Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Personnel Committee Item 7

4 February 2004

Review of the District Audit Report on Sickness Attendance Management

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact: Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Bonney - 023 8062 6832

1

Summary

1.1

To advise Members of the progress made in relation to the report produced by the then District Audit in July 2003 entitled Sickness Attendance Management.

2

Introduction

2.1

Members will recall that the District Audit report was produced in order to assist the Service in implementing its absence reduction strategy. The Auditor made an assessment of the current systems and those to be installed in a number of key areas. Within each of these areas the Service's current position was compared with best practice principles and issues were identified for the Service to consider in effectively managing sickness absence.

2.2

This resulted in an Action Plan of tasks for completion in order to implement the Auditors recommendations. A report on progress towards completion of the Action Plan as of December 2003 has been produced by the Employee Relations Section of the Personnel Department.

2.3

As members will see good progress has been made in addressing the issues in the original report, particularly implementation of return to work discussions, management training on attendance management and flexible working procedures. Unfortunately ongoing difficulties with the SAP system has delayed progress in relation to the provision of management information. These difficulties are recognised by our auditors as issues not completely in our control. As a result we are working with them and Hampshire County Council to resolve this obstacle to progress.

2.4

Members will be aware that this report is linked with the Personnel Timeline for 2002/2003 on improving attendance at work.

3

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

3.1

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 and considered in the light of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Recommendations

1

That the progress on the District Audit report of Sickness Attendance Management be noted.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report.

District Audit Report of July 2003 - Sickness Attendance Management

Sickness Attendance Management Action Plan Progress Update as of December 2003

Note: The list excludes:

(1) Published works

(2) Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act