There are teenagers across the country desperate for work experience, many of them ‘good eggs’ within our own organization. Many of our Wing HQs seem overworked at best, and understaffed at worst.
Is there potential for WHQs to offer regular work experience placements or internships to young people within the ACO?
It’s something that I would have been interested in as a Cadet SNCO, but maybe I’m just a boring person.
Daft idea or not?
i confess i would have accepted this had been on offer.
given that most WGHQs are overworked/understaffed would someone with no previous office/admin experience staying for a fixed short term period be of much use with regard to the training requirements vs actual useful work?
Given they wont get an email address it would end up being a glorified tea/coffee maker/go-for role i predict. i could be being pesimistic…
we currently have an under-grad in our office and struggling to find adequate work that is at the right level that will take longer for him to do than it would to train him or have one of us do, its ok at the moment as we have the time to explain and train but i cant imagine a busy WExO or E1 would have the luxury
Given the size of the offices of most wing HQs, I doubt you could fit anyone else in them. There’s also a possible confidentiality issue if you use cadets. Often staff files are worked with and they don’t have permit table rights to that personal data.
Data Protection 101
Rather than young interns what about staff who have retired from work or may have been made redundant and want something to keep their “hand in”. No worries I would imagine about experience.
This is a very interesting idea, however I have the feeling that some of the full-time Wing staff would resist this due to fear of being replaced by volunteers.
I don’t think if you were retired or redundant, you’d want to be there all day every day. You’d have a life!! If people helped out at the busy times such as when camp returns are due to process them quickly, during staff holidays and illness. As a CO I’d just appreciate getting forms/paperwork and requests for things, sent promptly, which at times our Wing seems to struggle with, which is just a pitb. I also feel having someone with experience of the coalface might engender a better culture between the two parties. Maybe they need them at HQAC!!
I also think some staff at Wing with experience with normal software would be a bonus.
But couldn’t having young interns be also seen as the “thin edge of the wedge” wrt to being replaced by volunteers?
The MoD would shudder at the thought. Well their union would
“Wingterns”. Genius.
I can understand the unions as CS unions seem to be some of most militant/tetchy around when it comes to anything different, but not the MoD, given they be getting something for nowt.
Unless the potential for engendering a better working relationship between the volunteer and salaried sectors of the Corps, would be a problem for the MoD and or unions.
I was thinking more along the information security, illegal working (is it “work”), requirement for DII units, management of the scheme etc etc.
An intern would be work, but the other idea would be volunteering. Both would be confined to people extremely local to the location.
As for security put people through screening as appropriate, this would only be a real barrier.
If the situation at the OP’s WHQ is anything like ours, it is undermanned wrt the hours worked. The ExO is FT, but the AO and typist are only PT and make up about 1½ FTE if that and there does seem to be a culture of “that’s my job and that’s theirs and never the twain shall meet”. When put together with all the other bits that go with a working environment, leave, sick etc, it does seem that things get missed. Also the very transient nature of the placement and the time to get a replacement. Having people who are willing to volunteer would fill the gaps and would IMO make for a more efficient admin system and keep the HQs operating.
If it’s a task that would normally be assigned to someone in the workplace on a salary/wage, then you cannot ask someone to do it for free regardless if they are volunteering their services. Employment legislation is very strict on what can be done for free and below minimum wage if someone is paid. There are also the statutory duties an employer has to consider such as NI and Tax contributions. Organisations have to be careful that the volunteers don’t become employees in the eyes of the law.
Now there’s a potential can of worms for all charities and voluntary organisations.
A neighbour of ours volunteers at a local hospice and spends nearly as much time there as they do at work.
Now there’s a potential can of worms for all charities and voluntary organisations.
A neighbour of ours volunteers at a local hospice and spends nearly as much time there as they do at work.[/quote]
Not really as they will have defined roles as a charity. The ACO (overall body) is a Charity, but the work that is done by HQAC, RHQ and WHQs isn’t and moving parts of that work to a free status would render the MoD in a sticky situation if they tried to defend it.
What about Special Constables ? They are volunteers doing the same job as a regular Constable but for very little in the way of remuneration.
Covered in legislation as a specific role. Same as RNLI lifeboat crew members.
How about a SNCO in every WHQ as a Chief Clerk.
Not as silly as it might sound. The SNCO could be ATC but not on a SNCO’s wage; say a Cpl Clerk wage. (Thinking Army Clerk’s here so bare with me)
You would have a SPOC for all matters HQ/Admin related. A uniformed member of staff able to answer Sqn questions, (let’s face it the staff at WHQ’s as good as they are, have little experience of Sqn matters on a day to day basis). You have a “whip cracker” when required. These would have to be experienced SNCO’s no doubt, but I bet they are out there. I bet there are quite a few of us in fact who would love to have a go at it. I wouldn’t mind.
Yes, there would have to be all the manoeuvrings you’d expect. Quite a bit of give and take as far as creating a smooth working relationship. Probably could get away with employing them for say 4 days a week.
Now, I know this sounds a bit bizarre but think of the advantages. They must out number the disadvantages??
As soon as you say “employ” you enter a minefield. Civil Servic recruitment requirements. Cannot be restricted to our volunteer staff.
I’ve often thought on the idea of Sqn staff helping out at wing HQ but I’m not sure anyone would really have the time/want to.
I’ve also wondered if having wing HQ’s open during the times the Sqns are actually parading would work.
Good point. Not considered that.