Get engaged in work and find fulfilment.

THERE has been growing interest in the concept of 'employee engagement' in recent years. Many employers feel engaged employees show greater interest in and commitment to their work, and some studies have shown engaged employees see their work as more meaningful and fulfilling.

There are potential benefits to be had on both sides from developing an engaged workforce and a clear link to business success. Most importantly in the public sector, local councils in particular, services delivered by engaged employees willing 'to go the extra mile' are more likely to put the citizen at the centre and meet their needs.

The issue of employee engagement in the public sector has recently been explored by a task and finish group of officers and trades unionists. under the Welsh Assembly Government's Public Services Management Wales initiative.

They developed a definition as part of a wider project to promote heightened levels of employee engage-menacross the Welsh public sector: "When employees, wherever they are located in their organisation, contribute to their very best, so securing high quality, relevant and valued outcomes for the service user because. they find personal meaning and motivation in their work. there is an open, fair and consistent commitment to their value as the organisation's greatest asset. and they are enabled to mobilise their time, talent, energy and resources on a sustained and sustainable basis."

This definition is one which finds considerable resonance for local government because each local council offers a wide variety of career opportunities which enable employees to make a real and positive difference to people's lives.

Examples include care assistants and refuse collectors, community development workers and environmental health officers. In addition, other opportunities in support services contribute by ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the council.

Not only does local government offer a wide range of careers, it is also a very good employer.

Local government employees work in a dynamic, fair and flexible environment with many benefits available to them such as training and development, flexible working arrangements to enable them to balance work, home and social life, good annual leave allowances and a valuable final salary pension scheme.

Local councils also strive to be equal opportunities employers, which means recruiting and promoting people solely on the basis of their ability or potential to do the job effectively, irrespective of their age, gender, religion, belief, sexuality, race or any other irrelevant factor.

In a recession, it's inevitable there will be some impact on the workforce and councils are no different. Ensuring that employees remain engaged becomes more important and more difficult at such times.

However, a career in a local council offers unparalleled opportunities for finding real meaning, commitment and a sense of connection with your work.

. For more information about careers in local government visit www.LGCareers.gov.uk or visit your local council website. You can access Welsh authorities' websites via: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/DG_065241.