Council Staff Research Articles

Evaluation of a pathology resident wellness initiative: Initial establishment and subsequent expansion through a time of high stress, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent studies have shown that the pathology workforce is at risk of decreased workplace well-being, which may lead to decreased job satisfaction, increased attrition, burnout, depression, anxiety, and suicidality, but there has been relatively little research on well-being initiatives designed for pathologists, pathology trainees, and laboratory professionals. Some studies have suggested that well-being initiatives may decrease burnout and increase workplace satisfaction and engagement. Here we describe the creation of a Pathology Wellness Committee in a large residency program. Interventions included emotional, social, and physical well-being interventions as well as system-based improvements. Additional initiatives were introduced in response to the increased stress, isolation, and social distancing guidelines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program's impact was measured by an annual House Staff Council Resident Wellness Survey over 4 years. The annual surveys showed improvements in workplace and residency program satisfaction and emotional well-being following system-based improvements and well-being initiatives. Physical and social well-being showed slight but not statistically significant decreases over the 4-year period. Results from the annual Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Survey were also evaluated. We found that dedicated well-being initiatives in conjunction with system-based interventions may help improve overall well-being in pathology residents.

Investigation of the Current Internal Audit Processes and Procedures within Morogoro Municipal Council

This study focused on investigating the current internal audit processes and procedures within Morogoro Municipal Council. A descriptive research design and quantitative approach were utilized, targeting Morogoro Municipal Council staff and internal auditors with a sample size of 74 respondents selected via simple random and purposive sampling methods, respectively. Data was gathered through questionnaires for staff and interviews for auditors, supplemented by secondary data from relevant documents. While most respondents agree that the internal audit processes are well-documented, effectively communicated, and robust enough to address risks, there are concerns about adherence, resource adequacy, and the independence of the audit function. To improve effectiveness, it is recommended that the Council enhance adherence to procedures, allocate adequate resources, strengthen the independence of the audit function, and ensure regular updates to audit procedures. These steps will better support governance, accountability, and overall organizational efficiency.

Child health-friendly neighbourhood: a qualitative study to explore the perspectives and experiences of experts and mothers of children under 6 years of age in Tehran, Iran

ObjectivesCreating health-supportive environments is one of the key strategies for health promotion. The WHO launched the Healthy Cities Initiative which has inspired other international organisations to develop settings-based health initiatives,...

Stakeholder perspectives of immunisation delivery for adolescents with disability in specialist schools in Victoria, Australia: ‘we need a vaccination pathway’

BackgroundAdolescents with disability have lower vaccination rates than the general population, including HPV vaccination. Understanding the multi-level influences on vaccination in specialist schools is crucial to achieve optimal vaccination coverage and vaccination experiences for adolescents living with disability.ObjectiveTo identify and improve understanding of the facilitators and barriers of HPV vaccination among adolescents with intellectual disabilities or autism in Victorian specialist schools to inform strategies to increase vaccination acceptance and uptake.MethodsQualitative interviews with key stakeholders (adolescents with disabilities, parents, school and council immunisation staff) from six specialist schools in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed thematically. Inductively derived themes were then deductively mapped across the UNICEF ‘Journey to Immunization’ model.Results32 interviews were conducted with stakeholders (2 adolescents, 7 parents, 13 school staff, 10 council staff). Trust in vaccines was high, but knowledge of the HPV vaccine was limited. Barriers included lack of accessible information for parents, the consent process, behavioural challenges and vaccine-related anxiety among students. The immunisation program in special schools was perceived as convenient, however preparing students for vaccination day and catering to individual student needs were key. Participants expressed a need for more parent information about options and additional support for vaccination outside of the school program.ConclusionsOur study identified a range of facilitators and barriers to the school immunisation program for students with disabilities in specialist schools. The next phase of this work will use co-design workshops to build on the suggestions for improvement and opportunities that could be leveraged to improve vaccination uptake.

