Council Officers Apply Common Sense
We often complain about bureaucracy in Local Government and rile about officious application of rules. Here is a story that shows official can and do apply common sense when you get to the decision makers.
The story involves the work experience placement of a boy called Jack studying at the Chesham High School. Jack is in Year 11 and about to take his GCSEs. It is normal practice to arrange work experience placements with local employers for Year 11 children normally lasting about two weeks to take place in July at the end of the academic year. Placements have to be agreed by the County Council as the Local Education Authority (LEA) are legally responsible for the child.
Jack is interested in reptiles and has an ambition to become a herpetologist. His parents found a local business, Amey Zoo in Bovingdon, that was willing to take Jack for his work experience. Now Amey Zoo is a pet shop that specialises in Reptiles. Mark Amey, the proprietor, has also acted as a reptile consultant to the BBC’s Life on Earth series. So, the placement seemed ideal.
The appropriate forms were completed and sent to the LEA for approval. Unfortunately, the LEA could not approve the placement under its rules because they required any business taking a placement student to have £2M Public Liability insurance. Amey Zoo had insurance of up to £1M which had been adequate for previous placements from Hertfordshire. The LEA’s officer, Frances Kernan, contacted Jack’s parents setting out the reasons for rejecting the placement.
Jacks parent’s decided to pursue the matter further. Having ascertained that Amey Zoo would have to pay out an additional £200 insurance premium to upgrade to the right level of Public Liability cover, they, contacted France Kernan of Buckinghamshire County Council’s Business Partnership Department requesting the case should be referred higher. Ms Kernan explained that the matter was really out of her hands as the setting of the Public Liability Limits were in the hands of the Risk Department. However, she would request that an exception would be made in this case and duly sent the case to this Department.
The parents spoke to Racheal Ruddy, Insurance and Claims Officer, who explained the rationale behind the limits. The parents were still not satisfied with this decision and requested that she referred the case to her manager, David Simons who is the Risk Manager for Buckinghamshire County Council. The parents explained that the placement was a perfect match for Jack’s requirement for a placement. Not only was the placement in his interest area but he would have an opportunity to work with a nationally recognised expert in the subject.
After discussing the case with Mr Simons, Ms Ruddy was able to contact the parents saying that a special case would be made for this placement. So, common sense prevailed and Local Authority officers can and do make judgement calls.
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