The latest news for our employees.
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Colleagues in our highways teams have been out across Derbyshire over the past few days dealing with the effects if Storm Christoph.
During this national lockdown it is extremely important that we all continue to set an example in our communities and follow the new COVID restrictions.
I don't usually go big on making new year's resolutions. But I have been thinking about the year ahead.
People living in Heanor, Loscoe, Langley Mill, Shipley and Smalley are now being asked to come in for a coronavirus test.
I hope that despite the current lockdown and the various challenges that I know many of you will be facing you're able to keep some optimism for the year ahead.
Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work.
We know that the national lockdown restrictions will be having an impact on many of our colleagues, particularly those with caring responsibilities.
We now have three testing centres open in Swadlincote and with more centres due to open in the coming weeks, we still need your help.
Many of us started this new year with a hope in our hearts that the worst of COVID-19 is past us.
Do you live or work in the Swadlincote area? We've 3 testing centres in the area to test people who don't have coronavirus symptoms.
From Monday 11 January 2021 all eligible internal and external PPE users will be able to request supplies online.
We've further updated our guidance for supporting clinically extremely vulnerable colleagues.
We've more than 40 job opportunities in our highways team for enthusiastic and innovative people.
Our COVID-19 logistics hub is what keeps supplies flowing to combat coronavirus.
The Prime Minister's announcement has raised lots of questions about how our home and work life will be affected by the new lockdown measures.
Care worker Carolyn Chittim was one of the first in line for the new COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Derby Hospital last Tuesday.
People living in Swadlincote, are the first in the county to be invited for a coronavirus test as part of our plans for targeted community testing.
At the end of a very difficult and challenging year, we want to say thank you to every one of you for the way you have supported our communities and each other.
The whole of Derbyshire will remain under Tier 3 restrictions, the government has announced today (Thursday 7 December).
Here are the latest Christmas posting dates from Royal Mail.
Last week, our employee assistance programme provider, CiC, ran a free webinar to discuss how to keep our minds positive and our bodies healthy during winter.
A new e-notification service called Find a Tender (FTS) will be used to post and view any public sector procurement notices.
Our new Director of Legal and Democratic Services, Helen Barrington, joined us on Monday 7 December 2020.
All our lives have been turned upside down by COVID-19. But it's not just old and vulnerable people who've been affected – young people have too.
You can't turn on the news currently without seeing mention of vaccinations and coverage of the first coronavirus vaccination made me surprisingly emotional.
Derbyshire will become one of the first new areas in the country to roll out community testing before Christmas and we need your help.
Since you installed Microsoft 365, you may have noticed an application called Forms, which is a tool to create surveys and questionnaires.
Our employee assistance programme provider, CiC, is inviting you to join a free webinar to discuss how to keep our minds positive and our bodies healthy.
I've taken to reflecting on all that has happened so far this year and how important it can be to just be in the moment
Since I last wrote, National Safeguarding Adults Week has taken place.
We have updated the advice for clinically extremely vulnerable colleagues.
Completing these surveys is really important as they help us to understand your views and feelings and involves you in decisions that are made about the future.
Download our Christmas e-card, designed by Esme from Chesterfield
I want to share something with you that has made me so pleased. Here in children's services we've recently been receiving far more compliments than complaints.
Over the next few weeks we're carrying out an in-depth study into the activities underway across the organisation.
Prevent is one strand of the government counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST, which aims to identify people at risk of radicalisation or supporting terrorism.
We're asking Derbyshire residents to have their say on our budget and services.
The Leader of the Council is proposing to appoint a Managing Executive Director for the next 12 months.
I am very aware that this is stating the obvious but we as an organisation and as individuals are working in unprecedented times.
There will be a Covid-19 mobile testing unit in the car park at County Hall on Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November.
Everyone should be aware of the role they play in safeguarding adults and we should all know how to spot the possible signs of abuse
We'd ask that you don't print documents out at home but if it really is unavoidable, please make sure that you dispose of them properly
This year December's pay date will be Tuesday 22 December.
With the ongoing challenges, including many people working remotely, it's more important than ever to make time for a conversation with your manager.
It's been a time for reflection this week. From Remembrance Sunday to Armistice Day.
As part of the recent Our Spirit team briefing you had in your teams, we asked you to identify three improvements that your team needed support.
If you've made a mileage claim since April 2018, please complete our future travel plans survey.
Thrive, the company behind the mental health wellbeing app, is running a series of mental health webinars, just for men.
We're supporting Talk Money Week which runs from 9-13 November.
We will be marking Remembrance Day with a small socially distanced ceremony.
From Monday 9 November, you'll have a new icon on your Teams menu called Learn.
The clocks have gone back, the first frost has formed and our 'alternative' Halloween and Bonfire Night celebrations are over – winter is definitely upon us.
If you made a business journey in August or September 2020, please help us to develop future travel plans by submitting your mileage claim by 13 November 2020.
There will be a COVID-19 mobile testing unit in the car park at County Hall on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November, and Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November.
From 6 April 2020 you've been able to claim up to £6 a week tax-free to cover additional costs if you've had to work from home.
