TallGirl's getting back on track diary

catshark88

Gosh you are busy! Enjoy the cocktails!

Tahlullah

Good luck with the audit. Don't worry that you can't see what the problems are with the files, the important thing is that your manager can.

If you get the chance, get her to explain what the issues are, and then make your own template on what needs to be looked at on a file in the future.

Your manager probably has one, but I have a very old template of what CitA auditors look for on files. It may be of some use as a guide, but as I say, it is old.

If you want it, let me know and I can get it to you by some method or other.

TallGirl

Oh dear yesterday was rather wasted with the effects of Friday night. Good to see my other friend again she has also agreed to be here when I take my exam in April which excellent news.

Friday night was good too much champagne and other things but was home just after midnight. Woken up at 5 by DH and as I said wasted a lot of yesterday. Went to see mikado at local theatre free tickets from colleague which was good and we both enjoyed it. Also had lunch out yesterday which was good. DH is definitely up for doing more things now he even went to the golf club.

Today another mystery shop for breakfast did one yesterday morning too. Then gardening and studying and also need to think about my own appraisal with my manager. I think it will be fine it's my annual one (gosh I have been there a year) but want to be prepared. We seemed to have created a bit of space between us again which is great and better for work.

Tahlullah thanks for the offer of audit notes I have done the quality courses and know how to do the matrix and file reviews I think I just doubt myself. We have managed to get a couple changed because they hadn't been case checked. Turns out 8 of one advisers cases had not been checked eventhough they should be 1 in 1 checking so boffins at HQ looking into that one as that shouldn't be possible.

I do look forward to my appraisal as I want to discuss my progress properly and make sure I am on the right track. I have a feeling with budget bouts things are going to get tight and my role will change yet again. Life in the 3rd sector.

TallGirl

Appraisal went quite well it certainly didn't feel like a chat between friends but a proper constructive conversation between a manager and employee so that was a relief. She really is a very good managed and was very helpful to me when the horrid paid member of staff were not very pleasant at a meeting I was chairing. We need a new procedure to stop inconsistency which she is mainly the reasons for. Luckily she has resigned as supervisor so this is the last meeting she needs to attend.

We are £20k short in income to be able to carry on at same staff levels next year. Nothing will change until September but I don't think it sounds too positive but manager is excellent at getting funding.

My job should be fairly safe but worst case scenario could be a cut in hours. I am not sure I would want that long term but I don't really need to think about it yet.

Anyway I know I am not unemployable so I am sure something would turn up.

Lovely and sunny here, hopefully be a better day than yesterday I shall be spending most of my time in the main office today which will be hard work but hey ho.

Tahlullah

Oh dear Tallgirl, I am so sorry to hear about the budget shortfall. It seems to be happening to everyone in the voluntary sector at the moment. I hope that your manager will be able to make up the shortfall without too much of a negative impact on you.

£20k will be about a part time post. Is there not a post that can be absorbed more easily than cutting hours? Sometimes, some positions in an organisation can be seen as a luxury. I don't mean to be harsh, but in our org for example, do we need a fundraiser? The CEO and I can complete bids and understand the commissioning process, so do we need one?

Good to hear the appraisal went well and that you felt that it wasn't just a chat between mates. Hopefully, you can now structure things the way you want them to run. Good luck going forward and I will keep my bits crossed in the hope your manager brings in some more pennies.

TallGirl

Thanks Tahlullah excellent advice as always I fully understand what you say but these are the paid post
1 full time MA separate funding from LA
22 hours admin and finance post
1 full time manager also manage two year lottery project in separate building
1 full time training manager
3 day a week paid supervisor
1 full time ASM also responsible for training.

Historically they only had volunteer Supervisors but at audit found this very inconsistent so paid one should hopefully have helped this. That person is on a two year fixed contract and knows her job end in Sep. problem is we had a rubbish two day a week training manager which did manage to move the trainees on quickly enough let alone get as many as we needed recruited.

