Hundreds of council staff volunteer for redeployment to help in the Coronavirus response

More than 800 Neath Port Talbot Council staff have volunteered to step into different jobs to help the council support its communities through the Coronavirus pandemic.

This followed a call to all employees who are unable to continue with their day-to-day jobs because of service closures, and to those in roles that are not critical to services during the current emergency.

A questionnaire was circulated to ask employees to identify skills and abilities they could use to work alongside colleagues providing critical services to the most vulnerable residents during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Many colleagues have already begun their new roles in frontline council services, such as social care, refuse and recycling collections.

Others are working as part of the new NPT Safe & Well Service, a free service that has been set up by the council to support vulnerable residents who have been told to self-isolate, but don’t have any family, friends or neighbours to call on for help. The service will arrange for a trusted volunteer to help with daily living tasks such as food shopping, collecting medical supplies, posting mail and any other reasonable tasks.

To enable key workers to attend their jobs, eight child care centres have also been set up in School Hubs to deliver childcare in Neath Port Talbot. The centres are hosted at the following schools: Ystalyfera Bro Dur (North), Waunceirch Primary, Ysgol Bae Baglan, Ysgol Awel y Môr, Ysgol Cwm Brombil, Dŵr y Felin Comprehensive, Catwg Primary and Cwm Nedd Primary schools.

Many council staff in business critical posts are also continuing in their usual roles.

Councillor Doreen Jones, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Equality, said:

“This Council has always been proud of the commitment of its workforce and this has continued during these unprecedented and uncertain times.

“Collectively, as ever, but particularly now when our communities need us the most, our colleagues are doing whatever it takes to support people across the county borough.

“I would like to express my thanks to all those who are providing a vital service to our communities in this difficult time.”

The Council has a policy agreed by trade unions which allows it to identify employees who are unable to carry out their jobs and redeploy them to business critical jobs, subject to certain criteria being met and suitable training provided.

Mark Fisher, Chair of the Joint Trade Unions said;

“The joint trade unions are proud to work with the authority over the redeployment of our staff. This social partnership is key to allow staff to feel confident and safe over redeployment, the joint trade unions have a strong partnership working agreement with the authority and we are proud of our fantastic staff who have volunteered to work elsewhere.

“We have had over 800 plus responses to redeployment, this clearly shows our fantastic workforce are willing to help our communities in their hour of need.

“We as Trade Unions thank you for your support over redeployment. Our Social Partnership is key to moving our workforce to areas which require support. Without this trust and respect we would not be able to redeploy staff. As Chair of Joint Trade Unions I am proud to work alongside management to help the most vulnerable people in our communities. Can I thank you again for your support”.