SBscene spring 2018

Localities bid fund

Don’t Buy It Don’t Supply It

Schools round up

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SBscene YOUR SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL STAFF NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2018

How do you play #yourpart every day?

Every day our staff undertake a wide range of duties to deliver excellent services – all of which contributes to our thriving Borders region.

During challenging financial times the Council has agreed a new set of corporate priorities and developed a new approach to ensure we can continue to have a positive effect on lives, livelihoods, well-being and communities into the future.

A new #yourpart campaign promotes the key message that we need everyone to play their part in whatever way they can so we can continue to deliver excellent services into the future.

The campaign supports the new Corporate Plan called ‘Our Plan and Your Part in it’ which was approved at Council on 20 February 2018.

Not only does it outline our plans as a Council for the next five years, but it also lists what we need from individuals, families, businesses and our communities.

A staff version of the plan is being developed and will outline specific examples of what staff can do to play their part. This ranges from building your own digital skills and ensuring your services’ website information is updated regularly, to ensuring you engage with communities with projects and always considering better, more streamlined ways of working.

Tracey Logan, Chief Executive explained: “We have achieved a huge amount through the efforts of our staff over the last five years. We want to keep this momentum going and continue to be an ambitious Council. We can only do this if we take a completely new approach which is why we have launched this campaign.

“This new approach will not only help the Council as a whole but it should help individual members of staff across all our services. For example, if people can use online services, staff can devote more time to helping those who really need it.”

The #yourpart campaign is being supported by the new Appraisal process, which is planned to be rolled out this year supported by Business World. It has been designed to encourage all of our staff to focus on continually improving and planning for the future.

Tracey Logan added: “We are relying on you to play your part towards achieving what we have committed to within the SBC Corporate Plan. With this in mind, everyone should think about how they incorporate this into objective setting as part of the Appraisal process.

When developing and agreeing objectives with your line manager you should always be considering - how will I play my part?”

Find out more about the campaign and how you can play #yourpart by visiting www.scotborders.gov.uk/ yourpart.

You can email examples of how you are playing your part to yourpart@scotborders.gov.uk or use #yourpart on social media.

# yourpart

My Job: Ronald Yule, Communications Manager, Hawick High School Ronald Yule has been a member of the staff team at Hawick High since August 2017, working with their in-house news team and helping to develop and deliver a communications strategy for the school.

An ex-pupil, he started at the school in 2011 and throughout his time there, was heavily involved with the Hawick High News team, eventually becoming their main leader. This involved managing a group of over 20 pupils, setting deadlines and delegating tasks to individuals within the team. Together they helped grow the small extra-curricular club into the school’s main source of information and communication output, as well as being the first online point of contact for parents, pupils and the wider community.

Ronald left Hawick High in June 2016 at the end of S5, initially to work at a local communications company in Kelso but was delighted to be asked back on a part-time basis. In his current role he teaches the pupils a variety of different skills in relation to media and television journalism. Whether that is how to use a camera, edit some footage or conduct and interview the pupils are given a range of opportunities to try something different and learn new skills.

He has also been working with the Communications and Marketing Team at Council HQ to develop a communications strategy for the school and has been instrumental in securing a full page monthly feature in the Hawick Paper, as well as generating more positive news coverage on a regular basis.

Ronald said: “I was really excited to be returning to work with the news team; they do a fantastic job in promoting all the great things that go on at Hawick High. As well as running the school website, they produce a monthly news

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broadcast, write articles for the local newspaper, post daily updates on a wide spectrum of social media channels and update the internal media screens around the school.

“It’s great to see the students take up an interest in a wide variety of different media, and the work they carry out really is second-to-none.

“They were recently awarded with a grant of £1000 from Council’s Youth Chex fund this will allow them to buy new equipment and continue the great work they’re doing.”

Ronald is clear that he has Hawick High News to thank for his interest in the media and the opportunities that this has given him. Being part of the team inspired him to get multiple work experience opportunities, most notably with ITV in London. His first stint in the capital was at their studios on the Southbank – he was shortlisted down to be one of 25 lucky candidates from across the country who spent two weeks finding out about all the different areas of the organisation.

