By now you'll be aware of the Scottish Government's plans for easing restrictions. From 2 April we will no longer be required to stay at home, but we will be required to stay local and stick with the current local authority-based travel restrictions for at least a three-week period.
From the 2 April there should be very few changes to how and where we work. We will keep you updated on the government's plans for easing restrictions and how this might affect you.
You can read the details of the current Scottish Government guidance here.
The working from home where you can requirement is likely to continue until at least the end of June, according to the government timetable for easing restrictions.
If you can work from home, then you should continue to do so, where this is practical. If you are in any doubt about this then you should discuss this with your line manager.
We recognise that there may be exceptional circumstances where continuing home working just isn't practical or is becoming detrimental to your health and wellbeing, if this is the case then again you should discuss this with your line manager.
You should only attend the workplace with prior agreement of your line manager and where your work is confirmed as essential and cannot be carried out at home.
Managers should follow the guidance issued - return to the workplace planning and existing HR processes in place which includes consultation with our Trade Unions and appropriate risk assessment arrangements.
Your health and safety
If you're continuing to work from home, you need to consider your health and safety and follow the guidance that's already been published including a regular review of your display screen equipment risk assessment, you'll find the guidance at: www.glagow.gov.uk/staffupdate/workingathome
If you do need to come into the workplace for essential work, then read the safe return to the workplace staff guide and watch the video about the safety in the workplace.
Remember every workplace has a Covid-19 workplace risk assessment in place. If you have any concerns about coming to work, then you can complete an individual risk assessment with your line manager to look at the specific risk of Covid-19 in workplace for individuals.
Renewal plans for home working
As part of our workforce renewal plan for when restrictions are eased, we want to explore a more balanced approach to remote and office working with some continued voluntary home working which could benefit staff and continue to deliver the services we provide. As we said in the response to the staff survey, we will be seeking your views, the views of our management teams and trade unions to conclude on this work.
Susanne Millar has been appointed as Chief Officer of Glasgow City's Health and Social Care Partnership (GCHSCP) after leading the organisation through its toughest ever year.
And one of her first acts after the Integration Joint Board confirmed her appointment to the role, which she has held on an interim basis since May 2019, was to praise the "truly exceptional" performance of HSCP staff throughout the pandemic.
Susanne said: "I'm delighted to be appointed as Chief Officer of the GCHSCP after two years in the role on an interim basis. And I'm so grateful for the support and dedication of the staff and senior management team throughout that period and especially during the unprecedented challenges we've faced over the past year. Their truly exceptional commitment across the range of our services to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of people in Glasgow City has been inspiring.
"As we emerge from the pandemic, I look forward to using the lessons we've learned together, to continue developing integrated, innovative and responsive, people-centred services which help residents young and older enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives working with our range of partners, and our communities."
Susanne has worked in Glasgow for her whole career - first in residential care for older people, before completing a post-graduate in social work in 1990. Following six years of working with vulnerable children and families, Susanne moved into strategy and planning covering children and adult services. In 2006, she became the Head of Children's Services in Glasgow, then assumed the additional roles of Head of Homelessness and Asylum Services. In 2012, she became the city's Assistant Director for Social Work, then in 2014, took on the role of Chief Officer for Planning, Strategy & Commissioning for GCHSCP and then the post of Chief Officer Strategy and Operations GCHSCP which was created in 2017, while retaining the Chief Social Work Officer role, before moving into the Interim Chief Officer role in 2019.
Annemarie O'Donnell, Chief Executive congratulated Susanne on her appointment. She said: "Susanne is definitely someone you want on your team in a crisis! And her performance over the past two years has confirmed her as the right person for this job. Her in-depth knowledge of her wide and varied remit is impressive and her open and approachable management style encourages ideas and innovation across her staff.
"I'd like to thank her for the leadership she's shown during the pandemic and congratulate her on this appointment. I look forward to seeing the HSCP recover from COVID-19 and go from strength to strength under her guidance."
Jane Grant, Chief Executive, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "Susanne has held a number of senior posts within Glasgow City HSCP and made a huge contribution to shaping the long term strategy for the future of the HSCP, particularly during her role as Interim Chief Officer. I am confident she will continue this positive work, which will be crucial as the HSCP and NHSGGC continue to work together to shape the future of health and social care in the context of Covid-19 and beyond."
