Non-job #9 - Systems thinking Co-ordinator ( it isn't April 1st )

It is ages since Mr Mustard featured a non-job as he has so many areas of profligacy to contend with. A new one arrived today.

Here it is
1472 - Establishment of Systems Thinking Co-Ordinator Post

Are you thinking what Mr Mustard is thinking? You are probably thinking "what the fcuk".

Do you need any professional qualifications for this job? ( my fellow blogger's answer of knowing your arse from your elbow has been disallowed - will decide why later ) . None at all.

Do you need to be educated to do this job? ( apart from being able to tell other people the difference between their arse and their elbow - if you were educated you probably wouldn't say "arse" but then Mr Mustard remembered having seen Meet the Fokkers so now he isn't sure ) No, except that you need to be numerate and literate ( who will Barnet Council find to test you on these matters? )

What will you get for being qualified to do bugger all? Between £30,987 to £33,510 p.a.

That is not the end of the expense however as per paragraph 8.4 Habanero ( this might be a Spanish word meaning "we charge ridiculously high fees and string little assignments out for years", or there again it might not, it might just be a type of chilli and a stupid name for some management consultants -steady Mr Mustard as you also are in a glass house! ) have been providing on-going support at goodness knows how much per day ££££££££££££ )

At a time when services are being slashed to ribbons this post really does look like a complete waste of money. ( This is not a criticism of the person doing the job - Mr Mustard has no idea who you are ).

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Non-Job #8 ? Openness & Transparency Officer

yet another mantra "Working together"

 

The Council’s One Barnet programme is to redesign the council in order to meet increasing local and national challenges and opportunities, implementing any agreed changes.

Pay scale £39,790 to £42,499

 
Purpose of Job

• To lead on all aspects of work relating to Member and democratic engagement to promote openness and transparency, including research and data gathering; presentation of findings; implementation and co-ordination of actions and monitoring and reporting on progress. The postholder will be required to lead on particular aspects of Member development, Members’ allowances and democratic engagement.
• To manage and provide a professional lead on Member development, Members’ allowances and democratic engagement across the service and corporately as required.
• To lead on and advise Members and senior officers of the Council on strategies relating to transparency, Member development and democratic engagement.
• To contribute to the success of the Governance Service.

Mr Mustard has been distracted by so much other tut coming out of Barnet Council that he has neglected the non-jobs so that is being put right today.

Barnet Council do not appear to be committed to Openness and Transparency as otherwise they would not

• set rules and limit the questions one can ask at Residents' forums
• reduce the opportunity for debate at Council Meetings
• fail to produce minutes of meetings in a timely fashion
• allow Councillors to ask residents not to email them
• allow Councillors to delete emails unread
• have meetings at which no Cabinet member appears
• have refused filming against the wishes of Central Government
• have refused entry to a Council meeting

I expect that other bloggers will add a few more entries in the comments box
and this non-job would not be necessary. 

It looks like £40,000 in the bin to Mr Mustard.

This surely cannot be a full time job ? 

Can't Nick Walkley advise members on this as part of his leadership role as set out in his Role summary ?

Ensure the Council operates in an open, accountable and democratic manner to minimise any challenge to its operations based on such grounds.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Non-job #6.6 ? Head of Insight's empire

There are probably more spare bodies in the Insight empire as the headcount is 6.6 people ! ( see earlier blog )

The Gazetteer Officer has real work to do as follows :-

• To manage and maintain both the Corporate Land and Property Gazetteer (LLPG) database, the Corporate Street Gazetteer (LSG) and Highway Register, being responsible for both accuracy and currency.
• To perform duties as required to fulfil the responsibilities of the Council’s LLPG and LSG Custodian roles
• To build and maintain strong collaborative working arrangements with the Council’s Street Naming & Numbering function, and with relevant services across the council, to ensure standards and conventions for the LLPG are adhered to
• Work collaboratively across the Insight team support the effective commissioning of services to deliver the outcomes Barnet residents expect

And as if often the case this person has the lowest salary in the department (empire), a mere £25-£30k.

Now as for the Geographic Data Analyst there is a much more BarnetOneSpeak "purpose of job"

To manage the Council’s corporate geographic data and other related datasets through the implementation of a corporate spatial data warehouse in order that data is stored in and accessed from one dedicated source creating efficiencies and allowing more holistic analysis.

To support the Corporate GIS Manager in the management and delivery of the Council’s Corporate Geographic Information Systems (on both the Internet and Intranet) and increase the scope of self service analysis across the Council and its partners to help achieve a one public service agenda and delivery efficiency savings

Use spatial data to support the Head of Insight and Corporate GIS Manager to develop research and analysis which enable effective commissioning of services which deliver the outcomes Barnet residents expect

I hope you followed that Councillors or did you lose your way in the spatial data warehouse ? Is it time you got a bit more interested in the number, salaries and duties of all of the staff that are employed by the Council behind the scenes ? Answers on a postcard ( in the case of the leader.... )

The Insight department costs about £220,000 in salaries alone to run. Adding overheads probably doubles that. It's time for some pruning and the money saved could be spent on Church Farmhouse Museum.

