Becoming a learning organisation

Hello everyone

Joining the College of Social Work

“I hear those voices that will not be drowned” is the theme of Maggi Hambling’s scallop sculpture on Aldeburgh beach. Annie Hudson, chief executive of the College of Social Work, quoted this as she introduced the corporate membership of the college to a group of our children’s and adults social workers on Monday morning at the racecourse. 

Annie Hudson opening the event

I was delighted to be there with Pinaki Ghoshal to introduce the launch in the morning; something that Denise D’Souza did again in the afternoon.  Corporate membership of the College of Social Work means that our professional social workers will have access to an evidence base, a national peer group and a strong professional college. Alongside this, are its capabilities framework and code of ethics which helps to back them up in the challenging and essential work that they do with some of our most vulnerable citizens. These social workers have to be registered with the Health Professions Council, indeed re-registration must take place by 30 November this year so, if it applies to you, don’t forget. 

Our corporate membership of the college underpins, in a very practical way, the importance of retaining, recruiting and developing the best professional social work practitioners that we can.  For me, a learning organisation has got to create the conditions for its individual members to develop and progress. 

Annie Hudson and Pinaki Ghoshal with me

Corporate Parenting responsibilities

The role of social work was again a feature of a meeting at the end of Monday when the Corporate Parenting Board came together to discuss the annual reviews for fostering and adoption and the key issue of the education of children in care.  Our new head of the “virtual school”, Mark Storey, set out an ambitious and challenging agenda for his role.  It was gratifying to learn that housing for young people leaving care is something that we have made significant progress on in the past few years. It still remains a challenge and while changes in regulations are allowing young people to stay with foster carers beyond the age of 18, this is by no means the option for everyone.

Working with others

A learning organisation works with others to improve outcomes and that was very much our approach at the City Management Board breakfast on Tuesday. 

Sunrise looking east on my way to the breakfast

Looking west from the same spot at the same time 

Here were the most senior accountable officers from the local authority, health organisations, universities, police and probation service and their main agenda item was the issue of mental health and policing. We discussed how we might reduce the number of mentally unwell people who find themselves in police custody for their own safe keeping rather than for any criminal offence.  We learnt about the triage system in Eastbourne which is having a positive impact on reducing numbers by the provision of a mental health nurse alongside a police officer to triage such situations. We fully supported work underway to look at the best options for Brighton & Hove. I hope that the 24/7 rota for approved mental health practitioners will play a significant and constructive part in addressing this shocking issue. A group focussing on crisis care is working on an action plan and I hope to see an item at the Health & Wellbeing Board before the end of the year.

Geoff Raw talking at the CMB breakfast 

Funding awarded

This week we learned that the Arts Council are making an award to Brighton Dome for essential works as part of our ambitious plans for the Dome and Royal Pavilion estate. We are absolutely delighted that essential works will be able to be done and we very much hope that the bid to Heritage Lottery Fund will also be successful. 

Royal Pavilion in summer (image: VisitBrighton) 

City Sports and Physical Activity Awards

Because of the demands of the day on Wednesday, which went on well into the evening, I was really sorry to miss the City Sports and Physical Activity Awards but delighted to know that a number of worthy winners enjoyed the evening. Congratulations to Goldstone Primary school won the award for Sports School of the Year and indeed to all the winners and those who were highly commended. 

Chris Pearson, headteacher with Ivan Horsfall-Turner from Freedom Leisure

Stop, Start, Change

I am pleased that numbers of you are giving us feedback on #BHbudget Stop, Start, Change on the Wave. We are looking at all the suggestions we receive and encourage you to put your best thinking to this challenge.

Staff Survey 2014

Can I also give a final plug for the staff survey?  We have extended the survey time by a week to allow more staff to complete it.  As I have said before, a learning organisation needs to be open, and to hear from staff, as well as taking evidence of best practice from elsewhere and having a culture of review and evaluation.  So please do complete the staff survey online or pick up a paper copy.

Discussions ongoing

I had hoped that I might have some better news on the situation with refuse and recycling. While discussions are continuing and the planned service review is taking shape, we still do not have an end to the action.  I can only apologise again for the impact of this, on you as residents and on you as ambassadors for the council whose reputation is being dented by this issue.

Key Cities meet in Brighton

Finally then, today we are hosting the Key Cities at Brighton Pavilion.  This is a grouping of 25 cities who have banded together. As a group we will try to influence the government on the importance of cities and to lay claim to opportunities for further devolution of powers and opportunities to raise revenue, in particular by retaining more of the business rate.  I am delighted that we are hosting this quarterly meeting and have been encouraged by the progress we’ve made by raising the economic and social impact of cities on the national agenda. 

Key Cities representatives meeting at in the Pavilion

This brings me neatly back to the learning organisation. Our work with the Key Cities is giving us the opportunity to learn and share together with other places across the country. I am proud that we are hosting our colleagues today in our unique and beautiful Pavilion.

Best wishes
Penny