Fact File: Birmingham City Council’s top jobs
The council lists 12 executive roles in its management structure.
One is vacant after Education and Skills Director Dr Tim O’Neill resigned. The intention is to fill his role with interim cover ahead of advertising and filling the post permanently.
Three other roles are described as ‘acting’ with employees given additional responsibilities on top of their substantive roles - Suzanne Dodd, City Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, Ian MacLeod, Director of Inclusive Growth, and Rob James, Director of Neighbourhoods.
These are on top of the interim roles of chief executive and Chief Finance Officer.
The council buys in interim cover usually through third party recruitment companies to fill vacant staff posts or to buy in specialist support for short term projects.
A search of the council’s published list of contract deals for the second quarter of 2020-2021 (July to September) illustrates the value and breadth of interim contracts, with a sample including:
Interim Accountant, July 2019 to July 2020 – value £180,000, contractor Allen Lane Ltd
Interim Strategic Advisor, Commonwealth Games, March 2020 to September 2020 – value £185,000, contractor Prometheanix Ltd
Interim programme director, Smithfield Regeneration, May 2020 to May 2021 – value £185,400, contractor Richard Brown Prop Consultancy Ltd
Interim planning consultant, May 2020 to November 2020 – value £185,000, contractor IRG Advisors LLP
Interim New Ways of Working programme manager, Digital and Customer Services, September 2020 – March 2021 – value £108,088, contractor Tile Hill Interim and Executive Ltd
A CHILDREN’S charity has revealed it is receiving record numbers of calls in the West Midlands to its helpline about parents drinking and taking drugs during lockdown.
The NSPCC said the number of calls it is getting from the region every month raising concerns about children’s welfare has rocketed during the pandemic.
The number of these calls that are so serious they have to be referred to the the police or social services are up by 72 per cent on pre-lockdown levels.
Figures released show that pre-lockdown (January - March 22, 2020) there were 215 referrals to the police/social services in the West Midlands – an average of 84 per month.
During lockdown (April 2020 to January 2021), this shot up to 1,444 referrals – an average of 144 a month – an increase of 72 per cent.
The NSPCC said the calls to its helpline were made either by the child themselves, or a concerned adult such as a friend, neighbour, teacher or relative.
Referrals were only made to the police or social services when the NSPCC felt the child’s welfare was at risk due to substance misuse. This is when an adult who is in charge of caring for a child misuses drugs or alcohol. This can include prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or drinking too much.
The pandemic has meant children are at home more due to schools being closed – meaning there is no escape for those living with parents or carers who drink too much or take drugs.
Kam Thandi, from the NSPCC, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have created a perfect storm for families affected by addiction.
“At the NSPCC Helpline we’ve not only seen a rise in contacts and referrals but we’re also seeing families who weren’t previously known to children’s services requiring help and support for substance misuse.
“The pressures on families at the moment are unprecedented and it is no surprise that our helpline is hearing that parents and carers are struggling with substance misuse.”
The charity is calling on the Government to invest more in local support services while the lockdown continues.