He described it as an unforgettable experience, adding: “I am most interested in the technical side of things, but it was nice to see the other opportunities available within the industry which you might not think of when someone says ‘television’. There are opportunities within the likes of Finance and HR, not just cameras and sound.

“I met a lot of people during those two weeks in London. It was a great networking opportunity and helped me get further work experience, as well as giving me a real insight behind the scenes at one of the biggest broadcasters in the UK. Since then, I’ve returned numerous times and worked on the likes of Loose Women and This Morning.”

Hawick High News Team

Ronald on location in Wilton Lodge Park

Visiting the Loose Women Set

Outside of Hawick High, Ronald’s commitment and hard work has enabled him to set up his own company, Ronald Yule Media. He carries out a variety of work for different organisations, filming events, making websites and producing promotional videos for businesses. He is also a freelance cameraman for ITV Border, covering stories in Cumbria and the South of Scotland, and online editor at The Hawick Paper.

Find out more To see some of the great work carried out by the Hawick News Team, visit: www.hawickhighschool.co.uk or search Hawick High News on Facebook.

Communities benefit from Councl’s Localities Bid Fund The successful projects Berwickshire: • Friends of Duns Primary School - £29,000 • Duns Amateur Swimming Club - £650 • Connect Berwickshire Youth Project - £6,000 • Duns & District Men’s Shed - £7,300

(L-R) Gina Dickson, Linda Cornwall, Claire Penny and Colin Banks from the Localities Bid Fund project team

The first ever recipients of grants from SBC’s £500,000 Localities Bid Fund were announced in March.

Members of the Borders public decided which community projects received cash from the new funding pot.

Nearly 16,000 people voted either online or through paper ballots across five areas.

Over £200,000 was available during this first phase with 62 applications making it to the voting stage.

The project was led

by Communities and Partnerships Team and SBC staff worked tirelessly to run the scheme helping project teams with their applications, reviewing all the bids, promoting the fund, running the vote, printing ballot papers, collecting and scanning thousands of those paper votes, and liaising closely with elected members.

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Hawick Community Pump Track - £15,000 Hawick Men’s Shed - £6,500

Tweeddale: • Clovenfords Digital Ninja Community Project - £25,000 • Julie’s Kitchen Garden - Clovenfords £4,600 • Tweed Valley Mountain Cheviot: Rescue Team - £400 • Borders Search & Rescue • We are offering more Unit - £35,000 funding advice and guidance to the projects Eildon: that were not awarded • Stow Parent Council - grants to help them take £5,000 their ideas and plans • Rowland’s Selkirk (Food forward. for Thought) - £6,809 • Stow Community Learning Plans for the second phase Hub - £15,000 of the scheme will be • Earlston High School announced soon. You can Parent Council - £24,000 • Rowlands (Swap Shop) - play #yourpart by applying for money from the fund to £7,000 improve your community.

Teviot and Liddesdale: Find out more about • Newcastleton Polysport/ Copshaw Cutters - £5,000 Localities Bid Fund at www.scotborders.gov.uk/ • Artbeat Studios - £3,500 • Escape Youth Services - LocalitiesBidFund £8,000

GDPR - the countdown is on to the arrival of new Data Protection Law New training is available on SBLearn ahead of the launch of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on 25 May. All staff must complete this module as GDPR will affect us all. To do this log onto SBLearn and go to the ‘Mandatory Training’ section and then ‘Courses for ALL staff’.

GDPR will replace the Data Protection Act, which is

over 20 years old. Those 20 years have seen huge developments in technology which have led to new and unimagined methods of processing personal data.

The new legislation looks to address these changes and introduces a new approach, aimed at allowing individuals greater choice and control over how their personal data is processed.

To help you understand how this will affect you and the Council a staff

handbook has also been developed. This is available on the intranet.

To give staff the opportunity to learn more about GDPR and ask any questions, the Information Team visited a number of council venues throughout March.

Staff are pictured checking out their stall at HQ.

If you need more information or have any questions about GDPR email InfoTeam@scotborders.gov.uk

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Staff play their part to respond to worst snow in two decades SBC staff have been praised for the way they handled the unprecedented winter weather in February and March.