The Assessment of Risk Management in Human Resources Practices in the Public Sector

HR-related risks can disrupt operations and cause significant problems for organizations. Effective HR risk management is essential for mitigating these risks. A strong HR risk management plan ensures adherence to labour laws, prevents costly legal issues, and safeguards public trust. Public sector organisations can proactively address potential HR risks and attract and retain top talent, improve employee morale, and achieve their goals more effectively. The primary purpose of this research was to critically investigate and analyze current HR risk management practices—justification of the choice of the research object. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 30 Erongo Regional Council staff members to explore HR risk management practices in a public sector organization. Justification of the choice of the research and research period: Informational and statistical basis of research. A descriptive research design was used to collect and analyze data. Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis were employed. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 30 Erongo Regional Council staff members. The main results of the research. The study found that the respondents understand HR risk management practices and the organization manages HR risks. A positive correlation was found between HR risk management and organizational performance. However, the study also revealed challenges in HR risk management implementation. Questionnaires are cost-effective and can reach many respondents within a short time frame. It allows you to gather data from a more comprehensive range of public sector organizations and get a broader perspective. This study recommends increased employee awareness of how HR risks can disrupt operations. By fostering awareness, organizations can minimize the likelihood of overlooking potential risks. These programs can equip them with the knowledge and skills to implement effective risk management strategies.

Komunikasi Kepala Sekolah Menengah Atas Kota Lubuklinggau dalam Melakukan Blusukan

This research aims to determine the communication of high school principals in Lubuklingga city when conducting blusukan. This research uses a qualitative approach with a phenomenological method, with the research subjects being the School Principal, Teacher Council, and School Staff. The data collection techniques used are observation, interviews, and documentation. From the research, it was found that the communication carried out by the school principal in carrying out blusukan was conveying messages to subordinates in language that was easy to understand and also paying attention to the condition of the subordinates, carrying out two-way communication, using verbal, non-verbal and interpersonal communication so that the principal received appropriate and accurate information. When conducting a blusukan, the information collected during the blusukan can be used as a basis for the school principal to make decisions. In conclusion, the blusukan carried out by the school principal must use good communication so that the results of the blusukan can be used as a basis for the school principal in making decisions. Keywords: blusukan, communication, school principal Membangun komunikasi yang baik sangatlah penting dalam menjalankan roda organisasi sekolah, dengan komunikasi, maka akan terjadi dialogis antara bawahan

How can local government be better supported to collaborate for community health and wellbeing?

AbstractCollaboration is a key strategy among local governments as expectations of the sector grow and resources to meet them fall short. Thus, more research is needed to consider how local governments can be supported to collaborate with others, not least for community health and wellbeing outcomes. In an earlier study, we explored inter‐municipal cooperation using social network analysis and local government perspectives on community health and wellbeing in the Australian state of Tasmania. Extending that study in ways reported here, we interviewed elected representatives and council staff to understand how and why Tasmanian local governments might collaborate with others to support community health and wellbeing. Findings show participants want councils to work more collaboratively to effectively deal with common challenges but are impeded by factors such as isolation and resource shortages. Tasmania's local government reform and Healthy Tasmania strategic plan are significant opportunities for collaborative practice to be enhanced among its local governments generally, and specifically in relation to community health and wellbeing. We advocate for a more considered approach to collaboration for community health and wellbeing that could deliver far‐reaching benefits for local governments and their communities.Points for practitioners Collaboration in local government is often described in terms of ‘shared services’ and tends to focus on transactional services that require little tailoring to local communities. Our study found municipal personnel want their councils to work more collaboratively to address common place‐specific issues related to community health and wellbeing, but are influenced by cultures of self‐sufficiency, organisational capacity and support, connections, and legislation and policy processes. Local government collaborative practices could be supported by the development of a place‐based policy framework to guide collaboration across local government service types, establishment of an informal statewide community health and wellbeing network for councils to facilitate peer learning and support, funding guidelines that explicitly support and encourage collaboration, and identifying collaboration as a priority in strategic plans, policies, and frameworks.

