Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames

We are working on a new strategy that will serve as our framework to address inequalities and promote inclusion. This can only be achieved by listening to those of you who live, work or study in the borough and by understanding your perspectives and needs. By sharing your views, we will be able to better understand your experiences, and your responses will be used to identify key priorities for the new strategy. If you have 10 minutes to spare, please share your views and help us to make the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames an even fairer and more inclusive place for all. https://lnkd.in/en3C3enf

Last month we’ve had a pleasure to host Kingston Autumn Job Fair with DWP Job Centre Plus. Almost 270 residents attended, looking for employment support and to explore available opportunities; 14 job offers were made and 43 residents enrolled to support programmes. You can learn more about available support and opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/ea8PRQ_9 #FairerKingston

📢 This weeks vacancy round up 📢 We have some fantastic opportunities currently available! Have a look at this week's job vacancies highlights: 💻 Head of Data 🏗️ Highways Contract and Capital Delivery Team Manager 🦺 Highways Engineer 🏫 Maths Teacher - Kingston Adult Education 👫 Senior Social Worker - Learning Disabilities 📝 Regulatory Compliance Officer If you're interested in any of these opportunities or wish to browse a range of our vacancies, click on the link below ⤵ https://lnkd.in/eBgUEdeW #hiring #localgovernmentjobs #newcareer #kingston

This Thursday Volunteering Kingston will be holding Kingston’s 2024 Volunteer Festival. The festive season can inspire feelings of generosity, to our families and friends and community. With a wide range of voluntary organisations exhibiting, the event will showcase a variety of roles including seasonal, one-off and remote opportunities. Volunteering can make use of your professional skills or be a complete change from your day job, it can be an opportunity to boost your experience and enhance your career. Come along and find out more about volunteering opportunities and the organisations offering them 📍Thursday 28 November   2pm-5.30pm All Saints Church, Kingston, KT1 1JP Read more: https://lnkd.in/dwB-ByiG 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent circular economy event at Kingston University's Town House! Attendees came together to explore the circular economy's potential for Kingston and connect with academics, businesses, industry experts and students - future innovators. The morning session focused on opportunities for development of partnerships by KU academics and businesses aiming to advance the circular economy through research. Dr Martin Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Kingston University and Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action, Biodiversity and Planning Policy, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames opened the afternoon session. The day featured inspiring keynotes from Sankar Sivarajah (Kingston University) and Matthew Johnson (First Mile), followed by a variety of talks and discussions on topics like circular economy principles, the role of innovation, collaboration and behaviour change and two-minute pitches of innovative project concepts. An exhibition showcasing products and services by local businesses and organisations driving circular innovation was part of the event. If you missed it, or would like a reminder of who was there, visit our website to learn more. We're already excited to plan the next one! https://lnkd.in/e7Q8v48Q

Kingston marks #WhiteRibbonDay with ongoing commitment to end violence against women and girls. Ahead of this White Ribbon UK Day, Kingston Council supported local charity Voices of Hope UK with the Pearl Project event highlighting the extraordinary bravery and resilience of survivors of gender-based abuse. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJSVreQT #SaferKingston

Kingston Council has become the first in the UK to install official hedgehog crossing signs! 🦔 These signs, now up in Old Malden, warn drivers to watch out for hedgehogs crossing the road, helping to preserve the population and improve biodiversity. Thanks to London Hogwatch, local volunteers, and passionate residents like Clare Hellings, we were able to identify a hedgehog hotspot in Old Malden and subsequently implement these official road signs, following approval from the Department for Transport, making Kingston the first council in the UK to install them. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eNRPb83Y

Debbie, in her early 60s, moved to Kingston last year and found herself facing significant challenges. Having struggled with previous health and social care services elsewhere, she was unsure where to turn when she began experiencing severe pain and substantial changes in her vision and hearing. Forced to leave her job, Debbie felt increasingly isolated and concerned about her future. In late 2023, Debbie reached out to Kingston’s Adult Social Care team, and that’s when her path took a positive turn. Richard, a Community Support Worker from our Sight and Hearing Team, acted quickly to make sure Debbie received the right care. He referred her to Kingston Hospital Audiology for a hearing test and provided her with an amplified phone, which broke down the communication barriers that had been isolating her. Through collaboration with her GP and social prescriber, her pain has been managed, and with the help of the amplified phone and hearing aids, Debbie can now communicate effectively again. This has not only improved her daily life but has also enabled her to return to part-time work, volunteer in her community, and re-engage with social clubs. These changes have not only allowed Debbie to return to part-time work but have also empowered her to volunteer in her community and reconnect with social clubs and her family. Debbie’s story embodies what Fairer Month is all about: supporting those who need us most, tackling exclusion, and enabling everyone to access opportunities, regardless of their circumstances. By working closely with health services and using accessible technology, our Adult Social Care team is making a positive difference, one person at a time. This Fairer Month, we’re highlighting how collaboration, compassion, and a person-centred approach are helping us build a more inclusive Kingston. Watch Debbie’s story to see how we’re committed to making Kingston a place where everyone has the chance to thrive. #Fairermonth

Last year our Involve team created a fantastic #EasyRead resource: Tips for supporting people with disabilities at work. Learn how to create accessible job adverts, conduct accessible interviews, raise awareness, make spaces and technologies more accessible, how to offer support and communicate better with people with disabilities. https://lnkd.in/eFJv8sJd #FairerKingston #UKDHM

At Kingston council, we’re rolling out Magic Notes, an AI tool developed by social enterprise Beam with input from frontline staff. The tool is saving social workers and occupational therapists over 4 hours a week by creating detailed case notes from recorded client meetings, reducing admin-heavy tasks and freeing up time for face-to-face care. During the pilot, admin time dropped by an impressive 63%, and staff have reported being able to focus more on residents' needs. Magic Notes is also making a difference for staff with dyslexia, providing accessible and accurate summaries. We’re proud to work with Beam to support our workforce and improve outcomes for our community. Learn more about Magic Notes and its benefits here: https://bit.ly/4fC30xc