The Emergency Planning Bunker at Council HQ was open regularly, with a multi-agency team including Council, Police Scotland, NHS Borders, and Scottish Fire and Rescue staff working together to plan and respond to the arctic conditions.

The first ever red severe weather warning for snow resulted in police urging people not to travel as the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ struck the region, and the entire country.

Where necessary, the bunker was open 24-hours a day to monitor and respond to weather-related issues.

As well as the key partners based in the bunker, the multi-agency team was also assisted by the efforts of a number of mountain rescue teams, the Lothians 4x4 Response Group and volunteers on the ground in local communities.

Chief Executive Tracey Logan said: “This was one of the most challenging severe weather events we have had to deal with for many years. We cannot praise our staff, partners and

communities enough for playing their part in very difficult conditions.

“One of the biggest challenges for our crews was attempting to keep clear the huge volumes of snow from the 3,000km of roads in the Borders. A common scenario would see a team clear and grit a road to allow it to reopen, only for the strong winds to blow snow across and make the route impassable again.

“The winter maintenance response was a 24 hour a day operation for the duration of the severe weather with crews experiencing very difficult conditions and snow drifts as high as 16ft.

“We have been overwhelmed with stories of staff, residents and communities going above and beyond to get to work, or help in whatever way they could. I cannot thank everyone enough for showing their true Borders spirit in what was an exceptionally difficult period.”

Schools had to close as the worst of the weather hit and the Council and partners faced challenges such as reaching home care clients and collecting bins.

However staff once again went the extra mile to ensure services could operate as best as they could.

A motion from Council Leader Shona Haslam was passed at the full council meeting on 29 March, thanking staff for their efforts.

How can YOU play #yourpart?

If you would like to help in future you could join your local Resilient Communities group, or if your community does not have such a group, start one up yourself.

Find out more at www.scotborders. gov.uk/resilientcommunities Nominate your Snow Hero The Council wants to recognise people who went the extra mile during the bad weather. Do you know someone who played their part to help others or the community? Visit www.scotborders. gov.uk/snowheroes for more information.

Change Works in Peebles Change Works in Peebles, a new project funded by SBC, Changeworks and the Scottish Government, is now open on the High Street in Peebles.

It aims to reduce gas and electricity usage and energy bills, improve warmth in local homes and trial new approaches to improve energy efficiency.

Donna Marshall, Project Manager of Change Works in Peebles, said: “Peebles has been chosen because data analysis shows it to be a high energy use town, so there

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are potentially significant benefits for householders, businesses and community groups across the area.

“Peebles householders have 14 per cent higher fuel bills, based on higher energy use, than the national average.

We want to provide advice and support to householders and businesses over the next two years to reduce these costs and help make a difference.

A specialist advisor from Home Energy Scotland was based at the hub for the month of March which proved very popular and locals can still call in to the

hub on the High Street to access energy efficiency advice. Further specialist advice sessions and workshops are planned throughout the year to help locals reduce energy usage. An installer tool will be launched in April to help householders access specialist installers of energy efficiency measures. This tool will include a free quality assurance inspection from Changeworks.

You can contact the Change Works in Peebles team by dropping in to the hub at the Old Corn Exchange on the High Street, on their facebook page by emailing peebles@changeworks.org.uk.

Lexi goes live out the use of paper to record incidents - reducing duplication. Everyone can use the system to record all incidents, big or small.

One user told us: “I was at a PTA meeting at the school last night and certainly there was praise for the system saying that it looked far better and more straightforward which was good to hear.”

Staff involved in the Lexi project

The Council introduced our new health and safety reporting system, Lexi in February.

The project has been a great success with the system delivered on time with no major problems.

Project Executive Nuala McKinlay said: “The project saw some great partnership working between the Health and Safety and Business Change teams, CGI and the supplier. It’s an excellent example of what can be done when we all work together.

“Updating our system for incident reporting, risk assessments and other health and safety requirements is an important step for the Council as it’ll provide us with a better platform to protect our workforce.”

The new online system is designed to be easy to use, more efficient, and will cut

Guidance on how to use Lexi is available on SBLearn and a webinar has been recorded and is available to view online.

