Your union and local Delegates met with management for the Independent Review Office (IRO) Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) at which the following items were discussed:

Financial delegations

The next review is due in November 2022. The review will consider, among other matters, concerns that the Principal Lawyer ILARS delegation is too low and impacts on effective management of grants.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety will remain a standing item on the agenda for each meeting. Information from the Health and Safety Committee/HSR meeting will be communicated to staff after each meeting.

The potential for Repetitive Strain Injury as a result of repeating key strokes while using Resolve was raised as an issue. The business Process Review project reduced a number of unnecessary pop-ups which should help. The next stage of the review will include improved workflows and templates. This item will remain open until next JCC meeting to assess success of implementing these changes.

Recruitment process

This will be added to the agenda as a standing item. Links to recruitment hub and intranet page were provided to JCC members. An analysis of Salary v Budget is being undertaken with a view to recruit more staff if required for ILARS/Solutions.

DCS Flexible Working Policy

Once the policy has been finalised, IRO will be advised and there will be a Town Hall presentation.

COVID risk assessments

Updates will be made available. Consultation within IRO will occur after the current risk assessment has been reviewed. The three main work areas in IRO will be represented in the COVID 19 Risk Assessment work group.

JCC Terms of Reference (TOR)

Under the TOR action items will be circulated to JCC members within 10 working days of the meeting

JCC members will have three working days to make comments or ratify

Information on the JCC meeting will be placed in the IRO Knowledge Portal

The next IRO JCC will occur on 18 August. A member meeting will be held on 3 August at 12:00pm at which agenda items will be canvassed