The Department of Health and Children fully supports a family friendly working environment. We provide a number of family friendly working arrangements which the Deputy has mentioned. The following schemes are available to staff within my Department. Flexitime is available for staff up to and including the grade of HEO. Flexible hours of attendance are available around two core attendance times of 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Agreement has recently been reached with general council to extend the current flexible working bands of 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in recognition of commuting difficulties and other commitments of staff; my Department will shortly introduce the wider bands. Up to 11.5 hours credit may be worked up in a particular flexi period and carried forward to the next period and taken as leave. The number of staffing members using the flexi system is approximately 400 at present.
The job sharing scheme allows staff within the Department to work half the normal weekly hours of attendance. Normally a job sharing partner is required but this is not essential. We endeavour to facilitate everybody who seeks this work option. The number availing of this service is 62 at present. The job sharing scheme will shortly be enhanced to operate as the Civil Service worksharing scheme, allowing for up to 28 different work patterns, further supporting a family friendly working environment.