A message to all employees from Emma Alexander about Saturday's lockdown announcement.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected the way we work, shop and communicate with others – we're relying a lot more on technology.
We're offering a one-off, additional opportunity to learn from the experts and improve your Microsoft Teams skills and understanding.
As time goes on during this weird period in our lives it is likely that we will all have up days when we feel really positive, and difficult days.
A recent review of annual leave balances highlighted that, on average, employees currently have between 65% and 70% of their annual leave remaining.
After a surge in coronavirus cases, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Erewash will enter 'high' Covid alert level from 12.01am on Saturday 17 October.
People in Derbyshire will soon be asked to contact NHS 111 before attending accident and emergency at their local hospital.
You will be aware that the Government has announced a new three-tier Covid alert system to help control the spread of coronavirus.
Next week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
This past week has seen some significant increases in the numbers of coronavirus cases across the country.
We all share a responsibility for public health.
Saturday 10 October is World Mental Health Day.
In the previous local authority where I worked, colleagues persuaded me that if I was photographed having my flu jab it would encourage others to get theirs.
Between 21 and 24 September 2020 we celebrated the launch of Microsoft Teams with a special week of online learning sessions.
If you're eligible, you can now get a brand new bike and safety equipment to the value of £3,000.
It's Stoptober and a perfect time for you to stop smoking for good.
We've won the Best Council Services Team Award in the MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2020.
October is Black History Month and our Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) employee network group are marking it with a virtual event on Monday 26 October 2020.
In addition to using Microsoft Teams for meetings and chat, you can now request a team setup and associated SharePoint site.
New accessibility regulations came in to place for all councils recently.
We are launching a modern ways of working project
As a parting gift at the end of Teams week you are now able to install Office 365 Pro Plus on your council computer
Over the past few weeks lots of you have been taking part in team briefing sessions to discuss the results of the employee pulse survey in more detail
The Prime Minister has announced a number of measures in response to the increasing rates of coronavirus infection being seen across the country.
You may or may not have children, you may be a step-parent, a sister or brother, a grandparent, or your kids have (finally) grown up and flown the nest.
How Microsoft Teams supported the Community Response Unit
Full details of all the Teams week events with links to join the live sessions.
We support the police to understand the issues within Derbyshire communities and learn how we can prevent vulnerable people being drawn into terrorism.
Anyone read anything good over the summer?
Since March this year we've had to continually adapt to changing situations.
We've been shortlisted for an award by the Municipal Journal (MJ) – a magazine which covers local government issues.
You may have read that the government is expected to release plans for council reorganisation in the coming weeks.
Services on offer in Derbyshire to help support anyone affected by suicide.
From Monday 21 to Thursday 24 September we'll be celebrating the use of Microsoft Teams with a wide range of activities
Develop your understanding of the features, functions and benefits of Microsoft 365 tools.
An agreement has been reached between the National Employers and the relevant negotiating committees for a one year pay deal
There are some exciting opportunities for you to receive some Microsoft Teams and 365 training.
Our cleaning and caretaking service, and property design service has moved to joint venture companies we've set up with Suffolk County Council.
These past few weeks many of us have been taking opportunities to take a well-deserved break from work.
For many of us at this time of year, our thoughts will be turning to children returning to school.
Our guidance on complying with quarantine measures following overseas travel has been updated to simplify our approach.
If you have a Derbyshire.gov.uk email address you're now able to sign up to a discounted Microsoft Home Use Programme.
Due to the overwhelming success of our request for volunteers to become digital champions we're temporarily closing the registration process.
The county procurement team are keen to hear from everyone who's involved in procuring goods and services.
The new electronic document management (EDRM) system for HR documents goes live today.
Please don't be tempted to press pause on your development. Now is the time to benefit from this exciting opportunity.
We're now into the summer holidays and I'm sure some of us are hoping to take a bit of a break from what has seemed at times to be a pretty relentless workload.
We recently updated our guidance for managers in line with the changes to government guidance for those travelling outside the UK.
Settling down to write my final message before I retire next week, I've been thinking about how much has changed since I joined the county council in 1990.
As we all work on getting to grips with the practical side using Teams it's also important to think about how it can help improve the way you work.
There's been much talk of the resilience of our key workers, a resilient economy, the resilience shown by our communities, and resilience against infection.
There's no doubt that this continues to be an uncertain time for all of us as new government guidance is regularly introduced.
Children's centre colleagues have been working hard to keep in contact and support the families in their areas.
Our Healthy Workplaces Derbyshire, Live Life Better and mental health teams have been working with Derbyshire Constabulary.
Most of you will now have Microsoft Teams installed on your PC or laptop so we're sharing some basic tips.
With my retirement just weeks away, I've been reflecting on my working life.
We're supporting a new campaign called 'Today is the Day', which encourages smokers to stop smoking for good.
The way your employee data is retained is changing. Currently, employee files are held in a variety of ways and in different locations.
The COVID-19 infection rate is now available at local level.