While every effort has been made to collect the correct organisational information from departments, this may now not be up to date. If you notice your part of the organisations structure is not correct please contact the Health and Safety Team who will amend the structure accordingly.

Likewise to assist with keeping Lexi up-to-date it is essential that managers inform the Health and Safety team of any changes to licenced users - i.e. any new starts that need a licence or if a staff member who has a license leaves as this will free up that licence.

It would be appreciated if all changes could be emailed to the Health and Safety team: healthandsafety@scotborders. gov.uk

Handy pension scheme website is now available A new website has been launched for all staff who are members of the pension scheme or who are thinking of joining it.

The site is also includes information for those receiving a pension from the fund or who have currently deferred their pension.

It outlines how the pension scheme works, what the benefits of joining are and it has news, guidance, FAQs, handy example situations and provides information on the Governance of the Fund.

David Robertson, Chief Financial Officer said: “For the first time we have an easy-to-use website with really handy information about our pension scheme.

Whether you’re already a member or someone who wants to find out more information about joining, this will answer any questions you may have.”

Check out the website: www. scottishborderscouncilpensionfund.org If you need more information email

pensions@scotborders.gov.uk

Working with the Communications and Marketing Team Staff are being asked to play their part in assisting the Communications and Marketing team to operate effectively.

An updated set of guidelines has been produced to help ensure requests are processed as efficiently as possible.

A key part of that is the importance of developing a communications plan and ensuring Equality Impact Assessments are completed and used to inform your target audience.

A new template for a Communications Plan and a Communications Plan ‘Lite’ are now available on the Intranet to assist staff. This will help set out your requirements to deliver a range of activity which may include writing a press release, issuing social media posts, digital media activity, graphic design and printing.

Staff are also being reminded about the importance of having a plan in place prior to any marketing materials being requested by graphic design and the print service. Staff should complete the relevant Work Request forms which are available from the Intranet.

It is also important to ensure any content for materials are agreed and finalised prior to design work taking place to save valuable staff time.

Information is available from the Intranet under Your Job – Communications, Marketing, Design and Print.

If you have any queries email comms&marketing@scotborders. gov.uk

ionfund.org

If you need more information email

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Rugby sevens return for Don’t Buy It, Don’t Supply It campaign The Don’t Buy It, Don’t Supply It campaign returned for the Borders rugby sevens series.

The initiative aims to raise awareness of the issue of adults buying alcohol for children and young people in the Scottish Borders at key periods in the year, with new legislation making it an offence to simply supply alcohol for anyone under 18.

Initially launched during the festive season, the campaign has focussed on the local sevens series when underage drinking can also be an issue.

The new legislation means if an adult is caught supplying or buying alcohol for an under 18, they could face a fine of up to £5,000 or up to three months in prison.

In addition, if under 18 and caught by the police with alcohol, they will have it confiscated which may lead to serious consequences for the person who supplied or purchased it.

Retailers and licensees also face serious implications if caught selling to under 18s.

Under 18s from TD1 Youth Hub and Galashiels Academy came up with the Don’t Buy It Don’t Supply It slogan, and provided the initial poster design which has featured across the Borders.

It is being taken forward by the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team, incorporating Scottish Borders Council, Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, with support from the Borders Alcohol and Drugs Partnership.

Councillor Watson McAteer, Chair of the Police, Fire and Rescue and Safer Communities Board, said: “This campaign was inspired by young people from the TD1 Youth Hub and Galashiels Academy who came up with the initial idea, and we hope it provides a clear message to adults about the legal, health and societal issues associated with underage drinking.

“These include the potential for a significant fine or even prison for any adult caught supply alcohol for young people.”

Tim Patterson, Joint Director of Public Health and Chair of the Borders Alcohol and Drugs Partnership said: “Teenage drinking can have an immediate and

long term impact on health and the earlier teenagers start drinking regularly, the greater the risk of problem drinking in adulthood. ”It is really important that adults consider their responsibilities throughout the year, which this campaign highlights.”

