Ask the Expert: Coping with cutbacks
Tracie Trimmer-Platman
Monday, March 21, 2011
We have been struck by severe cuts in our council and have had to make at least a 60 per cent cut in staff. Seeing the people you have worked with for many years being made redundant has not only been devastating but has also left our team so badly resourced that I am now worried about health and safety. What should I do?
It's always distressing to lose colleagues involuntarily and I sympathise, but it is the young people who are the real victims, especially as these cuts must have clear implications for health and safety.
Have those responsible for the cuts considered this? Ask them directly and see what they have to say about it.
They are duty bound to take due consideration of the safeguarding of the client group.
If you deem that your membership is larger than you can cope with, you must ask for support from the decision-makers as to how they expect you to deal with potentially hazardous situations. In other words, throw the problem back at them.
Tracie Trimmer-Platman is senior lecturer in youth and community work at the University of East London. Email your workplace dilemmas to asktheexpertywn@hotmail.com