Exploring existing malaria services and the feasibility of implementing community engagement approaches amongst conflict-affected communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study

BackgroundCameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services.MethodsA qualitative research study was carried out to understand the barriers preventing communities accessing care, the uptake of community health worker (CHW) services, and to gather perceptions on community engagement approaches, to assess whether these could be an appropriate mechanism to encourage uptake of community health worker (CHW) services. Twenty-nine focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews were carried out between May and July 2021 in two regions of Cameroon, Southwest and Littoral. Focus group discussions were held with CHWs and community members and semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including regional government staff, council staff, community leaders and community-based organisations. The data were analysed thematically; open, descriptive coding was combined with exploration of pre-determined investigative areas.ResultsThe study confirmed that access to healthcare has become increasingly challenging in conflict-affected areas. Although the Ministry of Health are providing CHWs to improve access, several barriers remain that limit uptake of these services including awareness, availability, cost, trust in competency, and supply of testing and treatment. This study found that communities were supportive of community engagement approaches, particularly the community dialogue approach.ConclusionCommunities in conflict-affected regions of Cameroon continue to have limited access to healthcare services, in part due to poor use of CHW services provided. Community engagement approaches can be an effective way to improve the awareness and use of CHWs. However, these approaches alone will not be sufficient to resolve all the challenges faced by conflict-affected communities when accessing health and malaria services. Additional interventions are needed to increase the availability of CHWs, improve the supply of diagnostic tests and treatments and to reduce the cost of treatment for all.

AIoT-CitySense: AI and IoT-Driven City-Scale Sensing for Roadside Infrastructure Maintenance

The transformation of cities into smarter and more efficient environments relies on proactive and timely detection and maintenance of city-wide infrastructure, including roadside infrastructure such as road signs and the cleaning of illegally dumped rubbish. Currently, these maintenance tasks rely predominantly on citizen reports or on-site checks by council staff. However, this approach has been shown to be time-consuming and highly costly, resulting in significant delays that negatively impact communities. This paper presents AIoT-CitySense, an AI and IoT-driven city-scale sensing framework, developed and piloted in collaboration with a local government in Australia. AIoT-CitySense has been designed to address the unique requirements of roadside infrastructure maintenance within the local government municipality. A tailored solution of AIoT-CitySense has been deployed on existing waste service trucks that cover a road network of approximately 100 kms in the municipality. Our analysis shows that proactive detection for roadside infrastructure maintenance using our solution reached an impressive 85%, surpassing the timeframes associated with manual reporting processes. AIoT-CitySense can potentially transform various domains, such as efficient detection of potholes and precise line marking for pedestrians. This paper exemplifies the power of leveraging city-wide data using AI and IoT technologies to drive tangible changes and improve the quality of city life.

Russia Group of the Biden Administration’s National Security Council Staff (2021-2022)

Russia is among the Joseph Biden Administration foreign policy priorities. The article presents the Russia Group (Russia specialist’s panel) of the Joe Biden Administration National Security Council (NSC) Staff process of formation. The point at issue is officer’s group in charge of US-Russian relations. The article chronological framework - from January 2021 to January 2022. The focus of the research paper on the personalities composed the American-Russian relations responsible officer’s body in NSC. Inclusive of Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Eric Green held it position the period under review. The article consciously thinks the NSC Russia Ring main functionality and its role in the Joe Biden Administration foreign policy machine. The special attention has been given to the NSC Russian Directorate process of changes under Joe Biden Administration. Inclusive of Senior Director Job title and regions wise terms of influence. The article is also reviewing the United States Intelligence Community officers’ political role in US-Russian relations during the Joe Biden Administration.

Occupational safety and infection control for risk groups in the Covid-19 pandemic and the participation of employee representative bodies

Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic has posed new challenges for occupational safety and health. The protection of disabled and other vulnerable employees (risk groups) is no exception. For these groups of employees, the special hazards and risks associated with the workplace must be given special consideration. This article presents our study of company practices for dealing with risk groups, with particular reference to remote working constellations, and shows that the involvement of employee representative bodies has a positive impact on the scope and quality of protective measures. However, the low level of involvement of employee representatives in the planning and implementation of protective measures is problematic. The results are from an online survey of 1543 representatives of works and staff councils and representatives of severely disabled people in Germany.