Photo - Cllr McAteer, Chair of the Police, Fire & Rescue and Safer Communities Board, with Hawick RFC’s Bruce McNeil (back right), Shawn Muir (bottom left) and Dalton Redpath (bottom right) launched the latest phase of Don’t Buy It Don’t Supply It campaign

Supporting health and social care services Two projects being funded through the Health & Social Care Partnership’s Integrated Care Fund are helping to reduce waiting lists and speed up the time it takes for clients to be provided with a care package.

granted funding for a further year with options for developing the service including working with district nurses (to source care at home for patients receiving end of life care) and with learning disability and mental health clients.

The Matching Unit provides a centralised service that links requests for care at home provision with home care providers.

Operational since April last year, it has proved extremely successful with clear evidence that it is helping to reduce the time that care managers spend on admin tasks and give them more client facing time. Waiting list turnover has increased as has the size of the caseload which can be held at one time. The project has been

Community Led Support What Matters hubs offer drop-in sessions and appointments where people can meet with Partnership staff, such as social workers and occupational therapists, and third sector representatives to get advice about social care and health services and activities available in their local area.

They can also find out what is happening locally that would enable them to take up a new interest, get some exercise, meet

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new people or take part in a volunteering opportunity. Advice for carers is also provided.

Weekly drop-in sessions are currently held in: • Peebles: Eastgate Theatre’s Studio Room, every Wednesday, 2-4pm • Hawick: Heart of Hawick café, every Thursday, 10am–3pm Appointments are available in other areas of the Borders.

For more information, email: integration@scotborders.gov.uk

Melrose Primary named first Jon Chappell road safety award winners

Are you a carer?

A new award in memory of a dog who helped promote road safety has been presented to Melrose Primary School.

The new Carers (Scotland) Act was launched by the Scottish Government on 1 April 2018 and brings with it a number of important changes for carers.

Springer spaniel Jon accompanied owner Sheena Chappell to provide road safety messages to hundreds of school pupils across the Borders, after the dog lost his leg in a road accident.

The Act applies to both adult and young carers and aims to support carers’ health and wellbeing and help make caring more sustainable. Overall, the goal is to deliver improved:

Jon sadly passed away last year, which led to ex-police officer Sheena donating the Jon Chappell Memorial Shield to the Council to present to the most original road safety campaign by a local school.

It was Melrose Primary’s junior road safety officers Elliot Etherington and Kai Waddell who won the inaugural competition, after the primary seven pair produced a video for parents and carers involving Police Scotland and the local community.

The video explained issues around parents and carers parking on zig-zag lines and near to junctions on Huntly Road, and encouraged them to use the designated drop off and pick up points at the health centre car park, Melrose Rugby

Club car park or St Mary’s Road.

Sheena said: “Jon was such a special dog and the kids loved him.

“He was a visual reminder of the dangers of roads and helped the children to understand the road safety message.

“I am delighted to present the first Jon Chappell Memorial Shield to Melrose Primary School.”

Melrose depute headteacher Jamie Wallace added: “As a school, we are very proud of our junior road safety officers and it is fantastic to see them leading the way in the community.”

Photo above - Back row - PC Karen Ballantyne, Sheena Chappell, Karen McGrath of SBC and PC Calum Wilson, with Melrose Primary pupils Elliot Etherington and

Disability Confident accreditation The Council has received Disability Confident Level 2 Employer accreditation, further enhancing our reputation as an inclusive and progressive employer.

To meet the criteria, we had to achieve several core aims including: • actively looking to attract and recruit disabled people • providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process • offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.

achieving this accreditation.

“Being Disability Confident means breaking down the barriers which for too long have held disabled people back, and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed in life.

“It’s pleasing to know that our policies and practices help us ensure that we don’t miss out on some of the best talent in our community.”

We are now preparing to work towards the next level of accreditation – Disability Confident Leader status - with the aim Councillor John Greenwell, Equalities to be the one of the first employers to Champion, said: “It’s great that the Council achieve the accreditation in the Scottish has signed up to the Disability Confident Borders. scheme and has been successful in

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carer engagement and involvement carer health and well-being early intervention personal outcomes for carers information and advice emergency care planning discharge planning with reduced delays and readmission.

Support is available If you are a carer and would like to find out more about the Carer Act or have any other questions, contact the Borders Carers Centre on 01896 752431, at: admin@borderscarers.co.uk or: www.borderscarerscentre.co.uk.