Full time training manager is doing really well and as we are so short of all roles it takes us a long time to get some one to volunteer supervisor status

It's chicken and egg really poss a luxury to have paid supervisor when I should do this or if prev training manager had been efficient we would have had more people trained now and wouldn't have needed a full time training manager.

I suspect supervisor will get a slight cut in hours which is better than loosing her completely we can also supervisor our evening session.

Anyway enough waffle it's not really something I can do anything about.

Friday today hopefully we a quiet day I have plenty of volunteers on the rota but also plenty to do myself.

Got to get studying done this weekend and want to play some golf with DH also gardening.

Fence and gate still needs repairing but golf membership up for renewal and joint acc doesn't quite have enough in it due to boiler breaking. Anyway it's sunny and Friday

Tahlullah

Hi,

As an independent bystander, the change to the staff structure would be to merge the FT training manager with the PT supervisor post. Assuming you mean Advice Session supervisor.

By doing this, you still retain the equivalent of a FT training post in the bureau if you add the ASM with training responsibility. Plus, the up side is that the !!! is the one who is really knows what the needs of the workers on rota are, what training they need dependent on where they are struggling, what subjects, etc when working. So, she would recognise the gap in knowledge and then be responsible for ensuring the training is put in place.

Anyway, just my ramblings. If you are lucky, it will not come to this.

Hope you have a relaxing weekend and that the weather is better than here up north. Still freezing cold. Roll on spring!

TallGirl

Tahlullah you are seriously wise, yes the supervisor role is A S S and the person in the role is very technical and excellent in that role but has few people skills so cannot feedback let alone develop someone's skills. Whereas the training person can easily do both roles A S S and training but it would be nice to keep them both as we are looking to start an outreach.

I would love to be more involved in the training again (just a bit not run it all like before) so hopefully there will be an opportunity for this.

Work was bloody awful yesterday the paid case workers worse than ever all because of a lack of toner in the photocopier. It wasn't our fault at the bureau but they complained about everyone. Finally got a new toner down by courier at 4.30pm spent three wasted days on sorting that one out.

Also paid money adviser kicked off again with manager but they are now having a slanging match by email. It's not nice but it has to be done and manager is finally able to stand up to her.

I still like my job but it is hard sometimes not sure I am cut out for this sort of stress forever would be nice with a period of calm maybe after the audit,

Doing some serious studying today not long until the 5th April exam time but got a heavy cold but at least no hangover as we didn't even have one drink after work last night.

DH has booked his blood test and dr appointment so 3rd April is the day we find out if he has been good or not.

TallGirl

No real studying done but this has been achieved

DH has had his haircut (some of you might remember he wouldn't when he was really unwell so this is a nice normal thing to stay now.
Chicken curry made from scratch with spices from Oman plus five for the freezer that's ten meals plus tonight for £10.
DH has been to Mackro so now have pork fillet for slow cooking tomorrow plus plenty for freezer
Deck and patio has been power washed
Patio treated for algae
Seedlings repotted
Surveyor for free cavity insulation has been out will be fitted sometime DH can take the time off
Rossi the car has been cleaned he was full of bird !!!!

That's it study tomorrow and Sunday lunch with FIL

Bath now then pjs and dinner

TallGirl

Right it's Thursday and I am still behind on a few things namely three pork fillets which should be cooked by now hopefully today.

Work is super manic and I am struggling a little mainly because I refuse to stay late every night. I think things will settle down manager had appraisal with trouble person and I know have a series of things I need to do to make the person happier and also stuff we need to work on together. I am sure I can do it it's just when you have other things to do that you feel a equally important never mind.

DH is doing ok but I think he is back to five cans a night he goes to bed super early like 8.30 and was up at 4.40 this morning and out of the door at 6.40.

Took the cats to the vets for booster Thomas has got conjunctivitis and Jack has a problem with his gums which could be long term and chronic. £149 later and Thomas needs jabs next week Jack a checkup in 1 month. At least they are both insured.

Paid the golf club membership think I might have to do a balance transfer as fenced still needs doing and don't want to totally deplete the joint accounts

Still the weather is lovely and spring is here.