A good place to establish a career but not for the long term
Pros
Good staff benefit schemes including childcare vouchers and tax-free bicycles. Some flexible working available. Some training and career development opportunities available, but you typically have to grasp them yourself. Staff are generally approachable and helpful. Good working conditions at most offices. Expectations aren't very high due to lack of performance management, but you can work with a high degree of autonomy.
Cons
Since the end of 2017 the IT Service has been in steady decline. While it had its problems (as most do), it was a department that innovated and was the envy of other local authorities. However, since 2017 it has been run by executives who have been ill equipped in technical and leadership terms to maintain the high quality it once delivered. The Corporate Services and IT executives aren't receptive to feedback, made most apparent during a recent, poorly handled restructure. That restructure saw a number of people leave and others placed into roles they don't have the skills or the will to do. The lack of performance management will see those people coast along, doing the same work they did before until they retire or leave. Being a political organisation, you need to be prepared to do work that doesn't make sense or deliver benefits to Suffolk citizens, but instead looks good though political optics as executives look to further their careers.