They provide a confidential and comprehensive carers’ advice and support service and can help with any queries.

Young carers under 18 should contact the Scottish Borders Young Carers Service provided by Action for Children on 01896 750173. Young adult carers from around the age of 16 who are beginning to use adult services can also contact the Borders Carers Centre.

Carers Act (Scotland) training The Borders Carers Centre is offering awareness training on the new Act. The sessions take no more than an hour and are open to all professionals working in social care and health across the Borders. To find out more visit: www.borderscarerscentre. co.uk/professionals-training or contact Debbie Rutherford on 01896 752431.

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Schools round -up – Spring 2018 Annual Melrose showcase Concert

Musicians from the Chamber Orchestra, Guitar Ensemble and Wind Orchestra were delighted with the response to their annual showcase concert held in Melrose Parish Church in March.

Duns Primary library now open

Duns Primary is making good use of their new library space following its official opening by Councillor Carol Hamilton, Executive Member for Children and Young People.

Edenside’s extraordinary work for Fresh Start Borders

Well done to Edenside P3/4 and P4 classes who have raised £250 and donated 25 bags of items to local charity, Fresh Start Borders.

Langlee take winning place in Farmhouse Breakfast Competition

Congratulations to P2 at Langlee Primary who won this year’s Scottish Borders Countryside Initiative Farmhouse Breakfast Competition.

Melrose are Euroquiz champions

Pupils from Melrose Primary are celebrating after taking the top prize for the fourth year in a row at the Borders heat of the 2018 Euroquiz competition, beating St Boswells in the final.

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Rights Respecting Schools bronze award for Lauder Primary

Lauder Primary has been awarded their Bronze Rights Respecting Schools Award. They are now developing a School Charter and working toward their Silver Award.

Galashiels Academy wider achievement ceremony Congratulations to all award winners at Galashiels Wider Achievement Ceremony in March, including: Reham Alahmad (Martin Currie Award); Tessa Ross (ESH/Finlaysons Technology Award); Caragh Phillip (TD1 Trophy; Sanna Azziz (Hogg and Thorburn Award; Doddie Turner (Parent Council Award

Jedburgh flying the flag to support LGBT+ history month Well done to Jedburgh Grammar School’s LGBT+ group who led a month of activities promoting this year’s LGBT+ History Month and for raising £72 for LGBT Youth Scotland.

New website for Hawick High

Keep up to date with the latest news from Hawick High by visiting their new look website: www.hawickhighschool. co.uk The new site is managed by the Hawick High News team who were awarded funding from the Youth Chex

Sanna Aziz presents to Council on Jo Cox Memorial Exchange

Border Association of Burns Clubs Well done to MSYP, Sanna Aziz on giving a well-received presentation to elected members at the December Council meeting where she spoke about her trip to the USA as part of the Jo Cox Memorial Exchange.

Congratulations to Carla Porter from Trinity PS on winning the overall competition for P6/7 at this year’s Burns Competition for her rendition of the song, Ye Jacobites By Name.

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Moovers, groovers and more . . .

Congratulations and best wishes from all her colleagues at CHQ to Sammy Barrie who is now working in her new role as Business Manager at Hawick High School.

Congratulations and best wishes from all her colleagues to Nicola Laing, who has left the HQ Operations team to take up a new administrative role with NHS. She will be missed.

Congratulations to Caroline Howieson from the Senior Management Support Team at CHQ on the birth of Bobby James on 12 February. Best wishes to Caroline, her husband Andrew and big brother Archie.

Staff and elected members supported Purple Friday by wearing purple on 23 February to support LGBT History Month - to stand against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and to show support for LGBTI equality.

The Communications and Marketing team would like to welcome Emma Spence, Modern Apprentice - Digital Media, who joined SBC in March.

Congratulations to Lisa Anderson, Senior Financial Analyst, and husband Dave who completed a 500 mile cycle from The Mull of Galloway Lighthouse to Dunnet Head Lighthouse over seven days in March. They raised over £800 for Bloodwise and Parkinsons UK. You can find out more about their challenge at http://davelisaanderson.simplesite. com Well done to staff who sang Christmas carols in a choir at HQ before the Christmas holidays. They raised £604 for Save the Children.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2013

Emily Elder (right) with Cllrs Carol Hamilton and John Greenwell

This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day took place at SBC’s Headquarters on 24 January and focused on ‘The Power of Words’ and the good and bad that can be caused as a result of their use. The exhibition featured poems and songs created by victims.

