appointments would be made from September 1989
onwards. The County Education Officer will need to manage the
phasing-out of the "old" organisation and staffing arrangements
in order both to support schools receiving delegated management
responsibilities and to manage others more directly until they
receive their delegated responsibilities.
Organisation Principles
3. The development of the revised structure has been based on the
principles of:
* Providing a clear focus at HQ for forward planning,
policy formulation, quality assurance and resource
allocation;
* Providing high quality professional services in
Divisions which focus on the needs of schools and
colleges, are easily accessible and can respond to
the degree of urgency required;
* Ensuring that the Education Department provides those
support services which have an education content and
ensuring that schools and colleges have easy access
to those services provided by central service
departments, e.g. County Treasurer, County Architect,
County Estates.
* Ensuring that accountability for who does what in the
Education Department is clearly identified.
The adoption of these basic principles will have the effect of
establishing an organisational structure for the department
which is slimmer, sharper and more professionally focussed.
The proposed structure replaces the existing 604 posts by some
509 posts although it must be emphasised that the reductions
are at the lower levels of the current structure as a
consequence of the delegation of routine processing and
administration to schools and colleges. Because it will be
necessary for 2-3 years to run two systems, the manpower
savings from the restructuring cannot begin immediately.
Functional Distribution
4. The proposed structure is based on the functional allocation
detailed below and shown in the diagrams on pages 4 and 5.
5. Education Department Headquarters will be responsible for:
* Forward planning;
* Resource provision and allocation;
* Performance monitoring;
* Professional leadership of education based Support
Services;
* The Department's contribution to servicing the
Education Committee and its sub committees;
* Research and information;
* Ensuring effective utilisation of educational
buildings and land through the County Architect and
County Estates Officer as appropriate;
* Liaison and involvement with County Council corporate
issues;
* Liaison with County Council's central service
departments.
6. Education divisional offices will provide the following support
services to schools:
* Curriculum support;
* Personnel management and training;
* Financial management;
* Governor and pupil support;
* Contract and site management.
7. Under the Local Government Acts, the County Treasurer is the
responsible financial officer for the administration of the
Council's financial affairs, and will remain the financial
adviser to the Education Committee. In order to fulfil his
responsibilities under these Acts, all senior designated
financial post holders will be accountable to the County
Treasurer as head of profession for financial practices.
8. The Inspection Directorate will include 5 senior posts to be
based at HQ to advise on and monitor curriculum policies and
strategically to manage the inspection, evaluation and support
of the curriculum.
The majority of inspectors however will be based in Divisions
to ensure ready access by the customer and close monitoring of
the Institutions. Each Division will have a Team Leader
accountable to the Assistant County Education Officer for the
effective delivery of curriculum, inspection and support in the
Division and will be the focal point through which the Chief
Inspector can fulfil his head of profession role. A separate
review of the present advisory service has been undertaken and
the staffing proposals form the second section of this report.
It is important to see the review of this function as an
integral part of the reorganisation of the Education
Department.
9. The provision of client contract support for services subject
to competition will be focused within the operations
directorate with local contracts supervisors based in each
division. This section will provide a contracts management
service for all County Council departments.
10. The County Architect will provide an enhanced buildings
management service direct to schools and colleges. This issue
will be the subject of a separate report to the Personnel
Sub-Committee.
Staffing Arrangements
11. This section of the report describes the proposed staffing
arrangements for April 1993 when the scheme for Local
Management of Schools is fully operational. The various
categories of staff are described in the following order:
Divisional and Headquarters - APT&C Scales
Inspectorate - Soulbury Scales
Education Psychologists - Soulbury Scales
Educational Welfare Officers - APT&C Scales
In assessing the staffing needs full account has been taken of
those activities where there are proposals to transfer
responsibilities to other departments of the County Council.
Divisional and Headquarters APT&C Scales
12. The proposed structure is based on an assessment of future
needs which, when tested by operational requirements, may need
some adjustment. Managers will need to respond to changing
workloads as the Department moves from direct management of
resources to support of locally managed institutions. The
proposed establishment therefore contains flexibility in both
grades and the deployment of posts at the lower levels.
13. The establishment will be used in a flexible way using grading
criteria which have been developed jointly by the Education
Personnel Unit and the Manpower Services Department.
14. For posts graded at SM level the grades have been determined
with regard to the accountabilities and duties of each post.
They are all graded at SM3 or SM4 and careful account has been
taken of similarly graded posts in other County departments. A
schedule of post outlines and grades is attached at Appendix
'A'.
