EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMITTEE
22 MARCH 2016
EDUCATION AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
Report by Director of Education and Children’s Services
PURPOSE OF REPORT
To seek the views of the Comhairle in relation to the processes
and elements of an effective communication strategy.
COMPETENCE
1.1
There are no legal, financial, equalities or other constraints to the recommendations
being implemented.
SUMMARY
2.1
The Comhairle’s Communication Strategy states that “Effective communication can
help manage, motivate, influence, explain and inform.” and “Good, effective
communication also helps strengthen democracy and allows for participation with
and by the Comhairle’s key stakeholders including the public and the Comhairle’s
employees.”
2.2
The Education and Children’s Services Department is committed to improving its
communication at all levels. In order to do this it has reviewed its current practice
and identified the key elements and processes necessary to communicate with staff,
employees, partners, parents, children and young people.
RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1
It is recommended that Education and Children’s Services Department develop
a comprehensive Communication Strategy.
Contact Officer:
Neil Macleod
Tel.
Appendix:
Communication Formats.
0845 6007090 Ext. 212821
BACKGROUND
4.1
The Education and Children’s Services Department is made up of a number of Local
Authority functions and services including:
Education
Children and Family Social Work
Community Learning and Development
Sport and Health (from 1 April 2016)
Early Years
Psychological Services
Extended Learning
Learning Support
Services are provided by the Education and Children’s Services Department to
approximately 3400 young people and their families and carers. In addition Sport
and Health provide a service to the whole population.
4.2
The Department employs approximately 1000 people located across all services
distributed throughout the Western isles.
4.3
Service redesign and service efficiencies have combined to reduce levels and
numbers of managers. Consequently, it is important that the Department develops
an effective communication strategy utilising a wide range of tools to communicate
effectively with all stakeholders.
COMMUNICATING AND CONSULTING EFFECTIVELY
5.1
The concept of communication can be defined as a process enabling the provision
and exchange of information and instruction in order to enable the organisation to
function effectively.
5.2
Best practice suggests that communication:
is clear and concise
is a two way process
is regular and systematic
is relevant and timely
NEXT STEPS
6.1
The Director of Education and Children’s Services has identified a range of
communication formats designed to ensure that Stakeholders are informed of and
involved in the services provided in the Appendix to the Report.
6.2
Further work is now being undertaken to build on this in order to develop a more
robust, efficient and effective Communication Strategy. The work already carried out
by the Department has provided a foundation for the development of a Departmental
Communication Strategy that will ensure effective communication and support the
Comhairle’s Communication Strategy.