Knowing our workforce 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023

The following data was provided by Wyre Forest District Council Payroll/Recruitment System and compiled by Wyre Forest District Council Human Resources Department, April 2023.

Introduction

In accordance with regulation 2 of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) Regulations 2011, we are required to monitor and publish at least annually information relating to its employees who share a relevant protected characteristic.

This report covers the period 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023 and includes data on gender, age, disability and ethnicity of our workforce.  It provides an analysis of employees who have left the Council during the last year and examines the characteristics of employees who have been involved in disciplinary action or grievances.  The report concludes with an analysis of applicants who have progressed through our recruitment and selection processes.

Please note that, as a result of rounding, some figures may not add up to 100%.

Context - the demographic of Wyre Forest

How life has changed in Wyre Forest – 2021 census

Workforce profile (as at 31 March 2023)

We employ 327 staff, 226 are full time and 101 are part time.

158 staff are female and 169 are male.

Four staff have declared a disability.  The data suggests that our workforce has a significantly lower proportion of people with a disability than the population as a whole (as found in the 2021 census: 7.9% disabled and limited a lot, 10.9% disabled and limited a little). Our own information relies on staff declaring that they have a disability, and they are not obliged to do so.

As Table 1 shows, the majority of our workforce is White (88.69%) with the vast majority of those being of White British ethnicity.  This is lower than the results of the 2021 census which show that 95.9% of the population of Wyre Forest was White. However not all staff have declared their ethnicity and not all staff live in Wyre Forest. In broad terms, the ethnic mix of our workforce reflects that of the wider Wyre Forest population.

Age

Our workforce has an average age of 47. This is reflective of the median age of 47 of all residents in Wyre Forest, as measured by the census – which includes people below and above working age.

• 16 - 17 years: 1
• 18 - 24 years: 17
• 25 - 34 years: 37
• 35 - 44 years: 63
• 45 - 54 years: 105
• 55 - 64 years: 96
• 64+ years: 8

Profile of leavers

During the period a total of 46 employees left the Council.  38 of the employees were of ‘White British’ ethnic origin, 1 declared their ethnicity as ‘White other’ and 7 had not declared their ethnic origin. 72% left due to resignation.

The chart below highlights the reasons for leaving:

Disciplinary action and grievances

During the period we took disciplinary action against 16 employees: 14 male employees and 2 female employees. All were White British apart from 2 who had not declared their ethnicity. 1 individual grievance was submitted by a white British, male employee.

Recruitment and selection

Chief Executive’s Unit 3 posts

• Communications Officer
• Corporate Policy Officer (National Graduate Development Programme)
• Digital and Communications Officer

Solicitor to the Council 5 posts

• Assistant Committee Services Officer
• Electoral Services Manager
• Electoral Systems Officer
• HR and Organisational Development Manager
• Temporary Executive Support Officer

Resources 7 posts

• Auditor
• Business Support Officer – Accountancy x 2
• Business Support Officer (Payroll)
• CIPFA Trainee Accountant (Apprenticeship)
• Procurement and Purchasing Support Officer
• Senior Auditor

Strategic Growth 34 posts

• Collaborative Project Officer
• Conservation Officer
• Development Management Officer
• Domestic Abuse Housing Officer
• Energy Performance Officer
• Homeless Prevention Officer
• Homeless Support Officer
• Homes For Ukraine Liaison Officer x 2
• Homes for Ukraine Support Officer
• Housing Advice Assistant
• Housing Advice Officer x 2
• Housing Advice Officer (Fixed Term)
• Housing Advice Team Manager
• Housing Advice Technical Support Officer
• Housing Enforcement Officer x 2
• Housing Pathway Officer
• Housing Project Officer
• Housing Triage Officer
• Land Charges Project Officer
• Planning Enforcement Officer
• Planning Manager
• Planning Monitoring and Enforcement Officer x 2
• Principal Planning Team Leader
• Private Sector Leasing Co-ordinator
• Senior Development Management Officer
• Senior Forward Planning Officer
• Senior Housing Advice Officer
• Senior Water Management Officer
• Sustainable Warmth Officer
• Water Management Officer

Revenues, Benefits and Customer Services 4 posts

• Customer Services Advisor x 2
• Financial Inclusion Officer
• Revenues Officer

North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration 7 posts

• Casual Receptionist
• Delivery Manager - North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration
• Economic Growth Manager
• Estates Officer
• Estates Surveyor
• Facilities Assistant
• NWedR Project Delivery Manager

Community and Environment 20 posts

• Site Monitoring Officer
• Arborist
• Business Support Officer
• Civil Enforcement Officer x 2
• Community & Environmental Protection Officer
• Corporate Health and Safety Advisor
• Environmental Operations Manager
• Finance and Business Support Officer
• Garage Mechanic/Operational Officer
• Museum and TIC Assistant
• Museum Education and Development Officer
• North Worcestershire Civil Contingencies and Resilience Manager
• Operational Services Officer
• Street Scene Operative level 1
• Temporary Assistant Ranger
• Temporary Business Support Officer
• Waste Management Operative
• Waste Management Operative - Driver/Loader
• Waste Management Operative - Loader

The following is a breakdown of data regarding the applicants at the various stages of the interview process. The total number of offers of employment is less than the number of posts advertised because approximately 15 vacancies were unfilled, approximately 10 were filled by internal applicants and approximately 3 were recruited via other methods (LinkedIn etc) so did not come through our usual applicant tracking system.  Some of the posts listed will also have still been ‘live’ at the time of the snapshot date for this report. 

Gender

Disability

Ethnic origin