Russia specialists panel of the Trump administration national security council

The article presents the state of the Russia Group (Russia specialist’s panel) of the National Security Council (NSC) Staff in the Donald Trump Administration term. The point at issue is officer’s group in charge of US-Russian relations. The article chronological framework - from January 2017 to January 2021. The essay’s focus on the personalities who held the Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs incumbency in the NSC office. Fiona Hill, Timothy Morrison, Andrew Peek, Tom Williams and Ryan Tully held it position the period under review. The article consciously thinks the NSC Russia Ring main functionality and its role in the Donald Trump Administration foreign policy priorities. The special attention had given to the NSC Russian Directorate personnel changes under the Donald Trump Cabinet. Their main reasons are considered. The research paper also analyzes the US National Security Advisors and Senior Directors for European and Russian Affairs relationship system under the Donald Trump presidency. The article considered the National Security Advisor John Bolton influential role on the NSC Russia Group political mood and professional activities.

Principal’s Strategies in Improving Employee’s Performance (Study at SMA Negeri South Bengkulu)

This study aims to determine the Principal's Strategy in Improving Employee Performance (Study at SMA Negeri 1 Bengkulu Selatan). This research is qualitative research which is presented descriptively. There were 6 informants in this study consisting of: 2 key informants and 4 key informants. Methods of data collection through interviews, observation, and documentation. The data analysis techniques used are data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. Based on the results of the research and discussion, it is known that employee performance (a study at SMA Negeri 1 Bengkulu Selatan has been carried out). This can be seen from the indicators discussed earlier, namely: (1) Positive Encouragement: there is an award given by the school principal to TU employees and the teacher council who have achieved achievements assessed by the school principal, in the form of a charter. (2) Perform a Performance Audit: Every year the principal conducts an audit both in terms of finance and performance checks of employees, both the teacher council and TU staff to assess performance results. (3) Set Performance Standards and Goals: The principal assigns duties and responsibilities to the teacher council and TU staff in accordance with their respective duties in carrying out their duties. (4) Give Feedback: To Employees Regarding Their Performance The principal can see from the absence of teachers and TU staff to check the attendance of early or late employees whether or not the tasks assigned are carried out. (5) Give Employees Compliments or Other Rewards Related to Performance. The existence of praise given or carried out by the principal to the staff of the teacher council, TU and students who excel by giving some kind of reward can be in the form of money that has been budgeted by the school committee.

Impact of access to housing on mental health and coping amongst Ukrainian refugees in England

Abstract Background Though the link between war-related trauma and poor mental health is well-established, less is known about stressors due to prolonged displacement, and how these relate to mental health. As the numbers of forcibly displaced persons rise worldwide, the associated mental health burden represents an urgent public health need. This qualitative paper explores housing-related stressors amongst adult female Ukrainian refugees England, mental health impacts, and coping responses. Methods We draw on 40 semi-structured interviews: 30 with Ukrainian refugee women, 10 with stakeholders (council staff, mental health professionals, staff/volunteers at relevant charities). Thematic analysis identified macro- and micro-level factors impacting housing access, perceived mental health and coping. Results Most of the Ukrainian sample were provided with housing for an initial 6 months. Facing the pervasive shortage in council housing, many were attempting to transfer into rented accommodation at interview time. These efforts were hindered by a lack of employment history, discrimination from landlords, and the language barrier. Interviewees linked these issues to high stress levels and deteriorating well-being, adding to their anxiety over the ongoing war. Coping centred on support-seeking (reaching out to councils, charities, other Ukrainians), distraction (exercise, volunteering), problem-solving (taking a methodical approach to problems), and cognitive restructuring (focusing on the positive). Conclusions Ukrainian refugees face significant barriers in accessing long-term housing in England, forcing some to choose between insecure housing and returning to a war zone. This bind has compounded mental health issues attributed to the trauma of leaving Ukraine and the ongoing war. Though refugees took an active approach to coping with housing hardships, resources to support the transition to long-term housing is necessary to better safeguard their mental health from further harm. Key messages • Ukrainian refugees face significant barriers in accessing housing in England, forcing some to choose between insecure housing and returning to an active war zone. • Participants linked barriers to accessing housing to high stress levels and a deterioration of well-being, compounding trauma from fleeing Ukraine and anxiety over the ongoing war.