I shared a personal lockdown story with everyone in Children's Services. The feedback was so positive it made me think that it was worth sharing more widely.
We've begun to roll out Microsoft Teams to all users but some of you may be wondering what you'll be able to do once it's been installed on you PC or laptop.
Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in warm or hot environments increases the risk of heat stress.
We're looking for volunteers to become part of a network of digital champions who will help others discover the power of working with Microsoft 365.
Important evidence-based tips for managing working from home
We're rolling out Microsoft Teams, the chat-based workspace in Office
As we prepare to enter a new phase on the journey to recovery from coronavirus with the relaxing of some restrictions we are finding new ways of working
As part of GDPR requirements we need to relocate or retire Microsoft Access databases.
You don't need any special qualifications or skills to foster for Derbyshire.
As lockdown measures are relaxed, it's important that we assess the use of our buildings to ensure they're safe for employees and visitors to occupy.
Until now we've been able to refer symptomatic employees and their symptomatic household members for COVID-19 testing.
For many of us, the ways in which we work have changed significantly this year.
At some point in the future when the world has moved on, we will all have our stories about COVID and how it affected us and our loved ones.
Since March this year we've faced an unprecedented situation and the huge challenges of the coronavirus outbreak have touched us all.
It never rains but it pours – literally.
Tourism is a huge part of the Derbyshire economy and we'll be doing all we can to attract visitors back to our county once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
Are you scam-aware? For Scams Awareness Fortnight we're asking you to learn more so you can protect yourself, family, friends and people you work with.
A message from Executive Director, Helen Jones 16 June 2020
As coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease many of you may be wondering when and if you'll be able to return to your usual place of work.
After weeks of lockdown we're now starting to see restrictions easing and new guidance allowing us to start doing some of the things we've missed and enjoy.
The employee counselling service is one of the ways that you can get support with personal or work-related problems that are impacting on your wellbeing.
A lot has changed for us all in a very short space of time!
Between 31 January and 24 April this year we asked people for their views on the future of 10 council-run care homes.
Now has never been a better time to stop. Smoking reduces your body's defence against infections – including coronavirus.
There's no doubting that coronavirus will have a profound, long-lasting effect on all our lives.
Following consultation with the recognised trade unions we have revised our Trade Union Time Off Agreement.
We've been sharing messages of kindness this week as part of mental health awareness week but it's also important to be kind to yourself.
Information about how to change payment for Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers.
Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day and we're proud to say we've been ranked in the top tier of councils in the UK for our website accessibility.
Has it really only been a few short weeks since we went into lockdown?
This week we re-opened our household waste and recycling centres and Mike Ashworth has a message for those who helped make it happen.
Our team of trained mental health first aiders are available to provide confidential advice to any colleague who needs support with their mental wellbeing.
If you or someone you live with develops symptoms of coronavirus you must self-isolate by staying at home.
Our staff have been showing their Derbyshire Spirit to provide extra support for vulnerable and elderly residents during the coronavirus outbreak.
We're backing the Government's 'you are not alone' campaign to raise awareness of the support available to anyone experiencing domestic abuse.
Since the advent of coronavirus many of us find ourselves in a situation which requires a dynamic and fast-paced response.
This week we are supporting mental health awareness week and in particular, this year's theme of 'kindness'.
On Monday, the government launched a care home testing portal to allow testing for all care home staff and residents.
The guidance remains clear that colleagues should continue to work from home where they are able to do so.
On Sunday 17 May 2020 we'll be flying the rainbow flag at County Hall to mark IDAHOBIT day.
Yesterday the government made a public announcement regarding the coronavirus outbreak and outlined the next steps to be taken.
Many of us are currently working from home but it's important to let other colleagues and contacts outside the council know how and when you can be contacted.
Tomorrow we'll be commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Phishing attacks are a means to persuade you into divulging sensitive information such as credentials, or bank and credit card details.
The Derbyshire Business Centre has remained open during the pandemic and are looking to assist staff wherever possible
Follow these top tips to help keep personal and council information safe.
We're pleased to announce that Faxi Ltd are our new car share provider, with effect from 1 May 2020.
We've had a fantastic response from you following the launch of our Derbyshire Spirit campaign – but we want to hear from even more of you!
Advice to help you understand broadband speed and connectivity.
We've taken the decision not to renew the contract when it ends in May.
If you need EDRM training, or just a refresher, the records management team is holding a Skype session every Wednesday at 2pm
Thanks to all our staff who have worked tirelessly to make sure essential services continue to be delivered to the people of Derbyshire.
There may be a delay to the fund's normal response time in dealing with enquiries due to the number of staff working remotely.
Staff working from home should be aware that devices like Alexa, Siri or Google assistant may be listening in to your calls.
From Monday 30 March 2020 we're implementing the first phase of our new HR model designed to improve the support service offered to managers.
Today is No Smoking Day and it's the perfect time to quit that habit for good.
The online registration and booking system for the new fleet of electric pool cars is now available.
Our new fleet of electric pool cars have been launched and will be available to book from Monday 16 March 2020 if you are travelling from County Hall and back.