Staffing Review
Background
The 2020 Sport Wales strategy recognizes the need for new partnership and new reporting mechanisms including a drive for better insight and intelligence. To that end, the Squash Wales strategy heavily references the need to collect more data about how, when and why squash is being played across Wales, and to leverage this data to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.
With continued governance, financial and operational pressure, Squash Wales has challenged itself to ensure it is, and will be in the future, “fit for purpose”.
Linked to the above, Squash Wales has embarked on the implementation of a new strategy for Squash in Wales for the next 5 years – 2020-2025. (available on Squash Wales website) The strategy has been developed over approximately 1 year and has included board vision and mission sessions, public consultation, as well as a thorough review of the current “state of the nation” of squash and the wider sporting landscape in Wales. The result is a strategy that will lead Squash Wales through a challenging financial period for Welsh sport, which will require increased partnership working, collaboration with others and an ever-increasing focus on the health benefits of regular participation in physical activity.
The above also resulted in the requirement for an operational review, commissioned by the Board, around the current staffing structure. The review was based on a fact-based analysis of all operational staff, programmes and processes with an initial focus on the Regional Development Officers (RDO’s) and High-Performance Coaches (HPC’s).
Regional Development Officers (RDO’s)
As a result of the review, Squash Wales will be creating a new role, an additional employed Full time Regional Development Officer. This new post will have a different range of priorities, linked to the strategic requirements identified in our current strategy, and be based in North Wales, with the ability to communicate in Welsh, a clearly articulated requirement from our stakeholders in North Wales. This will ensure the achievement of Squash Wales’ strategic goals. The current RDO based in south Wales will continue in post.
High Performance Coaches
As a result of the review, Squash Wales will be creating a new role, an employed Full time Junior National Coach. This new post will have a different range of priorities, linked to the strategic requirements identified in our current strategy, whilst addressing the deficiencies in our current system and be based in South Wales.
Squash wales would like to assure all parents, players and coaches that the current pathway will continue to operate moving forward. This is an exciting time for everyone involved in the pathway that will be spearheaded by the Welsh junior National Coach and team. The structure in place moving forward will allow the delivery of the current programme along with new value add changes to improve and enhance the overall pathway process.
The changes will ensure the new structure is fully aligned to the new strategy and the new objectives, with the capability to effectively operationalise and deliver on the objectives.
This fact, and the need for continuity within this current consultation period, has also been taken into consideration. Therefore, the exercise that will link into existing core staff will be commissioned during the latter part of 2020-21 post the Development and Performance staff restructure.
Any questions or queries in the first instance should be directed to the chair, Phil Brailey on 07778803580, email: [email protected]
Squash Wales Board of Directors
