department of social and family affairs annual report 2006 - Welfare.ie

process and to store, retrieve and process all files,
records, etc. in electronic format.
A strategy, which sets out a five year roadmap to
achieve the vision, was developed and a business
case to underpin the strategy was drawn up.
The implementation of the strategy will greatly
enhance the capability of staff in the Department
to manage information strategically and to
process documents, records and information
quickly and successfully. The implementation
of the strategy, commencing in 2007, is critical
to enabling radical improvement of the
Department’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
> Supporting the process
A Decentralisation Information Day, held on 21
March 2006, was attended by representatives
from each of the decentralisation project teams.
The Decentralisation Project Board held seven
meetings over the course of the year and progress
updates were provided by each of the support
sections. A Partnership sub-group provides a
channel to highlight staff related issues. As part of
the communication strategy for the programme,
a fourth issue of the Decentralisation Newsletter
was produced in April 2006 which provided staff
with an update on the plan.
> OBJECTIVE 6
Deliver, in accordance with the timeframe
approved by Government, on decentralisation
programme.
Work continued during 2006 on preparations
for the relocation, under Phase 1 of the
decentralisation plan, of nine sections to Sligo and
Carrick-on-Shannon. These are as follows:
Sligo
• Internal Audit
• Staff Development
• Information/Quality Customer Service/Payment
Strategy/Document, Record and Information
Management
Carrick-on-Shannon
• Client Identity Services
• Social and Family Support Services (Back to
Work Allowance and PRSI Exemptions)
• Control Division and Central Prosecutions
• Maintenance Recovery
• Decisions Advisory Office/Freedom of
Information
• Overpayment/Debt Management
The Department continues to liaise with other
departments involved in the decentralisation
programme and provides the information and
support necessary.
> Staff movement plans
During 2006, almost all staff assignments to
those business units identified to decentralise
to Sligo were made, in preparation for the
move scheduled for early 2007. In addition,
staff assignments commenced to the sections
identified for relocation to Carrick–on-Shannon.
Formal offers of transfer have issued to applicants
in relation to all of the Department’s six locations
under the Decentralisation Programme.
Safe and Healthy Working
Environment
> OBJECTIVE 1
Ensure quality accommodation is provided and
is maintained to the highest standard to enable
customers/staff to have a clean, comfortable and
safe environment.
> Health and Safety
Work progressed on implementing the
recommendations from the consultancy review of
health and safety matters carried out in 2005.
> Accommodation
In association with OPW, work continued on
progressing the Department’s accommodation
annual report 2006
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