Kids, School and Drop offs
I know that for some we are still in the middle of the school holidays but I know many of you will already be thinking about schools returning in September. I know that many of you will want to be there on your children’s first day at a new school, or first day at their first school and be there to pick them up at home time.
We think these days are special too. That’s why we’re giving anyone whose kids are back at school in September a late start to drop their kids off and an early finish to pick them up on their first day at school. It’s free, you don’t have to use TOIL or leave, just sort things out with your manager. Just make sure you take loads of photos which you can embarrass your kids with when they’re older.
Kim Whitsey
As you know from my previous emails, Kim was the manager of our service in Huntingdon. Sadly, Kim passed away all too young at 54. It’s Kim’s funeral today, I’m sure you will join me in sending your condolences to Kim’s family, friends and colleagues.
Overtime
Thanks for your flexibility around covering for annual leave etc, and lots of our people have been doing overtime, especially in our 24-hour services. We are going to pay an additional £2 per hour for overtime worked, bank staff currently get the standard hourly rate and then an allowance towards holiday pay. This £2 per hour more than covers this and the good news is we are going to back date it to 1 April 2022. You don’t have to do a thing, the ever-lovely Julia Bown will work all of this out and pay it to you on the pay days of your choice. A new process will be set up from 1 October, so please don’t contact Julia before that date.
Cost of Living Crisis
Like most organisations in social care, we are unable to compete with the private industry when it comes to pay awards. We can’t simply increase the income from our services; we are tied into long-term fixed-price contracts.
With the exception of managers, the last pay rise colleagues had was in April 2022.
We know that inflation is outstripping the rises that we (and indeed most organisations) can make. Sadly, the reality is that we are tied into fixed price contracts that mean this is currently not possible. As each contract is renewed, we are building in new, higher salaries and like every one of you, we are facing the impact of the cost of living crisis too. For example, P3 utilities will rise by £250,000 this calendar year and likely a further six figure rise in January 2023.
We have raised mileage rates while fuel prices are so high and have joined others from across the sector to lobby HMRC to change the rates upwards permanently as they have been at the current rates for years.
We are doing what we can to fund higher salaries. For the first time in our history, we have set a deficit budget. Our trustees have agreed a budget whereby we will lose £500,000 by the end of the year. We aren’t overly worried about this deficit, we have enough money in the bank to cover it, but it isn’t something that we can do year after year. We need to try and keep this deficit as low as possible, through efficiencies and good management of our resources.
We’re working tirelessly to secure additional income to address the issue and as soon as we are able, we will further review our salaries. Heads of Service and our development team are raising the issue with commissioners and asking for additional resources to address the cost of living crisis.
I promise we will do what we can when we can.
If you are in particularly difficult circumstances, please do look at the hardship and loan funds, information is on the hub.
Promotions
There has been a flurry of promotions, so congratulations to all of you that have been promoted and commiserations to those of you that just missed out this time. Don’t be put off applying for roles in the future. We know we’ve got loads of talented folk at P3, our challenge is finding enough opportunities for you all.
Thank you
I know times are tough for everyone at the moment and I know you will be focussed on finding some solutions for the people we work alongside. The reality is that the only solution to the current crisis is a political one. We need government intervention now but sadly we don’t appear to have a functioning government right now. Instead we have two people touring the country trying to be more and more right (or wrong) in order to get into Number 10. My hope is that when they do get there, the scale of the problem will become the focus of their work and common sense and normal business will resume.
We need to hold on to hope right now, as things do look bleak although despite the miserable news. In fact I was really cheered up yesterday when I was sent a picture of a sausage dinner. This was the first meal that this young mum had ever cooked. She’s just moved into a house from a homeless hostel; she’s a tough cookie and was tricky and mistrusting of staff. In a week she’s transformed her opinion of the world and sees that there is hope when good people turn up to help. She’s not on her own, she’s surrounded by people who want her to succeed and to help her make her child’s life to be full of love, happiness and a positive future. Her joy at producing this meal sparked her to take pictures of it and send it to colleagues and others, such was the pride and progress.
When I was talking to the team that are working with this young woman, it reminded me of what is possible, even in terrible circumstances. Doing stuff in the hope rather than the expectation that it will turn out ok is a good thing. There are no guarantees; working with people who are having a really tough time is hard. It doesn’t stop a single one of you: you’re all in, grafting, working tirelessly, doing what you can in the hope, rather than certainty, that it will work out for the better. I’ve just seen a post on workplace from James Cooper and another from Alison Bloor which highlights the impact that hope, optimism and tenacity can make.
The country could do with more of your tireless optimism right now, thanks a million for all you do!
Have a great bank holiday weekend.
Mark
