ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Working in a Political Environment’. This will be delivered as two, virtual 3-hour workshops. Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to work more effectively with elected members. The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.
The content is also linked to Module 6, Members and Officers in Local Government, of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will seek to:
- Explore and better understand the differences between the roles and responsibilities of elected members and officers.
- Examine the legal, constitutional and procedural framework regulating the conduct of members and officers.
- Enhance your understanding of the political environment around you.
- Develop your knowledge and skills of how to operate effectively in a political environment.
The workshops are designed to be interactive and include a lot of smaller group working and case studies. Participants are encouraged to take an active part in the course and to learn from the experiences of other delegates from across the country.
Trainers – Michael Robson & Rachel Basham
Michael has recently taken up a senior governance role in the North of Tyne Combined Authority, previously working in the Democratic Services Team at North Tyneside Council for over 30 years. During this time Michael has supported a wide variety of democratic functions, including regulatory and scrutiny committees, the health & wellbeing board and school admission appeals. Since electing its first Mayor in 2002, North Tyneside has experienced significant periods of political turbulence, particularly when the Council and its overview and scrutiny committees were controlled by the opposing group to the Elected Mayor. Michael serves on the ADSO Board as a representative for combined and themed authorities. As well as a trainer, Michael is also a qualified A1 Assessor working with learners undertaking the Certificate in Democratic Services.
Rachel has over fifteen years’ experience of working in local government, in a variety of roles across Democratic Services and Leadership teams. Her current substantive post is Member Services Manager at Surrey County Council, although she is currently on a 12-month secondment at Woking Borough Council, providing additional strategic support to their Leadership team. Rachel is a City and Guilds qualified adult trainer alongside being an assessor for both the ASDO Certificate in Democratic Services and the Charter for Member Development.
Date and time
Workshop One – Tuesday 12th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two – Wednesday 20th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 12th March course date to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Please email adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below. Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting an interactive, virtual course ‘Introduction to Health Service Governance’. This will be delivered as two, three-hour virtual workshops held via Zoom with delegates being required to attend both workshops.
Audience
- Are you currently in the NHS working at bands 5-8?
- Or are you working in local government with health scrutiny committees or keen to explore a career in the NHS?
- If so, this course will help you understand the key questions, drivers and decisions driving health service governance. It will also demonstrate how your local authority governance skills can be applied in another setting to aid career development.
Content
The workshops will provide an overview of NHS governance including:
- Its structure and functions
- The law and guidance that surrounds it
- How leadership and culture are vital to its success
- The roles and responsibilities of an NHS board
- The difference (and similarities) between the NHS and local government
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with other people from across the country.
Trainers – John Thorpe & Matthew Kane
John Thorpe is Foundation Trust Secretary at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and formerly Democratic Services Manager at Leicester City Council.
Matthew Kane is Associate Director of Corporate Affairs at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and formerly Governance Manager/Deputy Monitoring Officer at two district councils in north Derbyshire.
Date and time
Workshop One – Monday 11th March 2024, 1.30pm-4.30pm
Workshop Two – Monday 18th March 2024, 1.30pm-4.30pm
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160+ VAT per person to attend the course
How to book a place
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below. Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO will be running an interactive, virtual course ‘Ethics and Standards. The course will be delivered as two, three-hour long workshops held virtually.
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the legal framework within which councils operate and the practical application of this to the range of work areas undertaken by democratic services teams. The course content will be relevant both to those who are relatively new to democratic services and officers with a few years’ experience, who may want to refresh their knowledge on ethics and standards.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually. To maximise the delegates’ learning experience the course has been divided into two virtual workshops.
Workshop 1
- Provide an overview of the Legal Framework
- An overview of the Code of Conduct, together with some case studies
- Committee on Standards in Public Life and LGA – model Code of Conduct
- What the law says about Members’ Interests, together various case studies regarding Members’ Interests
- Dispensations from the Monitoring Officer
Workshop 2
- Provide a short recap of the learning from Workshop 1
- An overview of the Standards Committees
- Explanation of Independent Persons and their role
- Details about complaints, Investigations and Standards Hearings, together with various case studies around complaints
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country. This will also provide great opportunity for delegates to network and share contact details with each other for future reference and information sharing.
Trainers – Tracy Tiff & Peter Sass
Tracy has worked in Local Government since 1995, moving to Democratic Services in 1997. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in governance, constitution and Overview and Scrutiny. Tracy gained valuable experience from worked at Northampton Borough Council from 2001 to 2021, transferring to the Unitary Council – West Northants Council in April 2021; where she is continuing in the field of Democratic Services.
Peter Sass is the Head of Governance & Deputy Monitoring Officer. (Wandsworth) serving Richmond and Wandsworth Councils He has 35 years’ experience in numerous governance roles; mainly Democratic/Members’ Services and elections/electoral registration and has worked at all tiers of local government including a parish council.
Dates and times
Workshop One – Tuesday 12th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two – Tuesday 19th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 12th March course date to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Please email adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below. Terms and Conditions of booking can be found here.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Working in a Political Environment’. This will be delivered as two, virtual 3-hour workshops. Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to work more effectively with elected members. The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.
The content is also linked to Module 6, Members and Officers in Local Government, of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops.
The workshops will seek to:
- Explore and better understand the differences between the roles and responsibilities of elected members and officers.
- Examine the legal, constitutional and procedural framework regulating the conduct of members and officers.
- Enhance your understanding of the political environment around you.