In addition, this year staff members were asked to pledge “to stand-up to Holocaust deniers” who use rhetoric to try and convince others that the Holocaust was a fabrication or that it was organised by Jewish people to further their own interests.

Goodbye and good luck to senior social worker, Julie Flannery who left the Council on 30 March, after nine years within Children and Young People services. Her colleagues wish her all the best for the future.

Emily Elder from the Equality and Diversity team said: “The exhibition and the national flag identification activity were well received and we would like to thank all those that took part and stopped to speak to us.”

From the archives

SBscene’s new feature digs into the archives and looks at photos and stories from past editions.

The images below are from a putting tournament held in the gardens at HQ back in 2003.

Pictured are the finalists Derek Inglis, Duck Frater, Chic Johnston and Barry Fotheringham, with Derek and Duck coming out on top.

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Many thanks and best wishes to Graham Todd, Caretaker at HQ, who was presented with a Border Reiver statuette by Council Convener David Parker as he bid farewell to SBC after an amazing 30 years of service. Also in the photo is Graham’s wife Liz who was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Community Capacity Building Team

L-R: Amanda Renwick, Jillian Scott, Lynne Marshall and Juliana Amaral Lynne is the CCB Co-ordinator Amanda, Jillian and Juliana are CCB Workers

Congratulations to the Community Capacity Building team (CCB) on scooping silver at the finals of the iESE (Improvement and Efficiency Social Enterprise) Public Sector Transformation Awards 2018.

The team made it to the shortlist of the three top nominations in the creating community capacity category, which recognises initiatives that do the most to engage with the local community and create greater resilience, better life chances and less dependency on public services, coming away from the ceremony on 6 March with a coveted silver award.

Councillor Tom Weatherston, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said: “The contribution that this team has already made to the

health and wellbeing of older people in communities right across the Borders has been hugely significant and we are delighted that their hard work and commitment has been recognised at such a high level.

To have been shortlisted in the final three for this award was a significant achievement in itself, but to have come away with silver is certainly something they should be very proud of.

“They are currently in the process of extending their remit to include all adults in the Borders and I have no doubt that they will be equally committed to supporting this wider client group and wish them well with their future efforts.”

To find out more about the activities the team provides, contact them on 01835 825080 or at: CommunityCapacity@ scotborders.gov.uk

Scottish Public Sector Finance Team of the Year 2018 Congratulations to our Finance team who took the top prize in their category at this year’s Public Finance Awards run by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

The team won the prestigious Scottish Public Sector Finance Team of the Year award which recognises the achievements of a team in delivering excellence and clear benefits in their own organisation, one or more other organisations in Scotland or to the public finance profession as a whole, through working together efficiently and effectively.

Their winning nomination provided clear evidence of the way in which the team has not only been instrumental in developing a balanced five year financial plan first approved in 2013/14, but also for having supported the Council to deliver £35.5m (£91m cumulative) of savings through a transformation programme that has involved a Council-wide approach to financial, people and service planning.

Some of the key projects that the team has played a significant role in delivering over the past five years include the return of the Borders Railway, a review of the Council’s ICT services and resultant contract with CGI, establishment of arms-length organisation SB Cares and integrated sport and culture trust Live Borders. Other projects include the integration of health and social care services through the Health and Social Care Partnership, the first Scottish council to roll out an online payment system to all schools and the replacement to date of more than 16,000 (76%) streetlights across the region with more efficient LED technology.

Finance staff are pictured with the award & Cllr David Parker

Play #yourpart in managing contracts effectively A working group has been established to create a Contract Management Framework to support staff and SBC partners to manage contracts effectively.

The new working group aims to develop resources to provide staff with the support they need to ensure contractual relationships are performing and delivering as expected across all areas of SBC. It is hoped the Framework will support staff to get value for money for the Council, have sound financial and risk controls in place as well as ensure other benefits are maximised. It is hoped the resulting Framework may also be used by partners.

