TABLES

Capacity/Capability and Effective Management. The Council’s Corporate Plan and Management Team Plan also guide the activities of the Department.

The Human Resources Department operates across a number of key areas of activity: • Workforce Planning and Management Recruitment and selection is a key function of the Department and is continuous across all grades. During 2021, the Council recruited six graduates under the 3-year national Graduate Recruitment Programme. Co-operative placements with the local third level institutions continued during 2021 and provided invaluable work experience opportunities. The Department initiated an additional Apprentice Mechanic apprenticeship and continues to develop its relationship with Employability Clare in providing placements within the workforce. The Human Resources Department continues to work closely with the Fire Service to meet the continuing demand for retained staff in that department across the county.

• Learning and Development

An extensive programme of e-Learning and on-line training continues to be procured and developed and was rolled out during 2021. As a result of the easing of some

COVID-19 restrictions, some training programmes have resumed within a classroom setting with all the necessary COVID-19 protocols in place.

In addition to formal training courses, on-line interview training was provided through the community based Junior Achievement Programme.

The Learning and Development team monitors and maintains the Performance

Management & Development System (PMDS). This system plays an important role in setting targets for staff, clarifying roles and responsibilities within departments and identifying and evaluating learning and development activities.

The Human Resources Department also retained its National Standards Authority of

Ireland (NSAI) ‘Excellence Through People’ award in 2021, achieving a gold standard’.

• Employee Welfare

The confidential Employee Welfare Service aims to make a number of supports available to employees and presents an opportunity for early intervention should issues arise.

The Council’s Employee Assistance Policy provides details of the free and confidential

Professional Counselling Services available to staff at times of need, as well as the opportunity to discuss any difficulties with the Employee Welfare Officer.

Wellbeing initiatives were developed to support National Workplace Wellbeing Day and World Mental Health Day etc.

The ‘Flu Vaccination’ was also made available.

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• Industrial Relations

The Council is committed to meaningful consultation with the Unions representing staff in accordance with the various Public Service Stability Agreements. The Industrial

Relations function is dealt with corporately by the Human Resources Department who regularly liaises and consults with the recognised Trade Unions on a wide range of issues and the implementation of change. Every effort is made to deal with issues in a co-operative and open manner at a local level.

The Human Resources Department also represents the Council at all third party hearings in accordance with best practices with ongoing support from the Local

Government Management Agency.

• Superannuation / HR Systems

Clare County Council continues to prepare and manage data entry and storage systems while the payments process is delivered through a national services centre. The team in HR continue to engage with key stakeholders such as MyPay, DHLGH and our staff current and retired – to ensure that all measures are implemented effectively having due regard to the personal nature of this actively.

The HR Department with the support of the IT and Finance Departments managed the upgrade of Core to version 28 in August 2021, a data analytics solution (MakoData) was also implemented.

• Workplace Partnership

The Partnership Committee is a positive forum for discussions on various issues between management and staff outside of the industrial relations arena.

Information Communication Technology Information Communication Technology (ICT) focused on the continued response to COVID19 and delivering efficient, effective and innovative solutions. In 2021 the ICT team provided an additional 220 users with remote working solutions and is now supporting over 450 Clare County Council employees in a blended working environment.

ICT has delivered automated processes, introduced digital signatures in HR, GIS systems for engineers on the move, online applications, developed a new website for ennis2040 and launched a new online public consultation platform https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/

These initiatives have helped Clare County Council to continue to deliver services during the pandemic.

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