15. Appendix 'B' shows a revised complement, of posts graded at
Principal Officer level of 27 posts at Headquarters and 24
posts at the Divisions. These posts cover a range of expert
professional and managerial duties and constitute a fixed
establishment.
16. Below the principal officer level there are a number of senior
officer and scale posts which need to be flexibly deployed.
The post numbers shown form the basis of staffing budget
calculations and will thus determine the overall financial
limit within which management will operate in response to
changing workload and operational pressures.
17. Establishment - Divisions
Grade No of Posts
PO4 to 6 8
PO1 to 3 16
SO1 to 2 24
Scale 4 to 6 40
Scale 1 to 3 84
172 Total
The proposed total establishment for the four divisions,
including 17 Local Education Officers is 189 posts. The senior
posts are described in Appendix A. This compares with an
existing establishment for 8 area offices of 222 posts.
18. Establishment - Education Headquarters.
Grade No of Posts
PO4 to 6 12
PO1 to 3 15
SO1 to 2 17
Scale 4 to 6 24
Scale 1 to 3 33
101 Total
The proposed total establishment for Education Headquarters
including 9 fourth tier posts is 110 posts. This compares with
an existing establishment of 172 posts.
Summary - APT&C Scale posts
19. Appendix 'B' presents a complete schedule of the revised posts
including 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier posts previously approved by
the Personnel Sub-Committee. In total the revised
establishment contains 99 posts less than the current
arrangements.
Inspectorate - Soulbury Scales
20. This section of the report describes the proposed staffing
arrangements for January 1990, when 8 additional posts which
are already approved are in place. The separate review of the
present advisory service has focussed on the need to bring
curriculum advice and support close to establishments and
ensure that the County Council's responsibility to monitor and
inspect are discharged effectively.
21. Within proposed resources the small headquarters section of 5
senior staff will enable the deployment of 69 posts to the
Divisions. The Divisional Inspectors will work with the Local
Education Officers under the operational direction of the
Assistant County Education Officer. The footnote in Appendix B
outlines the case for two additional inspector posts
transferred from APT&C scales so that responsibility for
curriculum planning and quality is handled there rather than by
officers.
22. Establishment - Education Headquarters
Chief Inspector - grade CO3 post already approved.
Soulbury grade
Principal Inspector (Primary) 23/26
Principal Inspector (Secondary) 23/26
Principal Inspector (Post 16) 23/26
Senior Inspector Special Needs 20/23
TOTAL 4 posts
23. Establishment - Divisions
Post Soulbury Grade No of
Posts
Senior Divisional Inspector 20/23 4
General Inspector Post 16 20/23 3
General Inspector Secondary 17/20 8
General Inspector Primary 17/20 13
General Inspector Special Education 15/18 4
County General Inspectors (Subject) 16/19 19
General Inspectors (Subject) 13/16 14
General Inspector Adult & Continuing 13/16 4
Education
TOTAL 69 posts
Summary - Inspectorate Soulbury Scale Posts
24. Appendix 'B' presents a revised schedule of posts which in
total shows 2 additional posts.
Educational Psychology Service - Soulbury Scales
25. The current deployment of Educational Psychologists is based on
area and local offices with the Principal and Deputy County
Education Psychologists based in Winchester. These
arrangements ensure the delivery of services close to the
community. Additional posts were agreed for 1989/90 but no
further additions have been made to the establishment.
26. In order to relate senior posts to the new structure and
recognise County wide leadership of clinical specialisms some
regradings are proposed.
27. Establishment
Post Soulbury Grade No of Posts
County Educational Psychologist 23/26 1
Deputy County Educational 19/22 1
Psychologist
Divisional Educational 15/18 4
Psychologist
Deputy Divisional Educatonal 11/14 4
Psychologist
Educational Psychologist County 11/14 4
Leader
Education Psychologist to point 10 29.7
Total 43.7
Educational Welfare Service
28. The Education Welfare Service is currently delivered by having
a County EWO based at HQ and 8 Area Education Welfare Officers.
Six of the Areas have Deputy Area Education Welfare Officers.
29. The proposals relating to restructuring of the service reflect
the need to provide additional field work expertise to ensure
effective local provision and to meet the increased work load
resulting from the increase in the number of child abuse and
similar cases. Accordingly we propose to remove a management
layer from the service by replacing the Deputy posts with teams
working within each Local Education Officer's cluster of
schools. One member of the team would be responsible for
coordination of the team's activities, with a responsibility
element in salary terms and a reduced case load.
