Agenda item

Kate Thompson introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Matthew Gatehouse:

Is the high rate of workdays lost due to sickness in Monmouthshire County Council (over double the national average) a trend seen in other local authorities, and what more is being done to address this figure?

Comparative data is hard to obtain, but Caerphilly recently reported a similar high figure. The council is continuing to seek Wales-wide data.

Is any particular directorate most affected by high sickness rates e.g. social care?

Social Care is among the directorates most affected and there have been recent meetings with managers and HR to analyse data and develop action plans to reduce sickness absence.

When will the health and safety dashboard be shared, and does the data include residents using council facilities, as well as staff?

The dashboard is in development and should be ready by year-end after consultation. The data includes staff, contractors, and customers using facilities, but only incidents where the work activity or premises contributed are classified as work-related. All incidents are recorded, but only work-related ones are reported in the figures.

Can you explain the use of the term "psychological illness" versus "mental health," and what is being done about mental health, including stress management courses and linking stress to workload and budget cuts?

"Psychological illness" is the HR classification and covers a range of conditions (anxiety, stress, depression, etc.), with more detailed breakdowns available. Connect 5 well-being training has been rolled out, initially in social care, with plans to expand it council-wide. Managers will be expected to conduct stress risk assessments, which will help identify and address work-related stress factors, including workload.

What is being done about the root cause of the increase in violence against teachers by learners, and is the council addressing behaviour and emotional regulation in young people?

The officer’s focus is on supporting affected staff and ensuring reliable data. The Wales directorate team handles child-related issues, including risk assessments and specialist support. The officer meets regularly with safeguarding and directorate colleagues to coordinate support for both staff and pupils.

What is an example of a non-work-related incident? Can we emphasise the importance of linking stress management to work planning?

For example, a child tripping over their laces in a playground would not be work-related unless a workplace factor (like a pothole) contributed. Stress risk assessments will help identify work planning issues.

Is "psychological illness" as a category too broad, and should workplace-related stress should be separated from medically diagnosed conditions? How can the council better support individuals and improve reporting to distinguish between these causes?

Every case is treated individually, and new reporting categories now separate workplace stress from personal factors, with initial data showing about 20% of stress is workplace-related, 10% is mixed, and 70% is due to factors outside work – ACTION: for officers to pick up with the member outside the meeting to explore improved identification and support.

Chair’s Summary:

The Chair thanked the officers for the report and their responses. The report was moved.