Council staff to be sent on £400,000 'psychobabble training programme'

[Ck]

A local authority has been accused of wasting £400000 on a "massive psychobabble training programme" for staff.

Suffolk County Council plans to send hundreds of workers on the "leadership improvement course", according to Andrew Cann, deputy leader of the council's Liberal Democrat group.

He says the council is advertising the course, which includes lessons in "communicational psychology" and "personal resilience", in a press release.

"It really just beggars belief - especially at a time when we're all feeling the pinch," he said.

"Taxpayers want money spent on services or they want their money returned to them. They don't want it spent like this."

He added: "I have no problem with staff having appropriate training to do their jobs. That's good. But I've seen no evidence that this massive psycho-babble training programme is required."

Sally Marlow, head of human resources at Suffolk County Council, said: "Like most major employers, we are deeply committed to the development of our staff and we run continuous training programmes for them.

"The programme is aimed at all levels of staff. It is vitally important that we invest in our people so they are well equipped to meet the challenges of the future.

"The cost of the training is just under £400,000, an average of £1,000 per person - this is not new money.

"This is an investment in staff who will stay within Suffolk, whichever council they work for."

Earlier this year, the Conservative-run council came under fire for hiring chief executive Andrea Hill on a salary of £218,000 - £30,000 more than is paid to Gordon Brown and nearly £70,000 more than was paid to her predecessor.

Last week, the council withdrew a job advert for a £20,000 diary secretary for Miss Hill, who already has a personal assistant.

Leader Jeremy Pembroke said the position was axed because of "money-saving" concerns.

The authority has also faced recent criticism for spending £16,000 on an advert in the Local Government Chronicle to highlights its achievements.

source

[timey]

I'm amazed that a local council has that sort of money to spend on anything, let alone a training course.

[Ck]

I read today that many council staff might not get paid because their funds are tied up in banks hit by all this fuss.

I sounded a load of scaremongering shit to me. The words 'may' and 'might' gave it away.

Here's the link

Fears are growing that some local government workers may not be paid this month, because councils have payroll tied up in failed Icelandic banks.

[timey]

Could be true if they do have funds in Icelandic banks. However, I think it could also be a way of getting more money from the government, but they'll have to pay it back either way.

[Ck]

It would be bad business to have all your available funds tied up in one bank. I'm just a regular salaried worker and even I have 3 bank accounts.

[masud1]

He added: "I have no problem with staff having appropriate training to do their jobs. That's good. But I've seen no evidence that this massive psycho-babble training programme is required."

Sally Marlow, head of human resources at Suffolk County Council, said: "Like most major employers, we are deeply committed to the development of our staff and we run continuous training programmes for them.

[timey]

Originally Posted by masud1

He added: "I have no problem with staff having appropriate training to do their jobs. That's good. But I've seen no evidence that this massive psycho-babble training programme is required."

Sally Marlow, head of human resources at Suffolk County Council, said: "Like most major employers, we are deeply committed to the development of our staff and we run continuous training programmes for them.

Why are you quoting lines from the original post in multiple threads?

[timey]

Originally Posted by Ck

It would be bad business to have all your available funds tied up in one bank. I'm just a regular salaried worker and even I have 3 bank accounts.

We've got most of ours in one bank. I'd like to change that but it's not easy.

[Ck]

Originally Posted by timey

We've got most of ours in one bank. I'd like to change that but it's not easy.

I transfered bank accounts last year, from one bank to another, the new bank did all the work for me and gave me £100. I kept my old one open though and still use it. That way I've got a house account and a personal account.

I found Abbey National a right pain the in arse to even transfer from one type of account to another never mind open up a new one.