Staff from across the council family are helping fight the pandemic by setting up Covid vaccination and testing centres around the city.
The council's Covid Response Team is working closely with colleagues from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the MOD to set up and staff a growing network of centres at the heart of communities.
The team, which includes colleagues from Glasgow Life and City Building, has also helped find suitable locations for mobile testing units.
Two asymptomatic testing centres for people without Covid symptoms have received fantastic support from residents on the southside of the city. People without symptoms have been volunteering to be tested, because you can have Covid, yet feel fit and well - so may spread it to others without knowing. Asymptomatic testing helps identify cases and stop transmission.
Support from the surrounding communities has been so amazing that the asymptomatic testing centres in Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre and at Grand Central Mosque in the Gorbals have been by far the busiest throughout the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde area.
Rachel Allan and Lorna McCoull from Environmental Health (pictured left to right) are members of the council's Covid Response Team.
Lorna said: "This has been a huge task involving staff from right across the council family. It has been a steep learning curve for everyone involved, as we haven't done anything like this, on this scale and to such tight deadlines before. The team has worked closely with government, MOD and the NHS as part of the effort to fight the pandemic locally and although it's been extremely challenging, I know everyone involved is proud to be playing their part to help tackle Covid."
People without symptoms who live or work in Glasgow city centre or on the south side of the city are encouraged to help fight the virus by getting tested at Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre, Daisy Street, Govanhill, (open 11am-7pm, Monday to Friday until 2 April ) and Glasgow Central Mosque, (enter via the car park off Ballater St, open 11am-7pm Tuesday to Saturday until 3 April).
Anyone going along for an asymptomatic test is asked to take their mobile phone to receive the result. Anyone who tests positive will have to self-isolate for 10 days along with their close contacts to limit the spread of the virus.
Full details are available at www.glasgow.gov.uk/Test4Gla
From 1 April 2021 the council will be switching over to use recycled paper as the standard for all our printing using multi-functional devices as part of our commitment to support our sustainable agenda - People Make Glasgow Greener.
Recycled Paper
Following a successful pilot across key areas of the business we will start to use Steinbeis recycled paper instead of bright white (bleached) paper stock from this date.
James Cook (Category Manager) and Mark Birrell (Commercial Manager) in Corporate Procurementspent time comparing and analysing the benefits that changing to a recycled paper stock would bring the council family. This move was agreed at our Corporate Procurement Asset Board in March and will see us join other public sector organisations, such as NHS Scotland, in taking positive steps to reduce our own carbon footprint. .
As Maureen Fitzpatrick, Head of Corporate Procurement explains: "Changing to use a recycled paper stock will bring us many benefits - both environmentally and financially.
"In 2019 the council family purchased over 28,000 boxes of paper which cost us more than £300,000.
"By moving to use a recycled stock, we estimate that we will have a combined financial saving of over £67,000 based on our normal volume usage in additional to a number of environmental benefits."
How are we making a difference to the environment?
Project Sponsor Moira Carrigan, Head of Service Development, Financial Services said: "Recycled paper is manufactured in an energy-efficient, low-emission and resource-saving way. Compared to the type of paper we usually use, switching to recycled paper will save the equivalent of 19.3 kWh of energy per ream. If you factor in the volume of paper used by the council this equates to a staggering saving of over 2.4 million kWh of energy per year.
"The average house uses about 15,100 kWh per annum, and by making this simple change we are helping to save the equivalent energy output of 161 homes each year. This will reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere which in turn helps to create cleaner air quality and a healthier planet. With COP26 being hosted in Glasgow in November all eyes will be on our city. This change is a key opportunity to demonstrate that we are delivering on our own climate agenda and playing our part to make a difference for our city and future generations."
