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The Consultation Window – Unless there is sufficient time to undertake a professional consultation, it might be better not to do it at all!
“Chris! I’ll need you to organise a consultation on this issue……..”
“So how long have we got ?”
“Oh, don’t worry about it – you’ll get your three months – and a bit extra if we’re lucky……..”
“That’s all right, then ……”
WRONG! It’s not all right. The 12-week rule, recently re-inforced by the Government’s code of practice is gradually seeping into the consciousness of managers, but it isn’t anything like enough. The consultation window needs between one and three months lead-time, depending upon the methods to be used. We may be able to hire a school hall at three weeks’ notice, but try drafting, editing, proof-reading, designing and printing a complex inter-departmental policy paper in less than three months …
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Rhion Jones
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