Executive Director, Philip Barr explained: “It is our responsibility to ensure the contracts we have in place are managed in the most effective way to allow us to get the most out of them. This

includes ensuring ongoing value for money, risk controls are in place and wider community benefits are realised. It is therefore vital that contracts are reviewed regularly.

“We are well aware that staff need support for this which is why this project is underway. Support is already available from the Procurement Team and staff should seek guidance whenever they need it.”

Further information will be issued to staff in due course. In the meantime, if you would like to provide input to the development of the Framework, or need advice on Contract Management, please contact procurement@scotborders.gov.uk.

The Council’s Commercial and Commissioned Services Strategy for 2018-2023 is also available on the intranet.

SBscene - Spring 2018

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Could you help out an emergency rest centre?

Tracey has the right recipe

We are looking for people willing to be trained to help out when the Council is required to open an emergency rest centre.

What is a rest centre?

Rest centres are set up when people are made homeless or forced to evacuate their homes temporarily because of a major fire, explosion, gas leak, flooding or extreme cold weather.

They provide refreshments and a safe, warm and dry environment for people and can be set up at any time of the day or night, depending on the circumstances.

What skills do I need?

Staff need to have a high standard of customer service and be able to be sympathetic to vulnerable and anxious people who have been evacuated for a number of reasons e.g. when it is cold and wet, during a power outage or heavy snow. If your daily role includes any of the following, the team would be pleased to hear from you: • Manager – are you comfortable making decisions and delegating tasks to individuals? Do you work collaboratively with partner agencies and are effective at problem solving? Are you able to think on your feet and find solutions? Are you able to take control of a situation and maintain a level of authority?

• Administrator – are you confident asking for information from individuals, completing and maintaining paperwork which would include collating and providing information such as rest centre numbers and any dietary requirements or special needs?

• Care and support worker – do you work with vulnerable people on a daily basis to ensure their welfare needs are met? Can you calm and help anxious individuals?

What areas are staff needed in?

There is a particular need for volunteers in the Newcastleton, Eyemouth, Peebles, Kelso and Jedburgh areas but the team would welcome hearing from people in other areas of the Borders.

Nicola Tait, Business Support Officer, said: “We know that we can provide a more effective and immediate service if we are able to resource centres with staff who live in affected communities.

Jane Reid, Administrative Assistant/Team Leader, helped during the flooding in Hawick in 2015. She said: “Because I live in the town, I knew a lot of the evacuees. I think having a familiar face providing reassurance and a hot cup of tea helped them to settle more quickly. It’s hugely rewarding to be able to help people when they are going through such a difficult experience and maybe more so when it’s your own community and people you know.”

Is training provided?

Training is available to help people understand more about the operation of a rest centre and what is expected from them. Staff will be reimbursed for their time.

For more information contact Nicola at ntait@scotborders.gov.uk

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SBscene - Spring 2018

School Cook of the Year finalists, including winner Tracey Biggs (back centre) with councillors and pupils who made up the judging panel

Galashiels Academy’s Tracey Biggs will represent the Scottish Borders at the School Cook of the Year final after successfully making it through the local heats.

Tracey, a unit manager at the Academy, was selected in a closely contested local final ahead of Paul Hodson, Cook in Charge at Duns Primary and peripatetic cook Anne Marie Logan.

Tracey’s Tantalising Wraps with sweet potato wedges and mint dressing and a

tray of delicious delights won over the judges which included Councillors Tom Weatherston and Scott Hamilton, Chef Judge Robbie Bunton, Nutritional Judge Hazel Scott and Earlston Primary pupils Tommy Stewart Richardson and Paige Mackenzie.

Tracey now goes onto the national finals at The Cook School in Kilmarnock on 13 August, which has seen cooks from Scottish Borders school feature prominently in recent years.

Contact the team& SBscene is written by employees for employees, so contact the Communications and Marketing team with articles, features, ideas and suggestions: • comms&marketing@scotborders.gov.uk • 01835 826632 The deadline for the next issue is 30 May Articles longer than 250 words should be discussed with the team well in advance of the deadline date.

Please note that the views expressed in this newsletter may not necessarily be the views of Scottish Borders Council.

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