Entries with tag local government .

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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
03 Nov 2017 - 16:32

null Just to make it more interesting

  Can you trust your colleagues let alone partner organisations or those you are contracting with? Why don't people stick to agreements, why do they put short term benefit before greater long term gain?   Three teams of senior managers. Each round of negotiations a team picks red or blue. They meet with the other teams to agree which colour they intend to submit. If both teams... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 Oct 2017 - 12:20

null Are you cut out to be a senior manager

So you think you have what it takes to be a senior manager in local government.  Here are six questions for any wannabe senior manager. Just select the answers which most closely reflect your views and then check out the verdict. ( Tip try not to answer D)  Can you live with the very real prospect that a decision you made or didn't make, or something you didn't know... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
21 Sep 2017 - 09:57

null Managers Interview questions and answers

  How confident would you be If at your next job interview you knew the questions before they were asked?  Even better what if you had the answers. Working out what the questions will be is not that difficult once you understand the process every interview panel uses. Knowing the questions is not the same as knowing the answers but with a little effort in advance you can come up with... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
18 Sep 2017 - 14:28

null I asked for an armchair and they gave me a lamp shade

You successful make the case for additional resources but instead of the much needed arm chair the board gives you a decorative lamp shade. We are not talking about giving a new look to your old office but one chief executive's description of  how the board dealt with the need to invest in new services as well as make  deep cuts.    You make the business case for... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Sep 2017 - 11:04

null Can the public ever learn to love social workers?

In books, films ,TV soaps and dramas there are inspirational teachers. Sure there are bad teachers and lazy teachers, well meaning but ineffective teachers but there are also passionate, dedicated and inspirational teachers. Social work also has passionate, dedicated and inspirational professionals, just not on tv. Nurses on tv are skilful, caring, professionals who get to know their patients... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
13 Sep 2017 - 11:40

null How organisations respond to allegations of racism

  A rather silly attempt at a joke  or evidence of racism? You're the manager you decide? The advice from HR is this isn't going to go away. It shouldn't influence your thinking but the manager  at the centre of this has delivered a very impressive improvement in services ,they get results, cabinet members have noted this and expressed their approval. This wasn't... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Aug 2017 - 06:41

null Fostering v Boarding school

  I worked in a residential boarding school run by the local authority for boys with poor school attendance and behaviour problems where it was thought they would benefit from being removed from their environment ( family). Typically they were young boys who came to the attention of the education welfare service before social services. Interestingly if they had come to social services... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jul 2017 - 10:55

null You bear responsibility but as part of a team

  When crisis and scandal hit a high profile bank (HSBC) the board dismissed some senior managers but despite calls for his resignation not the chair of the board. When asked if he should have taken  responsibility as chair of the board and leader of the organisation he( Doulas Flint ) replied , " You bear responsibility but as part of a team". Does this also apply in local... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
10 Jul 2017 - 22:12

null Ghosts at the top table

Who am I? The better I am at my job the less people notice me.  Most of the time I'm invisible. A career based on facilitating someone else's vision. A true professional supporting a big ego. I'm a ghost at the top table. Who am I? Blair McPherson www.blairmcpherson.co.uk See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
29 Jun 2017 - 14:45

null The awkward squad

  "Opinionated"  that's the word my placement supervisor used to describe me when I was a social work student. Is it so bad for a social worker to be opinionated?  According to a recent guidance note from the D of H, ADASS and the chief social worker for adults, social workers provide an essential role in an integrated system by challenging other professionals who's training... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
08 Jun 2017 - 18:05

null Look under the bonnet and sprinkle the magic

  What type of person would  punch a puppy ? Would you eat your own dog food ?  Well you might if you realised it meant doing something detestable but good for the business and you might try out something new on yourself first. These are two of the more unusual and in my experience less common examples of management speak. Have you recently been encouraged to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
05 Jun 2017 - 17:54

null Not just Zumba classes and lettuce leaves for the worried

  Budget cuts, redundancies, reorganisation , out sourcing , increased workloads, changes in working practices, increased use of technology, stress is part of the modern public sector work experience we just have to learn to live with it. So toughen up or to put it in HR speak become more "resilient".    Resilience training is the latest organisational response to... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
23 May 2017 - 21:04

null We want you back

The government wants you back. A lot was invested in your training. You gained valuable experience which we could really use now. We have developed a great programme for supporting returnees like yourself. We understand why you left, there were a lot of unpopular changes,  we were experimenting with changing the skill mix, long hours and a cap on pay rises didn't help. The emphases on... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
21 May 2017 - 11:42

null What does a social worker believe?

  Social work has changed a lot but have social workers? The articles in the social work press reflect  the changing world of social work, new policies, new legislation, new guidance, new structures, new way of working, new technology, fewer resources, yet the on line comments by social workers reflect attitudes and beliefs that social workers from an era before social media,... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
09 May 2017 - 14:54

null How do I know if my boss is stressed out and what can I do about it

  The thing about stress is those who have it don't recognise it and so don't have any insight into the effect their behaviour has on those around them. If your boss has suddenly and uncharacteristically become difficult to work with, if team meetings are no longer fun, if the prospect of a one to one or even a short car journey together fills you with dread then your manager could... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
04 May 2017 - 18:03

null Metro Mayors

  So now Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool have elected Mayors with some real power and control over some big budgets, probably not as much power or as big a budget as they would want but it's a start.    It's the U.S. Model. Will Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool be the next Chicago? What have we to look forward to? Chicago's Town Hall politics are notorious.  ... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
25 Apr 2017 - 16:17

null Speaking the truth to power

It's an often claimed truism that it is a matter of indifference to the public who empties their bins,  as long as the service is good. Members may be ideologically enthusiastic about outsourcing or committed to retaining/returning services in-house but it is the duty of officers to ensure any radical change is supported by a strong business case.    I was a senior manager... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
26 Mar 2017 - 21:07

null Local Authority awkward squad

  Health and social care is high on the government's agenda but is the resent advice note  from the DoH another example of trying to narrow the remit of local authorities and their awkward squad, social workers?    The Department of Health and Association of Directors of Adult Social services has issued an advice note which recognises the... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
19 Mar 2017 - 21:29

null A place in the sun

  How are you rewarded for failure at work? A trip to the big apple, soaking up the sun in Dubai or a golfing trip to Portugal? It's called team building its very popular with managers whose football teams have suffered a dip in performance during the long winter days after Christmas. Team building is also popular in the public sector and not just if a new manager is trying to bond a... See more
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Blair McPherson
wrote a new blog post
22 Mar 2017 - 02:51

null The difference between management and leadership

Management, as managers are fond of saying, isn't about being liked but I say leadership is. Human nature is such that if staff don't like you they won't like what you say. If staff don 't like you they will mostly deny you the opportunity to influence their thinking. Leadership is all about influencing thinking.  Management is about getting people to do what needs to be done. Managers... See more
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