Ordering from 31 March 2021
To help you order paper for your area please see the table below for PECOS codes:
Previous stock number - old paper | New stock number - recycled paper |
A4 white - 978714, 1913683, 159543 | A4 - 3917601 |
A3 white - 159337, 978725, 234406 | A3 - 3974747 |
A4 yellow - 1870593 | 10407105 |
A4 green - 3045004 | 10407116 |
A4 blue - 122331 | 10407127 |
A4 pink - 3111286 | 10407138 |
Message from Annemarie O'Donnell, Chief Executive
National Day of Reflection: minute's silence
Tuesday 23 March, marks the first anniversary of the day the UK went into lockdown, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I know that this unwelcome anniversary will mean something different to all of us.
However, it is also a time for us all to come together and reflect on our collective loss and be there to support those who have been bereaved.
At 12 noon, the nation will hold a minute's silence to honour those taken from us too soon. It is an opportunity for us to take a moment and reach out and show our support for families, friends and colleagues who are grieving the loss of a loved one. I invite you to join me and take this moment to reflect and pay tribute in your own way.
There are also other things that we can do to support those in our communities and help them feel less lonely from the impact of this pandemic. During the day you could take a moment to connect and reach out to someone who is experiencing a bereavement as a result of Covid - such as sending them flowers, a card or by simply picking up the phone to have a chat with them.
You could also create a colourful poster or light a candle to display in your window as a mark of reflection at 8pm tomorrow. Prominent buildings and iconic landmarks will light up across Scotland at 8pm.
This National Day of Reflection is being led by Marie Curie and has been developed in partnership with over 110 other organisations who are all coming together to support the nation at this time. Community-led initiatives such as virtual reflective assemblies, choirs, special services, candle and lantern lighting, yellow ribbons wrapped around trees, and many other commemorative activities that will bring people together - in adherence with social distancing rules, will also take place.
Don't forget that we all have a part to play in stopping the spread of the virus by continuing to follow the rules and encouraging those around us to do the same - remember to keep following FACTS.
If you have Covid-19 symptoms, self-isolate and book a test - if you are contacted by the NHS Test and Protect service and told you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, follow the advice they give you to the letter.
None of us should come to work with symptoms, or if we have been told to isolate. It won't be recorded as sickness and you will still be paid.
If you would like more information about tomorrow visit mariecurie.org
The council is aware of bogus emails currently being sent to staff in schools - claiming to be from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding a spot COVID check.
Staff in Education Services have been made aware of this specific threat.
However, all staff should be vigilant to this type of phishing email and know what to do if you receive such a suspicious email. This particular email is being sent from a non HSE email address and refers to a 'scheduled' spot check - which is inaccurate.
REPORT IT
If you receive any email that you think is suspicious you should report it immediately to Integrity (on Outlook).
Remember - Do not open any attachments or click on any links contained in the email.
For more information on keeping our information safe visit #Safe Glasgow
Teams at the council's Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre have been working with teachers and pupils at city schools to create an orienteering style map of their grounds.
Now, for the first time, every Primary, Secondary and Additional Support school in Glasgow has its own orienteering style map of their grounds. The programme has been so successful that it is being used as a model across Scotland.
Map reading is an important part of education - with the associated skills contributing to lifelong learning. The maps will not just be used for specific skills but will also be able to be used in a variety of other ways to help the children in their outdoor learning as they transition back to the classroom.
The Education Services' centre is situated 45 minutes from the city on the shores of the Gareloch.
Since lockdown, the Blairvadach staff have been working creatively to enhance the learning opportunities for Glasgow pupils. Starting with the 30 day challenges , the centre has delivered residential opportunities for social work users, delivered day courses in and out of schools and at Pinkston basin, supplemented teaching staff skills in outdoor learning, produced on-line Blairvadach Bytes, along with general support for education.
Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education said: "Throughout the pandemic we've encouraged more learning and teaching outdoors in line with Scottish Government advice and guidance. Our schools love the fact that learning and teaching is bigger than the classroom.
"It's been interesting watching this project develop over the last 12 months and I'm delighted that every school is now included. This is a brilliant achievement from the Blairvadach team and I'm sure our teachers and pupils will enjoy using the resources."
More information
Find out more about the centre, and the new orienteering maps on the Blairvadach website here
Basia Gordon, a Modern Languages teacher at Shawlands Academy has just had her first book published - entitled 'From the River to the Sea: Aquitaine, A Place for Me.'
