Non-job of the week 4

Tim Aker Burning Our Money

A week into feeling a lot poorer – thanks Darling – we see a rise in the number of local government jobs on offer compared to last week. With borrowing and debt reaching eye watering levels over the next few years, with our politicians talking of an age of austerity upon us and, finally, the penny has dropped with some politicians: we cannot afford big government.

Within that expansive leviathan we can ill afford non-jobs such as this week’s non-job of the week from Hackney council:

“Community Partnerships Advisor
£37,476 – £40,104

CHIEF EXECUTIVES DEPARTMENT

PARTNERSHIPS DIVISION

Do you want to join an award winning council and a team driven by the ambition to change lives through developing strong partnerships across all sectors?

We have recently received the Local Government Chronicle award for Most Improved Council and our Partnerships team has just won Beacon Status for Strategic Commissioning. We now require two managers to join our groundbreaking team which supports the Local Strategic Partnership, develops key partnerships between the council and the voluntary and community sector, and oversees strategic commissioning of the area based grant.

Reporting to the Community Partnerships Manager, you will build effective relationships between the Third Sector and statutory partners, and bring them together to make a difference to local people through the delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategy. You will lead on the development and implementation of key projects and strategies to build the capacity of the Third Sector in Hackney.

Your experience of two or more of the following will be essential: the impact and relevance of volunteering, the COMPACT, Local Strategic Partnerships, Third Sector commissioning, capacity building, accommodation and asset transfer, community engagement, fair trade, or discretionary rate relief. Quote ref: CED501.”

Who will save us from these over-spending, wasteful councils? The voluntary sector, to be completely voluntary, should be left alone and, I dare say, would be better off left alone. Burke’s little platoons are the lifeblood of society, giving so much and asking for little in return. That is their virtue. To have government step in with the baggage of Harman’s Equalization of Opportunities Act (get the reference?) and their PC, socialistic tendencies can only undermine voluntary activity.

Who needs government to meddle with the activities of those who just want to be left to get on with their jobs?

Tim Aker

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Hardeep Singh

Award winning if you call giving yourself an award an achievement then hey I might as well give myself one too. “The award winning Hardeep”… he’s ground breaking – always happy to help fellow members of society as he passes along, always says hello as a matter of courtesy, always endeavours to uphold myself as an honest and pragmatic character, always earns his way through hard work, always committed to better oneself, ALWAYS happy and honoured to provide a helping hand for those around me….
Now if only a council could aspire to such attributes we’d have no need for these so called award winning councils and quangos. I doubt very much if anyone would vote for a council. We can barely get through to their call centres let alone have another channel via which to vote.
This non-job really reads “We need someone to fix another one of our ill thought out plans – under the guise of a manager”….
These non-jobbers should be named and shamed after all it would be proper to do so for any thief or hooligan. These public non-jobs are no different they are stealing from the very people that fund them and please don’t start with the “but they’re also serving the same people that are paying their salary”… NOT SO these non-jobbers are serving themselves at your expense. Ronnie Biggs really would be proud that after all those decades crime really does pay and now it’s easier and cleaner than ever just go into the public sector!
M W – prefer not to say in full

Let me first say I lean to the left, and I believe socialism is not a dirty word. I have no problem paying the council to sweep the streets and empty the bins, and look after children who are at risk, fund schools, rent houses to folks who don’t have access to credit to buy.
But…whilst I understand each of the words in this ad, I have no idea what this job is. English is my first language, I have a degree and post grad professional qualifications, I write ( albeit specifically and technically) for a living…but can anyone tell me what this job is? Why does it apparently merit nearly twice the average annual salary? Please, someone, if you can, enlighten me. This would not seem to be a just redistribution of resources from those who can to those who need.
Hardeep Singh

MW – I think most people with an ounce of common sense would share your views on the council providing services that help jolly things along for society as a whole. We are however somewhat taken aback by this whole ‘non-job’ aspect and therefore use the word “public sector” in a different vain than before.
A technical writer you say how very interesting do tell ….
Brian Jenner

Sounds like a non job to me!
This is typical of the way money is wasted in national and local government.