Case study list

Creating extra capacity by using flexible working

Wrexham County Borough Council

01/10/2008

The Council's Food Safety Team, based within the Housing and Public Protection Department, has used work-life balance arrangements to help provide extra capacity to allow them to do some of their work in the evenings where the team can then visit restaurants and food outlets. This has proved much more effective than their previous 9 to 5 office-based arrangements.

The Food Safety Section also started home working in July 2007. Four Environmental Health Officers/Food Safety Officers are now set up with an 'office' at home, although the Senior Officer is still based in the town centre offices.

This has freed up office accommodation and has reduced sickness absenteeism whilst at the same time having no detrimental effect on productivity.
The commuting time has reduced, so officers can start work earlier in the mornings. The increased flexibility means that the service has cover from about 7.45 to 5.30 each day.
The team's carbon footprint has diminished and team members are generally more efficient.

Contact is maintained by regular team meetings, and team members working at home are able to communicate with colleagues via the telephone throughout the day.

Contact Name: Neil Underwood
Contact Role: Senior Environmental Health Officer, Housing and Public Protection
Contact Telephone: 01978 813731
Contact Email: neil.underwood@wrexham.gov.uk