- Develop your knowledge and skills of how to operate effectively in a political environment.
The workshops are designed to be interactive and include a lot of smaller group working and case studies. Participants are encouraged to take an active part in the course and to learn from the experiences of other delegates from across the country.
Trainers – Michael Robson & Rachel Basham
Michael has recently taken up a senior governance role in the North of Tyne Combined Authority, previously working in the Democratic Services Team at North Tyneside Council for over 30 years. During this time Michael has supported a wide variety of democratic functions, including regulatory and scrutiny committees, the health & wellbeing board and school admission appeals. Since electing its first Mayor in 2002, North Tyneside has experienced significant periods of political turbulence, particularly when the Council and its overview and scrutiny committees were controlled by the opposing group to the Elected Mayor. Michael serves on the ADSO Board as a representative for combined and themed authorities. As well as a trainer, Michael is also a qualified A1 Assessor working with learners undertaking the Certificate in Democratic Services.
Rachel has over fifteen years’ experience of working in local government, in a variety of roles across Democratic Services and Leadership teams. Her current substantive post is Member Services Manager at Surrey County Council, although she is currently on a 12-month secondment at Woking Borough Council, providing additional strategic support to their Leadership team. Rachel is a City and Guilds qualified adult trainer alongside being an assessor for both the ASDO Certificate in Democratic Services and the Charter for Member Development.
Date and time
Workshop One – Tuesday 12th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two – Wednesday 20th March 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book on 12th March course date to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Please email adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
To book a place please use the online booking form via the link below. Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
Please contact Georgia Latham (Georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk)or Rachel Gibbons (RachelGibbons@wigan.gov.uk) for more information
ADSO is hosting an opportunity to attend this interactive, virtual course ‘Becoming a DSO – an introduction’ held via Zoom. Specifically designed for those taking their first steps into the world of Democratic Services, this course is aimed at those in the first twelve weeks of starting.
This is a quick introduction, designed to give you some essentials and to give you the chance to ask questions and meet other new starters. It will be delivered as a single 3-hour workshop.
Audience
This course is aimed at newly appointed Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of their role. It is for those who have never worked in this area before and who want a quick introduction to orient themselves.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, and by the end of the workshop you will:
- Understand what a local Council is and how it is funded.
- Know the different types of local Council and what services they provide.
- Understand how decisions are made and your role in supporting this, both in and out of meetings
- Have a sense of how accountability works in local government, how Councils and Councillors are held to account and the role of scrutiny.
- Have considered how the political environment of your workplace affects your role and makes it unique.
The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with colleagues from across the country.
Trainers – Lennox Beattie and Ian Millichap
Lennox is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having been the Executive and Regulatory Manager at Blackpool Council for the past 14 years. He has been responsible for support to the Executive and its governance for that period. Lennox is also involved in ADSO work through the qualifications, which includes both the certificate and diploma.
Ian has over 30 years’ experience of working in local government and has spent 15 years in senior roles. He has previously worked for London Borough of Southwark as head of the committee governance team. Ian has Clerked Full Council, Cabinet and all Major Committees and has experience of both Committee and Executive arrangements.
Date and time
Wednesday 17th April 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £55 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £80 + VAT per person to attend the course
How to book a place
Please book a place using the link below.
Terms and conditions for booking can be found here
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.
ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Structures and Functions: The anatomy of Local Government’. The course will be delivered as two, three-hour workshops held virtually via Zoom. Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.
Local government in England and Wales is complex and constantly evolving. The workshops will help learners to be more effective in their roles by:
- Explaining local government’s place in the UK’s constitutional arrangements
- Unpicking the different kinds of authorities and councils and what they do
- Exploring the geographies of local government and the drivers of change: Is bigger better?
Audience
This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of the different kinds of local authorities, what they do and how they fit into the wider government landscape of the UK. The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.
The content is also linked to the Council and Governance module of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.
How the course will be delivered
The course will be delivered virtually, to maximise the delegates learning experience the course has been broken into two virtual workshops. The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.
Trainers – Ian Curtis and Fabiola Fuschi
Ian is a solicitor who has worked in local government in the UK for more than thirty years. He is presently Head of Governance at Fylde Council in Lancashire, where he has worked seventeen years. Ian was council’s statutory Monitoring Officer for nine years and has acted as Deputy Returning Officer for local, national and European elections. Ian is a past chair of the North West branch of the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors.
Fabiola has been a Democratic Service Officer since 2014, across three authorities in Greater Manchester, currently with Rochdale Borough Council. Fabiola supports decision making and scrutiny committees as well as school admission appeals, independent review panels and Elections. Fabiola has previously completed the ADSO Certificate which she found pivotal in consolidating her knowledge and understanding of local government law and practice.
Fabiola has also achieved qualifications in training, and she is passionate about supporting colleagues using her knowledge and experience.
Date and time
Workshop One: Thursday 18th April 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 25th April 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Delegates are required to attend both workshops. Please note that you only need to book to attend the workshop on 18th April to be able to attend both workshops.
Cost
- ADSO Member rate – £110 + VAT per person to attend the course
- Non-ADSO Member rate – £160 + VAT per person to attend the course
Please contact adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk if you wish to be allocated a learner place.
How to book a place
Please book a place using our online booking form, please note that you will only need to book to attend the first session to attend both. Terms and conditions for booking can be found here.
Booking requirements
- A purchase order number is required for all bookings. Please make the PO out to ADSO.
- A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
- Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
- A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s). Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.