Sack teachers, and let's create non-jobs instead..

[Gob]

Councils have spent the last year recruiting hundreds of people to 'non-jobs' while claiming government cuts have forced them to cut frontline services.


Despite the fact the public sector has been ordered to make cuts, a survey has found local authorities have created more than 4,000 new posts since the last election. Councils have advertised for posts such as 'Healthy Walks Co-ordinator', 'Woodfuel Development Officer', 'Active Women Officer' and 'Gypsy Romany Traveller Community Cohesion Officer'.Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, slammed the appointment of an army of climate change, communications and equality officers as 'self-indulgent' and 'irresponsible' at a time when public finances were under strain.

And he blamed Labour councils for 'politically-motivated' cuts ahead of next month's local elections. But his criticism was blunted by the revelation last week that David Cameron was advertising for his own non-job - a 'Twitter tsar', who will receive £142,000 to boost the government's online presence.

Local authorities up and down the country have been closing libraries and sacking lollipop ladies, claiming the financial squeeze made this unavoidable. The survey shows that most councils are reducing staff. But a total of 205 have created some 4,148 new posts since last May. Jobs include 'walking co-ordinators', 'obesity strategy officers' and 'active' workers, whose job it is to persuade the public to take more exercise.

Cash-strapped council rebrands Brixton riots as an 'uprising' (and funds the 30th anniversary 'celebrations')

AND HERE'S A NON-JOB SELECTION FROM THE PAST YEAR:

Woodfuel Development Officer, West Sussex – up to £35,430
'Operate as a stimulus for the expansion of the woodland products market and to make a substantial contribution to the establishment of a wood fuel supply chain.'

Healthy Walks Co-ordinator, Forest of Dean – up to £15,444
'Promote and increase physical activity levels through healthy walking… targeting the socially-excluded, the inactive and people living in areas of high deprivation. Ensure all duties… are carried out with due regard to health and safety practice and equal opportunities procedure.'

Family Lifestyles Officer, Rugby – up to £21,519 pro rata
'Reduce childhood obesity in various ways including the provision of evidence-based structured nine-week family-based workshops promoting the benefits of exercise and nutrition.'

Life Skills and Positive Activities Officer, Ryedale – up to £21,500 pro rata
'Assist the promotion of positive activities and healthy lifestyles to… those residing in temporary accommodation. Provide practical assistance for basic living skills such as washing, ironing, cleaning and shopping.'

Gypsy Romany Traveller Community Cohesion Officer, Hertfordshire – up to £26,276
'To create in Hertfordshire an environment where different communities, the traditionally nomadic and traditionally settled, live in harmony.'

Workplace Travel Plan Co-ordinator, Havant – up to £22,221 pro rata
'Raise awareness of transport issues and the alternative means of accessing and providing services to both staff and customers.'

New Media Improvement Assistant, Perth and Kinross – up £17,587
'Support the development and operation of the council's website and intranet in line with the council's Corporate New Media Strategy'.

Project Support Officer (Voice of My Own), Scottish Borders – up to £21,136 pro rata
'Video empowerment project aimed at, and led by, young people aged between 11 and 25. It combines creative film-making with social inclusion aims.'

Active Villages Co-ordinator, Teignbridge - £10,228
'Provide long-term sustainable sports participation opportunities.'

For example, Labour-run Hastings Council in East Sussex has increased parking charges, closed public toilets, cut the budget for lifeguards and allotments, and reduced opening hours at a museum. But it has created 25 jobs, including three 'active women officers' to get women involved in netball, athletics, cycling, badminton, rounders, tennis and swimming – claiming this will save the NHS money in the long run by reducing ill-health.

Tory-run Charnwood Council in Leicestershire has appointed a member of staff to encourage asylum seekers and ethnic minorities to get involved in nature conservation projects. At the same time, they have increased charges on public lavatories and are planning job cuts. And Anglesey Council, where no party is in overall control, has decided to sack 16 teachers and 48 council staff. Yet it has found the money to appoint an 'age friendly communities' manager to make the island nicer for the elderly; a walking and cycling officer; an 'Energy Island programme office administrator' to promote renewable energy; and a 'community conservation officer' to run a 'green gym' in which people are encouraged to plant trees.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1JBRmoHvT

[loCAtek]

Daily Mail, need you say more? That's like Fox News on estrogen.


...which if you know your physiology, is far more aggressive.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Healthy Walks Co-ordinator, Forest of Dean – up to £15,444
'Promote and increase physical activity levels through healthy walking… targeting the socially-excluded, the inactive and people living in areas of high deprivation. Ensure all duties… are carried out with due regard to health and safety practice and equal opportunities procedure.'

So if some really fat bloke applies for the job, would he stand a chance?

I'm on the 'plane now!

Meade

Oh and Lo - puleeeeeese spare me! It's a news story which you will find in many newspapes you might find acceptable. It's not an editorial. Mind you, the Daily Mail has been largely useless since government banned using newspaper to wrap fish and chips.

[loCAtek]

Yessir, but if that be the case, why isn't it being run by any Associated Press News Agency?


Perhaps because the situation isn't really that gloomy? So, what I did do was go to the East Sussex County Council Job Vacancies Page; and Other public sector vacancies (there's actually a few different pages), however I could not find a Non-Jobs Page.

I think perhaps if the right terms were used you might find those vacancies are actually listed under 'Social Work'

Social work in East Sussex – a breathtaking opportunity

* Social Workers/Senior Practitioners – Children's Services
* Social Worker Opportunities – Adult Social Care
* Working with children
* Working with adults
* Staff benefits for social workers in East Sussex

We currently have vacancies for both Social Workers (up to £34,303 per annum) and Senior Practitioners (up to £38,306 per annum).

[I think the ones listed in the article are only part-time jobs, in social service]

* Job vacancies

We're always looking for qualified practitioners in both Adult Social Care and Children's services. If you're interested in any specific post, please apply online. Look under Job type: Care/Social Work.

Take the bad spin off it and it seems the County is spending less; hiring more and giving lots of support to the community's, health, education and environment

[The Hen]

You are correct Lo. The councils are all doing wonderfully.

I, myself, will be rushing off to lodge an application for the Gypsy Romany Traveller Community Cohesion Officer.

I will insist on being given a lovely wooden painted traveling wagon so I can attend meetings.

[Sean]

I wouldn't expect many of those posts to be listed under current vacancies as the article states that they are from the past year.

BTW, the vacancies mentioned have absolutely nothing to do with 'Social Work' or 'Social Services'...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Loca

A more balanced report from Auntie Beeb

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12549785

As is often true of such news it's a bit of this and a bit of that.

Meade

[loCAtek]

Yes, it is thX. Daily Mail is often so out of skew.

[Lord Jim]

Healthy Walks Co-ordinator,

I assume that position falls under the auspices of this Ministry:



Oh I'm sorry; that's "Silly walks"....

"Healthy Walks" must have it's own fully funded and fully staffed separate department....