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Home help service records.
Orders and invoices.
Accounting procedures.
Social services filing.
Domiciliary midwifery and home nursing.
However, by the end of 1969 it became clear that development in the
operational spheres could not be contained indefinitely within the reduced
administration despite the success of the programme of internal 0 & M studies.
Following the meeting held on 9th April, 1968, senior administrative
staff met monthly to consider matters of common interest. In December, 1969,
these meetings were widened to include clerical representation.
Among the many items discussed was in-service training for administrative
and clerical staff as a result of which on-the-job training was
improved, understudying arrangements in sections and sub-sections was
strengthened and a scheme for 'across the board' transfers was devised to
broaden the knowledge and experience of comparably graded staff and to offset
the tendency to over-specialisation within the department. A successful two
months cross-attachment at Admin. Section Head level was started in December
1969 as a pilot scheme.
A series of one-day seminars under the title 'Perspectives' was
developed as a means of introducing clerical staff to the complexities of the
new multi-disciplinary department, to development in both its formal and
dynamic aspects and to basic 0 & M techniques of the sort which should be used
on a day-to-day basis. The first successful seminar was held in February, 1969,
and was followed by two others during the year.
The regular staff meetings, together with improved in-service training
within the Administration Division, facilitated the improvement in work
methods and the acceptance of O & M techniques; for example, the use of
Procedure Manuals associated with Job Descriptions was extended and improved
within the division as a whole. Were it only possible to provide an adequate
period of preparation and training prior to the effective date of a major
re-organisation many difficulties could be overcome.
In the second half of 1968 the departmental administration became
involved with computer applications scheduled for implementation during 1969
and subsequently. During 19&9 this work continued and planning for decimalisation
started. The assistance and co-operation of the Borough Treasurer's
staff in this and, indeed, all matters of common interest during the two
years under review, was appreciated.
The application of the computer to accounting during 1969 facilitated
the introduction of a streamlined and more authoratitive budgetary control
system to the complex estimates of expenditure required by the department.
In this sphere the computer made a direct contribution, not only to
efficiency, but to our capacity to absorb additional work loads without
additional staff.
In conjunction with the Borough Treasurer's staff it was possible to
implement Department of Health and Social Services Circular 43/68 on the
form of accounts and unit costs for local health and welfare services in the
Rate Estimates 1969/70. This was a substantial exercise; its successful
completion enabled Sutton to meet the Secretary of State's recommendation
that the proposals be adopted from 1st April, 1969, instead of taking advantage
of the privisor "but in any case not later than 1st April 1970" as
many Authorities appear to have done.
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