30. In order to ensure consistency of enforcement of existing
legislation with respect to juvenile employment and performance
licensing it is proposed that the current establishment of 2
Juvenile Employment Officers is increased to one per division.
31. Establishment
Post Grade No of Posts
County Educational Welfare Officer PO4 to 6 1
Divisional Educational Welfare Officer PO1 to 3 4
Educational Welfare Officer (Team SO1 to 2 17
Leader)
Educational Welfare Officer Sc4 to 57
SO1
Juvenile Employment Officer Sc4 to 6 4
Total 83
Financial Implications
32. When fully implemented in April 1993 the reduced staffing
levels will release circa £400,000 p.a. to help fund the agreed
level of improved administrative support in schools and
colleges and any improved levels of building management support
agreed for the County Architect.
Staff Consultation
33. These proposals for the structure have been the subject of
consultation with all staff and with the recognised trade
unions and professional associations.
34. The procedure for the implementation of the proposals has been
developed in discussion with the staff side representatives
and, with the exception of salary protection matters, has been
agreed. The application of the agreed procedures for the
appointment to these posts will be managed by the County
Education Officer.
Implementation
35. During the implementation period from September 1989 to April
1993 there will be six monthly progress reports to the
Personnel Sub-Committee giving details of the deletion and
addition of posts.
Recommendation
36. That Personnel Sub-Committee approve the revised schedule of
posts, as set out at Appendix 'B', and Education Policy
Sub-Committee endorse these proposals for the process of
appointment to start in September 1989 with full implementation
by April 1993.
V178589
APPENDIX 'A'
INSPECTION DIRECTORATE
1. Finance and Information Officer - grade SM3
To co-ordinate and control the finance and information
functions for the Inspection Directorate including the
preparation of business plans; the maximisation of external
funding; the application of information systems and the
collection and dissemination of professional advice.
OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE
2. Local Management - Project Manager - grade SM3
To manage the development, application and review of formulae
based schemes for the allocation of financial resources to
schools and colleges. To monitor the impact of resource
allocation systems and to assist divisional managers in
training staff and in resolving difficulties.
3. Client and Contracted Services Manager - grade SM3
This post will manage the contract monitoring function for
building cleaning, grounds maintenance and catering for all
County Council departments. It is located in the Education
Department following earlier decisions because the Education
Service represents 85-90% of these contracted services. The
manager will ensure that the Education Department's needs as
client for contracted services are met including the
identification of new areas for contracting arrangements.
4. Building Contracts Officer - grade SM4
To lead the client side on buildings matters assisting the Head
of Operations and the ACEOs with: formulating proposals for
capital building projects; ensuring that the County Architect
is properly briefed for the development of a project
specification which includes design requirements and an overall
project cost; monitoring the timing, cost and quality; all in
accordance with the Education Committee's requirements.
5. Local Education Officers - x 17 grade SM4
To ensure that professional and administrative support services
to a group of schools and colleges within a defined locality
are delivered to time and at a high standard. Governors will
look to the holders of these posts as the officers carrying
accountability for services to their schools and colleges. The
posts will fill the 'General Practitioner' role for the
Education Department's clients. The staffing establishment of
17 posts is based on an average allocation of 45 schools,
although there will be some adjustment so as not to disrupt
existing 'pyramids' of schools and to allow one officer in each
division to be accountable for special educational needs.
POLICY AND PROGRAMMING DIRECTORATE
6. Information and Technology Officer grade SM4
To plan and supervise the development of administrative
computer systems for the Education Service. To specify the
Education Department's user requirements for computer hardware
and systems within the framework of the County Council's
overall information strategy.
7. Strategic Planning Officer grade SM4
To ensure that the Education Service's strategic planning needs
are formulated in the light of demographic, economic,
curricular, corporate and other policy demands for school,
further education and other provision. To supervise the
identification of land development and other capital
opportunities. To work in liaison with other departments to
maximise the educational benefits of capital resource
management.
8. Education Policy Officers - x 3 grade SM3
To provide effective professional support for the development
of education service policy for:
* School pupils under the age of 16;
* Pupils and students with special educational needs;
* Students over 16.
To develop and co-ordinate policy responses to central
government initiatives. To formulate policies and practices
for the implementation of the County Council's education
initiatives.
A table appeared at this point in the Report which could not be
displayed properly on the Computer. It has therefore been
excluded from Hantsnet and STAIRS.
For further details contact the owner of the following
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