The book is a memoir of Basia's childhood, family and a disappearing way of life.Basia's Polish parents bought an old farmhouse, called Coutal, in the South-west of France in 1973.
Basia said: "I've been a teacher for 27 years and have written plays and articles throughout this time. Writing has always been my favourite pastime but it was difficult to find the time to devote a lot of time to it when I was raising a family and working full-time as a teacher.
"This is my first book which took me just under two years to complete. I also have two other manuscripts, and I'm currently writing a new book.
Basia continued: "The idea for the book came about after I took a sabbatical year in France three years ago to renovate my father's old farmhouse. During that time, I kept a journal which formed the basis of the book. Apart from capturing the essence of the place, I wanted to write something funny and entertaining.
"I really enjoyed writing the book and it was wonderful to see the published version last month and the endorsements by Liz Lochhead and Ann Marie Di Mambro.
"Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, I've not been able to have an official book launch or attend any of the book festivals which is disappointing. But interest through word of mouth has been encouraging and I hope that it'll generate even more interest."
More information
The book can be purchased for £17.99 (hardback) and £12.99 (paperback) from all major and independent booksellers.
Find out more on Basia's Facebook page: BasiaGordonWriter
A council-backed financial safety net for Glasgow Life will allow the city to retain, reopen and revitalise cultural and sporting venues as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.
Both organisations have agreed an expanded list of popular venues that will reopen once health restrictions allow - including every Glasgow Club swimming pool, five additional libraries and the People's Palace.
The Covid-19 crisis saw Glasgow Life lose around £38 million in budgeted revenue during 2020/2021, forcing it to rely almost exclusively on around £77 million in funding from the council.
In December, the charity announced plans to reopen a total of 73 venues. With some restrictions on physical distancing and other public health measures set to continue even once lockdowns are relaxed, it is expected the pandemic will continue to have an adverse impact on commercial revenue, such as Glasgow Club memberships and ticket sales, for up to three years.
However, a decision to absorb its current losses into those of the wider council family mean that the council has been able to take an innovative approach to using short-term government aid to secure a long-term future for valued community facilities.
After taking account of Scottish Government funding to cover lost revenue during the current year, along with some initial funding for 2021/2022, the council is now able to offer an enhanced financial safety net to Glasgow Life - guaranteeing its income will not fall below £100 million.
That means more than 90 much-loved venues across the city will now be able to reopen once pandemic restrictions allow.
Meanwhile, the council's guarantee will provide Glasgow Life time to stabilise its position to bring more venues back into use over time, as the wider city economy recovers.
The charity is already working with the council on its plans to increase community involvement in many of the city's assets.
The additional venues that will reopen under the guarantee include:
Baillieston Library, Castlemilk Pool, Crownpoint Pitch and Track, Drumchapel Pool, Easterhouse Cultural Campus (pool), Elder Park Library , Glasgow BMX Centre, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, Milton Library and Glasgow Club Milton, North Woodside Leisure Centre, Palace of Art, Parkhead Library, People's Palace, Pollok Leisure Centre, Whitehill Pool, Woodside Library.
The city's iconic Burrell Collection will also be able to be added to the list when its refurbishment and redisplay is complete.
Timescales for venue and service reopening are dependent on the guidance from the Scottish Government. By necessity, this is likely to be subject to local infection rates and Glasgow being in, or below, Tier 3 of the Government's Covid-19 protection levels.
As the city prepares for a new way of living and working after Covid-19, Glasgow Life's priority will be to make sure that the facilities are reopened in a way which is safe for staff and the public in the weeks and months ahead.
A new city-wide campaign for a healthier and cleaner Glasgow was launched last week - People Make Glasgow Greener.
The campaign aims to appeal to our citizens sense of civic pride and social responsibility to do their bit to help deliver a more attractive and sustainable city.
As part of People Make Glasgow Greener a new litter prevention action programme will be introduced. This will help to support our plans to invest an additional million pounds into front line environmental services and an extra one and a half million pounds in to parks and open spaces - over the coming year. Alongside this, in support of the campaign, our team of neighbourhood coordinators will be expanded to work with communities to tackle environmental issues and improve their local areas.
