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With continuing pressure on local authorities to deliver more for less, increased customer expectation and budgets squeezed tighter than at any time in recent memory, authorities are relying on staff – many of whom are demoralised by increasing workloads and pay freezes – to help see us through tough times. In Teignbridge and Torridge our belief is that the key to customer satisfaction and top-quality services is nurturing talented and dedicated staff. And, with that in mind, we have been ‘walking that walk' with the creation of five new posts at Teignbridge and 13 new posts at Torridge as part of the national Future Jobs Fund. "Under the scheme, there is also the added bonus for existing staff who will have the opportunity to develop their supervisory and mentoring skills." While there has been debate about whether this scheme – which provides national funding for trainee posts for 18 to 24-year-olds, lasting at least six months at 25 hours a week – is just government ‘window dressing' to deflect attention from the issue of long-term unemployment among young people, it does have clear benefits for all councils as local employers. The ‘win-win' in this is clear. Young people have the opportunity to gain experience, knowledge, references and access to longer-term work, while employing councils have low or no-cost staff helping provide the customer facing services that local people want. In return for minimal administrative support – the bulk of it handled by Devon CC and Jobcentre Plus as administrators of the scheme in Devon – and staff time spent mentoring and managing, we have an opportunity to save thousands of pounds in staff costs while putting extra pairs of hands, eyes and ears where it counts – on the frontline. In Teignbridge alone, this will see more people working at leisure facilities as well as on ground maintenance, vehicle fitting, and maintaining our much-valued country parks and open spaces. Under the scheme, there is also the added bonus for existing staff who will have the opportunity to develop their supervisory and mentoring skills. Looking at the bigger picture, it's also an important way of demonstrating to our customers our commitment to helping young people, providing quality value-for-money services, and nurturing local talent. We have a tangible opportunity, in difficult times, to provide a chance for local young people who are struggling to find work, and are ready and willing to learn while they earn. Nicola Bulbeck is joint chief executive of Teignbridge and Torridge DCs

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WHITEHALL

District View

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