essa uk - emergency social services association

essa conference 2010 with Eversheds presentation Download Conference evaluation

24 November, Aston Conference Centre, Birmingham Present: Representatives from 46 out of 105 member Authorities Graham Lindley: Chair Damon Howarth: Vice Chair Sylvia Watkin: Treasurer Phil Beauchamp: speaker, Somerset Graham welcomed members and confirmed we are quorate for today’s meeting. Previous Minutes 2010: Amended p.2 North-West Region EDT still exists but is no longer joined with the Training Consortium. Graham set the Minutes as a true record. 1 – Chair’s Report Today's Conference will be centred around the current financial situation. • Many areas are experiencing the squeeze on resources • Budgetary cuts have led to 90 day notice for people whose jobs are going. • Police are less willing to do welfare check visits. • Increasing difficulties being experienced in resourcing MH assessments • Many former ESSA members are retiring this year. • Sylvia will be retiring as Treasurer • Graham will be retiring in 6 days time. • Youth unemployment has reached a million • Job security has gone • Relevant work experience is hard to come by • The November 30th budget cuts are starting to affect EDTs • Many areas have experienced cuts in pay, and sickness benefit • ESSA membership has dropped and budgetary constraints have started to bite. Regional Reports from South-West and North-West representatives have been circulated and are available to read. Short reports from Wales and Scotland will go onto the ESSA website. 2 – Treasurer’s Report The balance is healthy this year and so it has been possible to allow a free place to Local Authorities to enable additional delegates to attend this year’s Conference. Membership has dropped by 15 Authorities and we have gained 2: Welcome to Cheshire East and Shropshire. Sylvia requested delegates remind their Local Authorities that at £150 per year ESSA provides good value and promotes good practice. 3 – ESSA website The website has been hugely improved this year. Graham requests members feel free to contribute anything they consider relevant. Feedback requested – should ESSA be on Facebook? Responses to be recorded on the Feedback form The site is open to everyone and the public can learn what is available. The Web Officer was unable to attend today. 4 – Election of Officers Chair: Damon Howarth, proposed and seconded Vice-Chair: Anita Jefcoate, proposed and seconded Treasurer: Myfanwy Moran, Cardiff, proposed and seconded The above officers agreed to stand and were elected by members present Communications Officer: Anita Jefcoate is standing down. There have been no nominations for this post and there were none from the floor, Damon suggested that it might be possible for the committee to co-opt someone during the year. Conference Organiser: Tenders to undertake this work will be invited from members, proposals about what would be provided and at what cost should be submitted to Damon by January 14th. 5 – Any Other Business Graham took the opportunity to thank Sylvia on behalf of us all for her tireless efforts on behalf of ESSA. She has been a huge part of its success since the outset in 1994, when a small group of EDT managers from the south and south west started to meet regularly. The meetings were convened and hosted by Hampshire EDT. ESSA was launched nationally in 1997. We wish her a long and happy retirement and she will be much missed. Sylvia thanked Graham and reminded delegates that Graham too will be retiring after this Conference. She thanked him on behalf of ESSA and we wish him well in his retirement. Graham introduced Phil Beauchamp, Somerset EDT, who presented information about changes ahead and facilitated discussion around new approaches being developed across the UK: What Future for Emergency Duty Teams and Services?

Alyson King, minutes taker. Feedback from Group Discussions are HERE ESSA Conference 2011