London Borough of Redbridge

The Local Government Chronicle Workforce awards celebrates achievements in local government. We’re delighted to share that Emma Pattison, Kalbinder Benning, and Shona Galt are finalists for 3 different categories. Congratulations! Emma - Head of Service of the Year Emma launched and rapidly grew the Reach Out service which provides holistic support to survivors of domestic abuse, commissions therapeutic support for children and young people, and has a user satisfaction score of 95%. Emma also delivers the accredited perpetrator programme, Spotlight, for those wishing to address their abusive behaviours. It has proven to be highly effective at reducing police callouts and the need for social care involvement.  Emma supports her team’s wellbeing with access to counselling and support. She encourages her team’s professional development which was recently demonstrated when she secured external funding for members of the team to complete their Independent Domestic Violence Abuse (IDVA) qualification. Her tenacity in supporting vulnerable people, and care for her team make Emma an outstanding leader. Kalbinder – Back Office Hero Kalbinder is dedicated to providing better outcomes for our residents and has an unmatched drive to step beyond the obvious end point of a project, making the services and outcomes even better for the Redbridge community. She continually looks at innovative ways of doing things to provide better experiences for customers and for staff. Kalbinder opened and launched engagement hubs in the borough, and then continued with the project to create a tranquil garden beside it enabling service users and partners to meet privately and calmly, away from busy streets.  Kalbinder said, “I am so humbled and honoured to have been nominated and grateful for the opportunities that the Council’s projects have given me, working with great colleagues and partners, and serving residents. Despite challenging times, we strive for new and better ways to do things for the borough and our residents.” Shona - Graduate of the Year Shona has embedded a strategic whole Council approach to corporate parenting and encouraged local organisations to pledge their support for care leavers, with leisure discounts, training, guaranteed job interviews and more. Through mentoring, Shona has supported individuals with applications and increasing their networks to enable them to be offered places at Harvard and Imperial College London. Shona said, “It’s a privilege to be recognised alongside such talented colleagues. I owe a lot to the graduate scheme at Redbridge, which provided me with insights into a number of council services and has been a great stepping stone. I have thoroughly enjoyed project managing the Care Leaver Covenant alongside other Children’s and Adults’ Social Care projects and can’t wait to get involved in future projects that deliver positive outcomes for our residents.” Winners will be announced in November. Good luck! 

We’re delighted to share that our Civic Pride Business Support Team won our very first Team Star of the Month award. Congratulations team ⭐ Barbara Kakoulli, nominated the team for working tirelessly and overcoming several challenges to provide support to our front-line services, contractors, and residents to ensure local people receive excellent services. Barbara said “Within Civic Pride we have one brilliant resilient Business Support Team. Although the team is under resourced, every member of the team works tirelessly, providing the support needed to our front-line services to ensure residents receive the excellent services we deliver. The main focus of the team’s work is to work with residents, services and contractors to resolve issues raised by residents regarding service delivery.  Over the last few months, although already stretched doing their day-to-day work, the team had several challenges which increased their workload considerably. Some examples of this include the process of the sale of our commercial waste contract, industrial action by our waste contractor which affected all residents in the borough, redeployment of team members to provide support in the one of our other services, and the secondment of staff leaving us even more shorthanded than before. The team is working extremely hard, supporting each other and staying positive through very challenging times. They deserve recognition for their positive forward-thinking approach in the midst of the various challenges they are currently facing on a daily basis, whilst also being affected by challenges and changes within the organisation.” Congratulations to the team and well done to everyone who was nominated! Out Star of the Month award shines a light on individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond. #recognition #celebrate #award

Well done to Version1 who have signed up as an official Care Leaver Covenant signatory which will provide more support  for young people leaving foster/residential care nationwide. Version1 recently sponsored our Care Leaver Covenant Roundtable event which was attended by Redbridge’s ‘community parents’ including Redbridge staff, Councillors, the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, local private sector partners, and other representatives from the local community. The aim of the event was to discuss how additional support for young people leaving care could be provided, for example, offering mentoring or pastoral guidance on various aspects of their lives, providing opportunities to enter the world of work, or concessionary access to sport, leisure and cultural activities. The roundtable discussion drew on the resourcefulness and professional expertise of staff which offered a new way of thinking to aid our care leavers in moving forward successfully to the next phase of their lives.

