Jobsgopublic News

It is of great importance that those working in the public sector continue to receive pay awards.

Stephen Moir, president of the Public Sector People Managers” Association, writes for Personnel Today that although the economic downturn may mean that spending will have to be reduced, due to the public sector’’s continued role as a major employer, salary increases should still take place.

If this does not happen, Mr Moir suggests that workers may feel "undervalued and singled out", affecting public sector bodies” recruitment and retention rates, in addition to the services that they deliver.

"We can”t go through another recession and then have to play ”catch up” on public sector pay for the next decade, as has been the case in the past," he states, in comments of potential interest to those seeking work via a regional recruitment portal.

Last December, Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, stated that public sector jobs are now seen as a more attractive proposition than working for a private organisation.

More regional recruitment portal information.

Work on the local coal fields and waterfront developments in both Dover and Deal have seen those with jobs at a local authority be praised.

Following an inspection by the Audit Commission, Dover district council was commended as providing a "good" standard of regeneration services, in news that could interest those searching for public sector jobs via a regional recruitment portal.

In addition, the local authority was deemed as having "promising prospects" for achieving future improvements.

Citing work on the waterfront developments and coal fields as "offering real improvements for local people", Claire Bryce-Smith, senior manager for the Audit Commission, claims that "all this offers a good platform to move towards the implementation of the ambitious vision the council and its partners have agreed for the town of Dover as a whole".

Furthermore, the council was praised for ensuring that opportunities to learn and develop new skills, particularly those which can improve employment opportunities for local residents, are in place.

In a report issued last June, the commission praised Kent county council for its work with network partners in improving its residents” quality of life.

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A significant number of Britons, which could include those working in the third sector, feel uneasy talking about workplace stress with their employer, a new study shows.

In research carried out by Aon Consulting, less than a third (30 per cent) of employees claim they would discuss the pressures of their job with their manager, while 11 per cent would call a confidential employee helpline for information.

More than half state they would seek guidance from a GP, while 51 and 50 per cent look for help from friends and family members respectively.

Alex Bennett, head of healthcare consulting for Aon Consulting, said: "It is amazing that even with mounting pressure and stress, workers are not talking more to the people who can help, be this their manager or the health professionals employed to support them."

He adds that as stress cannot easily be recognised in the workplace, managers must take an "active role" in tackling this, something which could help improve talent management.

Meanwhile, Michael Calvert, general manager for business telephone supplier Aastra, recently claimed that providing the option of working from home can help to reduce stress for employees.

More talent management information.

Working for charities and voluntary groups is becoming increasingly popular, new research shows.

Figures released by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) reveals that the last ten years have seen a 24 per cent increase in the number of those with third sector jobs, compared to 16 and nine per cent rises for the public and private sectors respectively.

Now, a total of 634,000 people, the majority of which are women, work for charities and voluntary groups, in news that could interest those searching for employment in the sector via a regional recruitment portal.

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the NCVO, said: "It is vitally important that we do not underestimate the immense contribution the whole of civil society makes to the quality of people’’s lives, to their local communities and to the UK economy."

Meanwhile, income for the voluntary sector in 2007-08 stood at £33.2 billion - a year-on-year increase of 3.3 per cent.

Those searching for third sector jobs may be interested to read a recent Charity Finance Directors Group report which indicated that more than half of charity finance professionals do not plan on changing their recruitment strategies despite the ongoing effects of the financial downturn.

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Allowing tenants to have an input on the decisions that impact upon their community is just one of the areas that has seen those working for a Lancashire-based housing association receive praise.

Following an inspection by the Audit Commission, the Community Gateway Association (CGA) has been deemed as providing a "good" level of service, including a £90 million home improvement scheme, to its tenants.

In addition, CGA - which manages homes in Preston and the surrounding areas - has been deemed as having "promising" prospects of achieving future improvements, something that could interest those looking for jobs in housing via a regional recruitment portal.

Graeme Foster, lead housing inspector for the Audit Commission, claims that the association "is providing tenants with a good service and is taking effective action where improvements are needed".

The commission also praised CGA for its operations with network partners in dealing with anti-social behaviour and offering debt and welfare benefit guidance to tenants.

Britons on the search for work in the county may also be interested to hear that the commission gave Blackburn with Darwen council a four-star rating in January - its highest possible score - for its work in improving outcomes for children and young people.

More regional recruitment portal information.