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard

Anyone want to guess how many posts it might be possible to cut from back office without affecting front line services one iota ?

Is this non-job #3 ? "Change & Innovation Manager" in E&O

This is the first in a series of non-job blogs ( the first 2 were of course April Fools' jokes )

You might need a double espresso to keep you going until the end of this rather long blog. Its not my fault, its all the Barnet OneSpeak twaddle.

So this post was created in March 2010 on a salary scale of £47,550 to £50,913. You can read the full Role Profile here.

http://tinyurl.com/3wjj5az

I question why the post was created given that OneBarnet plans to out-source most things ?

It looks like a Herculean task to me. Let us just consider the "purpose of the job" as set out in the Role Profile with my comments added in red:-

The post holder will advise the Strategic Management Board on how to lead the E&O establishment in terms of organisational change and workforce planning, and the development of an operational culture based on the highest professional values. Working closely with the Strategic Management Board and Heads of Service, the manager will be responsible for the highest level advice and support in the implementation of change and innovation throughout the sub-services that fall under E&O. ( So before this post the Strategic Management Board were all at sea ? )

The post-holder will advise the Strategic Management Board and Heads of Service on how to apply creative and innovative thinking across the Council’s E&O service functions. This work will include the development of new ways of working in terms of service planning/delivery and new policies and procedures. In addition, the post-holder will help create new services and functions as well as significantly change existing services and functions within E&O. ( Once everything has been privatised this job will be the ultimate non-job and if I was the office holder I would be looking for a new job )

To lead in the delivery of the system thinking interventions and develop creative and innovative solutions to all aspects of the change and improvement restructuring project. (system thinking interventions - who makes up this guff ?)

If you can stand it, take a read of the Role Specific Responsibilities ( or skip to the end )

Lead for advising the management teams on how to ensure that Environment & Operations’ business systems are fit for current and future service needs (natch)

Advise the relevant senior manager on how to lead change management processes across the Directorate in a collaborative and consultative style with both internal staff and external stakeholders ( don't senior managers know about this stuff ? )

Acting as a catalyst for change through innovation and challenge, help senior managers create development strategies that enable the service to deliver its vision through the creation of a shared sense of purpose and an environment, which motivates and develops skills and transforms the management and quality of E&O service areas. ( do senior managers need a catalyst to get them moving ?)

Lead on the Directorate’s Communication Strategy and its delivery internally and externally ( how many communications people do Barnet need? There's an Assistant Director of this in the Chief Executives Department with 13 people reporting to him ).

Assist the directorate in developing and co-ordinating a transformation programme, which is to be delivered by Heads of Service.  ( Do as you are told ? )

• Undertake both primary and secondary research, apply analytical thinking, draw references and conclusions, which convert into change proposals for E&O services. ( Find justification for the planned privatisations ?)

Advise the Service Director and other appropriate officers on relevant issues relating to the transformation project to ensure compliance with the Council’s statutory duties.

Lead the process of creating the Council’s annual improvement plan, articulating E&O’s priorities for change, improvement, innovation and transformation. ( Isn't change another word for transformation ? )

Provide project management assistance to Heads of Service on best value reviews and monitor implementation of best value action plans. ( Best value ? Discuss in-built bias ? )

Lead on the review of quality systems and procedures throughout E&O service areas and in establishing new arrangement including subsequent auditing & monitoring. ( Monitoring, Barnet ? MetPro to you ! )

Lead E&O’s development of appropriate management information to assist Heads of Service in creatively planning and delivering their sub-services efficiently and effectively. ( Was the word standard omitted after sub ? )

Research, disseminate and apply innovative ideas and practices across E&O services, helping senior managers create new services and functions as well as significantly changing existing services and functions To make recommendations on new processes and improvements to existing processes and agree them with the Director of E&O. ( Yeah, great )

Now let's take a look at what the incumbent Mr Jonathan Tunde-Wright thinks. Not the shy and retiring type, he has a personal website. I have cut and paste from it.


I believe in Government but I also believe in community and accountability.

I believe in the wisdom of crowds but also recognise the insanity of the mob

I believe in an empowered networked society shaping its own direction and destiny;  but I also believe in strong and visionary leadership.

I believe in transparency and engagement but also recognise selfish ambitions and agendas.

I believe the workforce of any organisation (at all tiers) is its greatest asset and should be treated and utilised as such.

I believe in the power and importance of emotional intelligence.

I believe a vast majority of UK public sector workers are a noble and hard working breed.

I am persuaded that organisational culture eats strategy breakfast. ( what the f*ck ! )

I believe that true change and innovation stems from organic, grassroot and collaborative effort. ( grassroots, pl )

I believe in the power & potential of social media as a revolutionary concept .

I am a part-time PG student at the Warwick Business School (Masters in  Public Administration) 

I believe you should be thrown out on your ear and £50,000 saved. - MrMustard

I will leave you to form your own opinions about all that guff and if you can stand it you can find more on his website here 
http://jonathan.uk.com/?page_id=28

If only Barnet would use Plain English we might understand what they were doing ?

Yours frugally

Mr Mustard