People Make Glasgow Greener comes ahead of our city hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November. This global event is expected to see world leaders gather in the city to thrash out a commitment that sees countries pledge to reaching net zero emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change and accelerate a green transformation of financial systems - to drive clean investment.
Just as a collaboration is needed amongst world leaders and citizens to confront a global climate crisis - we are all able to come together locally and play our own part to make a difference for our city. Glasgow is defined by our people - it is our Dear Green Place and the campaign is capitalising on this by using the renowned People Make Glasgow branding. We know our citizens are proud of our city and our communities, however, we continue to be let down by a minority who litter. This campaign will help us work better together to help make Glasgow a better place to live, work and visit.
When we host COP26, in just over six months' time, all eyes will be on us. This is our opportunity to use the event to help accelerate the changes our city must continue to make in the decade ahead - to help steer our planet onto a safer path. People Make Glasgow Greener will help support us to deliver on our plans.
The first part of the campaign, a new Litter Prevention Action Plan (LPAP), will come before elected members tomorrow at the Environment, Sustainability and Carbon Reduction City Policy Development Committee as part of the wider Clean Glasgow programme. LPAPs are a relatively new approach to litter and fly-tipping prevention and help organisations and neighbourhoods to create a cleaner environment for their local community.
Our overarching citywide Litter Prevention Action Plan sets out what we have done and will do with regard to tackling litter, fly-tipping, fly-posting and dog fouling across the city.
People Make Glasgow Greener will also enact the City Charter that was adopted in May 2018, following engagement and dialogue with our citizens. It is a list of shared aspirations, commitments, aims and standards to help deliver our visions together and ensure that people remain at the heart of everything that we do.
Visit the People Make Glasgow Greener webpage for more information: http://peoplemakeglasgowgreener.com
On 6 May this year, the election for the Scottish Parliament will take place. If you are 16 or over and live in Scotland and are registered to vote, there are two options available. You can vote in person at your local polling station, where all the usual Covid protections will be in place to keep you safe. Or you can choose to vote from home by applying for a postal vote. The deadline to do this is 6 April but it is recommended that you apply as soon as possible.
A TV advert will run again across Scotland until 27 March to promote these options. We have worked with the other Electoral Registration Offices across the country to make sure that a consistent message is given to everybody in Scotland. This will again be supported by messages across social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter. You can view the advert here.
Hugh Munro, Electoral Registration Officer said: "This is a reminder to make sure you are registered to vote. You can then decide if you want to vote as normal in person at your local polling station or at home by post. If you decide to vote by post, please apply as soon as you can and definitely before the deadline of 6 April."
More information
For details on how to apply for a postal vote in Glasgow visit glasgow.gov.uk
or for other areas in Scotland visit electoralcommission.org.uk
Pupils and parents across the city are getting ready for phase two of the Scottish Government's return to school programme.
At the latest announcement on Tuesday 2 March, the Scottish Government confirmed the return of P4 to P7, and all secondary pupils on a part-time basis from Monday 15 March.
Regulated childcare, including breakfast and after-school clubs, for primary pupils will also re-start on 15 March as part of the phase 2 return.
From 15 March, all secondary pupils will receive both high quality remote learning and some in-school teaching.
Senior students (S4-S6) who are taking national qualifications will have priority for face-to-face lessons in school.
Blended learning will remain in place until the Spring Break after which it is the government's intention that secondary schools pupils can return fully to school provided that relevant data indicators continue to show progress.
The government also confirmed that they will require both staff and pupils in high schools to maintain a 2 metre physical distancing at all times with face masks to be worn at all times.
More information
Keep up-to-date with information about Glasgow schools at glasgow.gov.uk
Keep up-to-date with full information from the Scottish Government here
Safe return of schools - follow the five important steps
Look out for The Parent Club Return to Schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) campaign which aims to support parents and children to adhere to all current restrictions throughout the phased return to schools and ELC settings.
Five important steps to follow to help our schools and childcare settings stay open, and to open for more children.
For up to date info, support and advice visit parentclub.scot.
Free masks available to city schools
Community initiative Angelic Threads is offering free masks to city schools for distribution to pupils and families, particularly those in areas of multiple deprivation. The project has already distributed over 11,000 masks across the city.