Zena Cooke has joined the Redbridge Council team as our new interim Corporate Director of Resources. Having worked in local government finance for over 35 years, and as Chief Finance Officer for over 15 years, Zena has extensive experience from a diverse range of councils. Most recently, Zena served as the Corporate Director of Finance at Kent County Council, as the Corporate Director of Resources at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and as the Corporate Director of Resources and Partnerships at Maidstone Borough Council. Zena’s experience covers a wide range of corporate functions, including Revenues and Benefits, ICT, Human Resources, Procurement, Transformation, and Customer Services. Zena has also led front line services including Housing, Community Safety, Community Development, Economic Development and Regeneration, Leisure and Culture, and led on tackling financial hardship and poverty for over 10 years. Zena said, “I am really pleased to be joining Redbridge, and I am looking forward to working with colleagues to address the financial challenge we face, to balance our budget, in this year and future years, whilst still delivering high quality, value for money services for our residents and communities.” Interim Chief Executive, Adrian Loades, said “Zena has a wealth of experience which will help shape our future strategy. Zena will be an asset to the Council and the Corporate Leadership Team and I look forward to working with her.” Welcome to the team, Zena.

We’re delighted to share that Maura Brooks, our Senior Support Officer has been crowned our June Employee Star of the Month winner. Congratulations Maura ⭐  Line Manager, Carol Hale, nominated Maura for working hard to set up arrangements for a recent Ofsted Local Authority Children's Services (ILACs) inspection which was a success. Carol said “Maura was one of a very small number of business support officers who assisted in setting up arrangements for a recent Ofsted Local Authority Children's Services (ILACs) inspection which took place from 10 - 14 June. Notification is given the week before which then follows a very busy week of setting up the arrangements for the inspection team. This involved working very long hours throughout the week and the weekend to help produce a five-day detailed timetable for eight inspectors to meet with various teams and members of staff. This included booking rooms and ensuring that office space was available for inspectors to use, with refreshments provided.  I am very proud of the way Maura rolled her sleeves up and got on with all of this. She thoroughly deserves recognition for all her efforts which I believe, in some part, helped lead towards the outcome that we received.” Congratulations Maura and well done to everyone who was nominated. We will be sharing our Team Star of the Month next week so keep an eye out!

At the Full Council meeting on Thursday 25 July, Cllr Kam Rai was elected as the new Leader of Redbridge Council. Cllr Kam Rai has a long running history with Redbridge as he has not only served the community for 10 years as a cabinet member, but he also grew up here and raised his three children locally while working in financial services and supporting a local homelessness charity. Since 2014, Cllr Rai has served the borough as Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration and a councillor in Goodmayes ward. Cllr Rai spent six years as Deputy Leader and also led on the Leisure and Culture portfolio between 2020 and 2023, before transitioning to the role of overseeing Regeneration in 2023. During his tenure, Cllr Rai played a key role in the successful delivery of the £7 million Hainault Forest regeneration project, which included the addition of a new playground, café, and craft workshops to the park, as well as committing to the expansion of Fairlop Waters Country Park. Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of Redbridge Council said, “I feel so fortunate to represent the place I call home, where we have outstanding schools, safe neighbourhoods, and wonderful parks. Redbridge is a special place, with close-knit and welcoming communities, busy high streets, beautiful green spaces and lots to do - we really have everything we need right on our doorstep, with more on the way. Since becoming a councillor in 2014 I have seen first-hand the challenges facing local councils across the country, with rising demand for services, and government funding cuts. In Redbridge we have always risen to the challenge of protecting the vital services local people rely on and innovating to deliver more with less. As the finance lead for the Council, I’ve set a balanced budget every year and as Leader I want to build on this legacy – making sure our borough gets the best value for money. The role of councillors is to bring our communities together, to represent everyone fairly and be the voice for those who have none. As the Leader of Redbridge Council I will always work tirelessly to improve the place we live in and to leave no one behind. There are challenges ahead of us, but I know that by working together, and with local people, by taking responsibility for our borough and encouraging others to do the same, we can make Redbridge cleaner, greener and safer." Cllr Rai continued “We have an incredible opportunity ahead of us in Redbridge. We already know our borough is a great place to live, work, and visit, but there is work to be done to make sure local people can build a good life here. I will work closely with you all, local residents, and our partners in the Police, the Greater London Authority and Government to bring in investment and ensure Redbridge gets our fair share of resources." Cllr Rai takes over from Cllr Athwal, who served Redbridge as Council Leader for over a decade before stepping down following his election as the Member of Parliament for Ilford South.

