As an Interim OD / L&D lead manager within a Children and Families Directorate my responsibilities included change management strategies, and interventions that would support the development and maintenance of a high performing Service, performance improvement, improving and sustaining staff morale, understanding barriers and possible solutions, and developing staff retention activity.Re-designing management reports for the Head of Service – making them more informative and easier to assimilate key information and trends.Review and manage the relationship between service managers and teams and corporate HR/L&D to facilitate a better understanding and working together.

The Birmingham BRIDGE Programme has been successful since it was originally launched in 2011, in helping to ensure the skills , abilities and experience of those who leave the Council are used within the greater Birmingham economy.I am currently working with private and third sector employers to further develop such areas as jobs tasters , work trials, mock interviews as well as trying to create employement pathways for City Council employees who are at risk of redundancy or may be looking to pursue a career else where . A re-launch event is being held early July in Birmingham where we will explore identifying skills gaps in the labour market and to encourage a better understanding of the future workforce requirements of our partners in the private and third sectors.Please contact me if you are interested in being part of this initiative.

Working closely with the Senior Managers and managers to design and implement appropriate strategies including Talent Management. Responsibility for the L&D team, the training and professional development activity for over 500 employees, Management of the Apprenticeship Scheme, Involvement in a range of HR activities at various levels and complexity.• Managed L&D budget of up to £900k and reduced leakage from £70k to £9k • Customisation of a new on-line Performance Review System, supporting managers through training and implementation• Launched and managed apprenticeship programme for underachieving and disadvantaged young people, through which 25 have had an opportunity to work within the organisation and gain experience and qualification and employment, includes - Including working with looked after children and care leavers• Working with external / third party providers• Development of internal leadership and management programmes • Introducing e-learning approaches and other training methods, resulting in substantial savings• Introduction of confidential coaching for employees • Conducting needs analysis on an annual basis and constructed a training and development plan • Implementation and management of a virtual learning environment • Income generation through development and delivery of e-learning materials •Experience of recruitment, induction, , performance management, capability, absence management, investigations and disciplinary, grievance, dismissal and subsequent appeals procedures• Induction of new starters• Successful management of staff

I was Responsible for the management of a range of Corporate IT Hardware, Software and Facilities Contracts worth well over £20m per annum.Management of high –profile third party relationships with suppliers, contractors and consultantsChaired contract review meetings, addressing under performance as appropriateI was part of the original project team which saw the formation of Service Birmingham a Joint venture company between Birmingham City Council and Capita, providing IT Services and support to the council through a number of business transformation projects.I was the main liaison with bidders for Commercial, People and Communications work strands between Capita and BCC throughout a highly political, sensitive and unprecedented initiative which saw 500 staff second into the new organisation not TUPE.

Management of a team responsible for supply contracts of IT hardware, software and services for council departments including schools.• Chairing evaluation panels, • Negotiating contracts and ensuring compliance. • Income generation to meet pre-set targets.• Working closely with the Education Directorate on large grant-related procurement projects for schools, organising large conferences and exhibitions aimed at schools.