Reports/Case studies

 

 

The department provides specialist financial support and has had four Matisse participants - all in the Children's Services Devolved Finance Unit.

 

The project required secure remote links to ‘Hantsnet’ for the four staff, plus a mobile phone to which office landline calls can be diverted.

 

 

The trial has been described as being ‘a runaway success’. In terms of the mobile staff in the team, who support schools and spend most of their time visiting schools, the remote Hantsnet connectivity facility has cut down the number of times they visit the office base dramatically, increased productive time (by cutting travel time) and made significant financial savings in travel expenses alone (more than the cost of ICT provision).

 

All reported reduced stress -a common report from the project. A much quoted benefit of increased flexible working is a significant reduction in sickness absence, some of it stress related, but also through continuing to work (at home) through minor contagious illnesses that would preclude a trip to work.

 

Issues raised by the team included the time taken to log on; need to plan in team building / social networking opportunities for workers not in the office.

 

In summary, the maximum benefits and the approach are most suitable for mobile workers who need regular access to Hantsnet. There can also be benefits for staff that need to work flexible hours.

 

The Children's Services Devolved Finance team now intend to extend use of flexible and Teleworking within the Unit.

This has involved provision of a mobile (VOIP) phone and PASSPORT which enables secure (encrypted) remote connection to host CITRIX based systems. The costs per user, including full IT HELP Desk support have been in the order of £500, per user per annum.

 

Managers of Teleworking staff should always address the essential dimension of team building and social interaction for those not in the office. For managers, this may initially mean there may be extra demands on time and some may need to develop ‘remote’ team managing skills.