Masks, including window masks, are available in four sizes: small (5 to7 years), child (7 to 12 years), teenager (12 to16 years) and adult.
How to order
Following decisions by the UK Government, the UK has now left the EU.
EU citizens living in Scotland will need to apply to the UK Government's EU Settlement Scheme in order to continue living, working and studying in the UK after 30 June 2021.
If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen who was resident in the UK on 31 December 2020 you will have to apply to Stay in Scotland through the EU Settlement Scheme
We encourage those staff who are EU citizens, and eligible to apply to the scheme, to do so today. You can read our updated staff briefing on the support available to help you with your application and what to do next to help you Stay in Scotland.
Are you remembering that every document (such as a pdf) you create for the council website or Connect should be accessible? This means the design of your information must be clear and simple.
You should be following the key principles of SCULPT to help make sure your content is accessible.
Structure - documents should be organised well with use of headings and subheadings so they are easy to navigate.
Colour and contrast- there needs to be a high level of contrast between text and background so that more people can see and use the content.
Use of images - remember to use them to support text but never instead of text, also use the correct image size (usually 150kb for web) and use 'alt text' to describe images.
Links - hyperlinks need to be descriptive to make them easy to use for people who use screen readers.
Plain English -writing style should be clear and concise, avoid using acronyms and long words.
Table Structure -should be structured simply using column headers, avoid, split cells, merged cells, nested tables and having any blanks rows or columns.
You need to do thisbecause last September legislation came into force meaning all downloadable documents on public sector websites and intranets had to be made accessible. This included any documents or forms already on the website and any thereafter.
Please see here for more details and further guidance.
(SCULPT by Helen Wilson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on work at Worcestershire County Council.)
The Grants Support team in Financial Services (CBS), working closely with colleagues from Education Services and the Customer Contact Centre (CCC) in Financial Services (CBS), did a fantastic job - processing 27,000 payments of £120 to families with children who qualify for free school meals.
Following the Scottish Government announcement in November of additional funding to help tackle child poverty, the team worked round the clock to process as many payments as possible to Glasgow families before Christmas.
Angie Simpson, Operational Manager, Financial Services (CBS), said: "We worked closely with colleagues in Education Services to gather the data to make sure every family entitled to this payment received it.
"We were also supported by our colleagues in the CCCwho answered over 2,000 phone enquiries - checking whether payments had been made or identifying where additional information was required. This enabled the team to concentrate on processing and making the payments."
Dr Michele McClung, Support Services Manager, Education Services, said:"Our teams worked incredibly well together and supported each other at each stage of the process to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of the payments."
Angie added: "Details about this payment were announced at very short notice. I had to pull resources from other teams to help with the demand for applications. The whole team did a remarkable job processing these payments.
"This was a real cross-service team effort too. The support we've received from the CCC team in CBS and from DR Michele McClung and Jill Brown in Education Services, enabled us to process these payments to families in need as quickly as possible. I'd like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment."
Photographed is April Forteath who works in the Grants Team.
Throughout the restrictions of the pandemic our teaching staff across the city have done a fantastic job adapting to ever-changing situation to support their pupils.
Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education said: "The government has made it clear that children's education is a priority and the council fully supports this aim.
"We've worked hard to find innovative ways of supporting children to continue their education at home, and to provide safe schools and nurseries for those who need to attend. Our schools are empowered to develop approaches which best meet the needs of their communities.
"Our teaching staff, across the breadth of our education establishments across the city, have shown their commitment to support their pupils in very challenging circumstances."
Remote and blended learning has played a key role in helping children continue their education from home - with each school developing their own position, developed in partnership with children, parents and staff.
During the week beginning 11 January headteachers provided an overview of their remote learning planning and engaged in discussions on their responses to the remote learning guidance, provided nationally and locally. Dialogue took place in a range of ways including: city-wide online professional learning sessions; one-to-one discussion with link officers; and follow up targeted support and challenge conversations.
During week beginning 18 January, link officers engaged with their schools again and issued an additional paper, Remote Learning Opportunities. This was produced by Glasgow's digital learning team to support the completion of a questionnaire completed by the link officers or schools to gather more detailed information and provide a deeper overview of developing practice across the city.
