More jobs go in Wiltshire shake-up
12:00pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in News
Coun Lionel Grundy
More job losses at Wiltshire Council have been announced after a shake-up of its support for families with young children.
The team which gives support to children’s centres and other providers working with children who have difficulties and disabilities is to be restructured.
The department has the equivalent of 71.5 full-time posts, but 9.98 will be axed. Of these, 4.5 posts will come from current vacancies.
Councillor Lionel Grundy, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We have to find innovative ways to protect and improve the service we give the providers which support families with young children, while making efficiencies.
“I am pleased that these changes, which have reshaped the service and will invest in key areas, will ensure this is the case.”
The early years team has been told it must encourage nurseries, childminders, schools and children’s centres to work more closely together to support families.
The council wants to remove duplication from the service, as well as making more savings, but has said that all 30 children’s centres will remain open. Support for providers working with children with difficulties and disabilities is only available in term time, but under the new plans it would be expanded to all-year round.
Workers affected by the redundancy measures were called to a meeting at County Hall on Friday, after receiving “at risk” notices.
In the letters, Barry Pirie, the council’s service director for human resources, said: “The savings will be found from a number of areas, including the renegotiation of key contracts, the reduction in our senior management team and undertaking reviews in all areas.
“One of the reviews being undertaken is across Schools and Learning.”
The council will now go through a period of consultation with those affected, to see who wishes to take voluntary redundancy.
