Agenda item 3: Work programme

1. This paper is asking members of the Public Sector Future Workforce Forum (PSFWF) to agree a work programme as proposed by a selection of PSFWF members.

2. A number of PSFWF representatives met on 19 January and agreed proposals for workstreams to bring to the main PSFWF meeting for agreement. They agreed on the 2 proposals set out in this paper and recommended the creation of a working group for each.

3. At the meeting on the 19 January, the initial discussion focused on Violence at Work. Views were shared from across the public sector and the trade union movement highlighting on-going work to tackle the issue. Discussions covered both the ubiquity of the problem and the existing measures that are being taken to address it.

4. The second proposed workstream was for the PSFWF to look at how it could support the leadership chapter of the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ArWAP). The group discussed expanding this element of the workstream to include under-represented groups and to focus on barriers to recruitment and progression.

Violence and harassment at work

5. It is proposed that the PSFWF agree to consider and produce guidance on violence and harassment at work (protection for staff). This is experienced across all aspects of the public sector by those in public facing roles and can include (but is not limited to):

• verbal abuse or threats, including face to face, online and via the telephone
• physical attacks

6. Public-facing roles are at higher risk due to regular interaction with the public. Violence at work has serious implications including causing serious physical injuries and significant mental health impacts, financial costs for organisations through legal claims, staff absences, and high staff turnover. At the round-table event held on the 7 April, this was identified by both trade unions and employers as a significant area of concern and a potential workstream.

7. The VAWDASV workplace harassment workstream wishes to work with the PSFWF to ensure workplaces are free from violence. They noted that:

“embedding tackling violence at work, often experienced by those in public-facing roles, into the  agenda of the PSFWF would complement the work of the VAWDASV and generate effective partnership working to inform, collaborate on and test best practice approaches, while giving a clear vision to public sector leadership teams that they are accountable for leading the change organisationally”.

8. The proposal is for a working group to be established to scope the scale of the problem, build data on good practice and develop effective methods of mitigating risks for frontline workers across the public sector. This would include assessing how to standardise and circulate this information across Wales.

Anti-racist Wales Action Plan

9. The stated ambition in the Anti-racist Wales Action Plan (ArWAP) is to make Wales the beacon nation for racial equality. The leadership chapter is based on the principle of working together as One Welsh Public Sector to share good practice, build understanding and learn from each other.

10. Members are asked to agree to continue to focus on equality by agreeing a work-stream that supports ArWAP but that is widened in scope to include disadvantaged groups including: race, disability and socio-economic disadvantages with a focus on recruitment and career progression. It is proposed that in its initial phase the work stream considers current practice across the public sector in relation to recruitment, the perceived barriers, what works, what lessons could be learnt from each other and to suggest new or different approaches.

11. Members are asked to agree the proposed workstreams and that working groups will be arranged to facilitate these.

12. If agreed, members are also asked to consider membership and chairing of the working groups.