The shape of our workforce is critical to the delivery of efficient and effective services. It is a significant factor in how we transform our Council and deliver our financial challenges.
Over the coming years, there will be a significant degree of organisational change, both in terms of structures but also more importantly about how we work. The extent of change and the pace required, cannot be underestimated.
To achieve alignment to our strategic agenda, whilst addressing forecasted funding reductions, North Ayrshire Council must undertake and consider various options to support the delivery of this. One of these options is to offer a Voluntary Early Release (VER) programme to achieve savings aligned with the financial landscape.
VER is a process where employees can request to leave the Council and a severance payment is made to the employee for volunteering to leave. Employees can potentially also access their pension through this process (this is however dependent on age and date of joining the pension scheme).
The Council’s Executive Leadership Team has agreed that we will now launch a VER programme across the Council. Applications for VER will be invited from 15 May 2023 and the window for application will remain open until midnight on 18 June 2023.
Applications for Voluntary Early Release are invited from all areas of North Ayrshire Council with the exception of:
- posts which are funded by Devolved School Management budget processes – a list of these is included within the VER Excluded List
- any post on Teachers terms and conditions
- HSCP – Care at Home Service (all Care at Home staff and Managers within that service), Social Workers (Grade 10) and HSCP Occupational Therapists
Further information on the programme can be accessed through the Frequently Asked Questions and SWAY Document.
All eligible employees will receive an email from HR early May outlining some key details to assist with the application process. Please note that emails to employees will be sent out on different dates due to the number of emails being sent.
It should be noted that any applications, will be considered on the basis of cost and business impact. There will also be a robust review process for each application made and not all applications will be approved. Please note that the outcome of your application for VER will not be communicated to you until December 2023. Successful VER applicants will leave the Council on 31st March 2024.
Please note that this programme is only applicable to Local Government employees. Employees must have at least 2 years continuous service by 31st March 2024 to be eligible to apply.
HR will be holding a number of drop-in sessions for individuals who may wish to obtain information in relation to their projected pension figures. These are not mandatory sessions; they are to allow pension members to collect pension estimates. If you wish to attend one of these sessions, please bring along proof of your ID. The dates of the drop-in sessions are as follows:
Sessions will be held from 10am-4pm on the following dates:
- 5 May (Cunninghame House)
- 10 May (Cunninghame House)
- 17 May (Saltcoats Town Hall)
- 23 May (Cunninghame House)
- 1 June (Saltcoats Town Hall)
- 5 June (Cunninghame House)
- 16 June (Cunninghame House)
Watch Craig Hatton, Chief Executive, talk about the launch of the VER programme in his latest update video here.