Salafi-Based Integrated Islamic Elementary School Management

The research aims at investigating the management of Salafi-based integrated Islamic schools. This research employed a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods. This research was conducted at Raudatul Jannah Integrated Islamic Elementary School, Lubuklinggau City. The research subjects consisted of the principal, teacher council, and school staff. The data were collected using interviews. The collected data were then analyzed by adapting the technique from Miles & Huberman, namely the interactive analysis model. The research results signified that the Salafi Integrated Islamic Elementary School has carried out planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating for students, teachers, and educational staff, curriculum, facilities and infrastructure, finance, and public relations appropriately, such as: 1) The school has carried out planning activities, particularly for students, teachers, and educational staff, curriculum, facilities and infrastructure, finance, and community relations; 2) The school has implemented organizing activities for students, in which male and female students are put into separate classes, and male and female teachers or educational staff are also given separate rooms; 3) The school implements the independent curriculum for grades 1 and 4, then the curriculum from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of National Education for grades 2, 3, 5, and 6; 4) In the implementation of evaluations, the school creates self-prepared examinations, which are not from the National Education Department.

The new ACS membership model: a year in review

The Committee on Membership Affairs (MAC), with the support of the ACS Council and ACS staff, launched a new membership model in 2022. The model has different membership options to suit different needs. Members can now opt for a slimmed-down set of benefits with the Standard Package, which is half the price of the Premium Package. There is also a no-cost Basic Package for community associates. The cost of ACS membership also went down for all members. MAC remains confident in this new model and will continue to refine the full suite of available options and benefits according to our ongoing assessments of the ACS community’s needs. Overall membership in the society grew last year. We ended 2022 with over 173,000 individuals in our global membership community, compared with just over 151,000 a year earlier. But the inaugural year of our new membership model was not without challenges, which included

Maintaining Warp Speed: Policy Requirements for a Just-in-Time, Capability-Based, Scalable Medical Countermeasure Research and Development Enterprise.

Maintaining Warp Speed: Policy Requirements for a Just-in-Time, Capability-Based, Scalable Medical Countermeasure Research and Development Enterprise.

Editorial

Editorial

Employee Support During COVID-19 Using Compassionate Mind Training

An individual’s wellbeing at work is now recognised as key, particularly for those in challenging environment’s such as health and social care. Focusing on the cultivation of (mindful) compassion has been shown to be an effective way of improving mental health. This service evaluation focused on a pilot drop-in group for council and NHS staff, informed by Compassionate Mind Training. It was facilitated during the COVID-19 pandemic, between April – August 2020. The group was evaluated by recording the number and characteristics of attendees and using a feedback survey focused on the acceptability of the group structure and content. Workload was a barrier to attendance. There were differences noted in terms of gender and area of employment of the attendees. The offer of a regular, short (30 minute) and virtual group during the working day seemed to facilitate participation. The group appeared acceptable as attendees indicated they improved their knowledge and understanding about group concepts and reported they had become more mindful and compassionate in everyday life. Participants appeared to value the range of meditations offered and group resources. The facilitators were struck by the sense of community that emerged. The group could be used in future research as a stand-alone programme to support staff wellbeing or perhaps as one part of a wider approach to support the development compassionate organisations.

The Adopted Strategic Management Practices on Governance of LGAs in Tanzania

Purpose: Local Government Authorities are constantly implementing activities directed from central government by means of decentralization to enhance governance in resource allocation and service deliverance. This has made councils to engage in SMPs in order to continue and achieve their targeted goals. This study aims to explore Strategic Management Practices adopted by Local Government Authorities in Tanzania.
 Methodology: The study adopted diagnostic survey design by taking into account all steps involved in survey studies to obtain important data concerning Strategic Management Practices adopted in Local Government Authorities. Both simple and purposive sampling were employed to determine the study sample of 351 staff council who participated in implementation of Strategic Management Practices. Questionnaire, interviews and Focus Group Discussions were used to collect the information from the respondents. Descriptive analysis was used to compute frequencies and percentage, while content analysis was used to analyze the main themes from key informants. The study selected Mufindi District Council as a case study to explore the Strategic Management Practices adopted.
 Findings: Finding of the study found councils undertaking situational analysis, formulation of strategic plan and performance review. Furthermore, finding revealed that councils are equipped with different strategic models in developing strategic plan particularly SWOT analysis and balanced scorecard. It was further found that management, institutional and resource factors have significantly influenced the councils’ decision to adopt SMPs through strategic models.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that successfully strategy implementation can be achieved when councils allocates all required resources with effective monitoring of the activities.