Out of 152 local authorities in England, Redbridge Council are one of three who have achieved an ‘Outstanding’ grade across every criterion within the Ofsted Inspecting Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) inspection framework 🎊 The evaluation criteria are: - Overall effectiveness - The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection - The experiences and progress of children in care - The experiences and progress of care leavers - The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families Since the last inspection in 2019, several supportive innovations have been introduced by the Children & Families department to achieve this outcome, including: Reach Out service is the Council’s in-house front door domestic abuse service which provides support to survivors and their children. Family Intervention Team work with children, young people and their families to tackle issues such as child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and missing children. Care Leaver Covenant collaborates with care leavers to identify and deliver support such as arranging employment opportunities, housing, and driving lessons. The pathway plans are detailed, personalised, and ambitious to support care leavers in achieving their goals. Youth Intelligence Hub holds weekly meetings with partners to plan responses to emerging issues, such as gang activity and child trafficking concerns. Pre-Birth social workers undertake pre-birth assessments of first-time mothers, mothers who have previously had children removed from their care, pregnant children looked after, and pregnant care leavers. The report also found that: - Children in care receive excellent care and support - Social workers visit children regularly and have meaningful and stable relationships with them. - Agencies and specialist teams collaborate to make sure they understand and reduce the risks of children being exploited. Adrian Loades, Interim Chief Executive and Corporate Director of People said “Our Children’s Services have worked incredibly hard to make even further improvements to enhance the wellbeing and development of children and young people in need of support and protection. Achieving an Outstanding rating from Ofsted in all areas reflects the high standards and quality of care Redbridge Council provides, which I am so proud of.” Congratulations to the service! Read the full report - https://lnkd.in/gaCsv6ZA

Congratulations to Elaine Alexander, our Home Care Worker who was crowned our May Star of the Month winner! ⭐🏆 Elaine was nominated by colleague, Abdelilah Bouziane, for her brave and swift intervention which saved the life of a colleague. Abdelilah said "Elaine saved the life of another Agency Home Care Worker, H. H went into the garden for some fresh air when she experienced some health issues. She was unable to communicate and her eyes were closing. Elaine, along with another resident who was in the garden, lowered her to the ground and discovered she was not responding. Elaine called 999 and initiated CPR as per advice given. After several chest compressions, H started to respond and Elaine had put her in the recovery position. The ambulance and a fast response team were on the scene very quickly and praised Elaine for her action. H was taken to King George’s Hospital and was discharged in early morning. Elaine, who resumed her duties the following day, deserves recognition for her quick thinking and decisive intervention which saved a life." Our Star of the Month scheme shines a light on colleagues who go above & beyond. Congratulations Elian and well done to everyone who was nominated.

Mercato Ilford, the first sustainable community food market in East London, opened its doors last Thursday 11 July. Located in the Cultural Quarter in Ilford Town Centre, Mercato Ilford is open seven days a week and provides a diverse range of delicious global cuisines and a community space offering cooking classes, live performances, health and fitness classes, and more. The 17 trading partners, whose produce have been farmed sustainably and offer halal options, include Ethiopian, Jamaican, Mexican, Indian, and Turkish food. They all offer a lunchtime £5 meal deal from Monday to Friday making it an affordable choice so say goodbye to your generic meal deals. There’s also a couple of bars to enjoy a drink after work, and dessert for those of you with a sweet tooth, so there is something for everyone. The venue plays an important role in the Council’s Spark Ilford regeneration project to make Ilford’s Cultural Quarter a key cultural destination through its food, art, and entertainment. Spark Ilford is the latest step in the Council’s ‘Ilford for all’ manifesto which aims to transform Ilford and attract more visitors by opening more businesses, boost nightlife, and celebrate diversity and culture. Mercato Ilford has already created 100 new jobs and which will help to drive footfall and contribute significantly to the borough’s local economy. The Council secured a £1.8 million grant from the London Economic Action Partnership and Mayor of London's Good Growth Fund. The Good Growth Fund is a public fund from Greater London Authority dedicated to urban regeneration projects.   Mark Baigent, our Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture, said, "The opening of Mercato Ilford is a shining example of regeneration, helping to create employment for local people, bringing in new opportunities for local traders, and encouraging visitors into our town centre. It will give our communities somewhere to come together and enjoy some of the best and most diverse artisan food from local traders, with music and regular entertainment." If you’re a foodie, Mercato Ilford is the place to be! Visit Mercato on: ·      Monday – Thursday, 12pm to 11pm ·      Friday – Saturday, 12pm to midnight ·      Sunday, 12pm to 9.30pm Mercato’s coffee shops and Badiani ice-cream stores are open: ·      Monday – Friday, from 8am ·      Saturday – Sunday, from 9am Visit the Mercato Ilford website to find out more: https://lnkd.in/exWE4vHh #mercato #eastlondon #sustainable