Research has shown that:
Maureen added: "The pandemic has provided many challenges. However, for the last three years we've been planning and developing our approach to digital learning.
"As a combination of the council's Connected Learning Programme and the government funded digital inclusion programme, a total of 55,000 iPads and Chrome Books have been issued. Every member of teaching staff has a personal iPad. All pupils from P7 to S6 have a personal iPad. Class sets are available for P1 to P6. This was accelerated due to the pandemic."
Maureen concluded: "All of this put us in a strong position to meet the challenges of remote learning which has been so important in the last year and will continue to be so.
"We updated our remote learning guidance and shared this with schools in December 2020. The Glasgow guidance articulates well with the Scottish Government; Education Scotland and West Partnership papers on Blended Learning."
More information
You can read the full 'Overview of Remote Learning Opportunities in Glasgow' report here
The People Make Glasgow Communities programme will encourage the people who know, use and are passionate about their local services, buildings and facilities, play a greater role in making them more relevant and accessible to everyone in the local community.
Building on the City Charter we want to work together to give Glaswegians, community groups, organisations and entrepreneurs greater control over the community venues that they rely on.
We want to build stronger, more resilient, fairer and healthier communities, which meet social, climate and economic equity requirements. And we want to do this together, with the input of everybody.
Find out more information at https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/communities
You can read the full staff communication from Annemarie O'Donnell our Chief Executive, with an update on job evaluation and our pay and grading scheme on our dedicated job evaluation web page here.
The message provides an overview of our current plans.
All staff will be kept updated about future decisions on timescales for the new pay and grading scheme and more detailed information will be provided to the next groups of staff who will be asked to volunteer for interviews. Information about the next steps will also be provided to staff who have already been interviewed.
Visit our dedicated job evaluation staff web page for more information here - where you can find all staff communications issued, frequently asked questions and how to contact the job evaluation team if you have any questions.
Last year CGI, our IT provider, introduced a Protective Monitoring Security Operations Centre (SOC) Service to help protect our IT estate. The service provides vital, real-time, protection as it continually monitors the council network against the ever-changing cyber-attack threats that we face as an organisation.
John Bruce, Chief Information Security Officer at CGI said: "Our team of analysts monitor security events and alerts from within our IT environment on a daily basis. This is done to help early identification of any potential malicious activities and look at attack patterns based upon the nature of the council business and services being delivered. The service follows a set of key security principles including monitoring requirements set out by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)."
Kenny Meehan, Head of Information and Data Protection Officer, Chief Executive's Department said: "The service currently monitors a number of the council family's most critical applications and IT services. It provides a constant level of reassurance and protection to the organisation, in particular for key services that use dedicated applications.
"Having the SOC service is a prime example of just how serious the council takes the threat of potential of cyber attacks. We encourage all staff to remain vigilant and be aware of any suspicious activity that may look unusual and report it as soon as possible."
Play your part
If you missed the engaging cybercrime session 'Oops I did it again' as part of last week's Cyber Scotland Week activity - you can watch it here. You will see that we all have an important part to play in preventing cybercrime. You can also catch up on the rest of the interactive cybercrime activity launched to help protect yourself and your family, from studying and working through to gaming online as well.
For more information on how to prevent cybercrime visit Connect here.
Report it
If you receive an email that you think is suspicious, please do not open or click on any attachments contained within it. Forward the email to Integrity (on Outlook).
To finish off it's LGBT History Month activities the Prism Network have recently chatted with Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education.
Maureen spoke about her role as an LGBTI+ Ally, her thoughts on how LGBTI+ Inclusive Education has evolved during her career, and also announced that she's becoming the Prism Network's Leadership Sponosor!
For more information email Prism (on Outlook) Follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @gccprism
For all Employment Inclusion Information follow @InclusiveGCC
You now have until Monday 8 March to complete our 2021 Gaelic Skills Survey.
This is your chance to have your say and tell us if you can speak, read, write or understand Gaelic. Your feedback will be used to help develop new Gaelic opportunities.
How to take survey
Please help the Gaelic Development team by completing the survey which you can access here