Jul
9
Tue
Workshop 2: Law and Practice of Local Government @ Via Zoom
Jul 9 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

ADSO is hosting the interactive, virtual course ‘Law and Practice of Local Government’.  The course will be delivered as two, three-hour workshops.  Delegates will be required to attend both workshops.

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.

The content is also linked to the Law and Practice module of the ADSO Certificate so it will help learners with their research for this module.

How the course will be delivered

The workshops will

  • Provide an understanding of the statutory position of local government and the main pieces of legislation governing its operation and constitutional arrangements.
  • Examine the practical application of this legal framework to the aspects of a council’s operation that impact most directly on the democratic services function, including:
    • Governance arrangements and decision-making under executive arrangements or a committee system;
    • Political proportionality rules;
    • Legal provisions affecting members and officers; and
    • Arrangements to ensure good governance including access to information, transparency and ethical standards.

The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with delegates from across the country.

Trainers 

John Williams has over 30 years’ practical experience in the field of democratic services, governance and constitutional advice.  For 12 of these he headed up the service at the London Boroughs of Croydon and then Tower Hamlets, where he was also appointed as Returning Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer.  John now works as a consultant in democratic and electoral services and has extensive experience of delivering training in each of these areas.  He is also an assessor for the ADSO Diploma.

Tracy Couper has been Democratic Services Manager at East Cambridgeshire District Council since 2005 and Deputy Monitoring Officer since 2015.  This is her 36th year in Democratic Services and previously she has held senior roles at Bedfordshire County Council prior to its abolition, Peterborough City Council during the transition period to it becoming a Unitary Council and started her career at Huntingdonshire District Council.  She has been Clerk to the Fire Authority whilst at Bedfordshire and more recently involved in the establishment of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

Dates and times

Workshop One: Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Tuesday 9th July 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm

Please note that you only need to book on 2nd July 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

How to book a place

To book a place please use the online booking form available on the following webpage:

ADSO – Law and Practice of Local Government (emcouncils.gov.uk)

Booking requirements

  • A purchase order number is required for all bookings made out to ADSO.  Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
  • 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.
Jul
11
Thu
Becoming a Democratic Services Officer – An Introduction @ Via Zoom
Jul 11 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

ADSO is hosting ‘Becoming a DSO – an introduction’ held via Zoom.  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.   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.

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 

Michael Robson 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 Basham 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

Thursday 11th July 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
  • ADSO learners – This course is not part of the offer to ADSO members working towards the Certificate or Diploma

How to book a place

To book a place please use the online booking form available on the following webpage:

ADSO – Becoming a Democratic Services Officer – An Introduction (emcouncils.gov.uk)

Booking requirements

  • A purchase order number is required for all bookings made out to ADSO.  Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
  • 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.
Sep
12
Thu
Becoming a Democratic Services Officer – An Introduction @ Via Zoom
Sep 12 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

ADSO is hosting a virtual course ‘Becoming a DSO – an introduction’ held via Zoom.

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.   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.

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 

Peter Foulsham is the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager at Wyre Council, where he has worked for fifteen years, previously as the Scrutiny Officer.  Throughout his working life Peter has always been involved in training and development and has assisted ADSO in this role over the past seven or eight years.  Peter is also an assessor on ADSO’s Diploma in Local Democracy.

Karen Widdowson is the Democratic Services Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer, Charnwood Borough Council . She is an experienced Democratic Services practitioner having worked in the profession for 20+ years across all key areas of Democratic Services including meetings and civic support, member development, scrutiny, citizenship and elections.  Karen has worked for several types of local authority which has built up extensive knowledge and experience about local government decision making and different political arrangements.  Karen is also an ADSO qualifications assessor and trainer, and an Independent Person for Sheffield and Barnsley Councils.

Date and time

Thursday 12th September 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

To book a place please use the online booking form available on the following webpage:

ADSO – Becoming a Democratic Services Officer – An Introduction (emcouncils.gov.uk)

The 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. Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
  • 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.
Sep
16
Mon
Workshop 1: Introduction to Health Service Governance @ Via Zoom
Sep 16 @ 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

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?

Benefits

If so, this course will help you understand the key questions, drivers and decisions driving health service governance aiding working together.  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 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 16th September 2024, 1.30pm-4.30pm
Workshop Two – Monday 23rd September 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 available on the following webpage:

ADSO – Introduction to Health Service Governance (emcouncils.gov.uk)

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.  Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
  • 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. 
Sep
23
Mon
Workshop 2: Introduction to Health Service Governance @ Via Zoom
Sep 23 @ 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

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?

Benefits

If so, this course will help you understand the key questions, drivers and decisions driving health service governance aiding working together.  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 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 16th September 2024, 1.30pm-4.30pm
Workshop Two – Monday 23rd September 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 available on the following webpage:

ADSO – Introduction to Health Service Governance (emcouncils.gov.uk)

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.  Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
  • 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. 
Oct
2
Wed
Workshop 1: Council and It’s Governance @ Via Zoom
Oct 2 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Full details to follow when bookings open on on 1st August 2024

Oct
9
Wed
Workshop 2: Council and It’s Governance @ Via Zoom
Oct 9 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Full details to follow when bookings open on on 1st August 2024

Nov
7
Thu
Workshop 1: Just a Minute @ Via Zoom
Nov 7 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

ADSO is hosting the highly popular course ‘Just a Minute’.  Just a Minute will be delivered as two, virtual three-hour workshops.   Delegates will be required to attend both of the virtual workshops.  

Audience

This course is aimed at Democratic Services Officers who are required to take minutes of meetings.   The target audience will be those who are relatively new to democratic service teams and those with a few years’ experience.

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.

This workshop aims to provide you with the skills and knowledge to write a local government minute, including:

  • An understanding of the law relating to local government minutes
  • Tips and good practice for local government minute writing
  • An awareness of the different minutes styles used for different types of meetings
  • The opportunity to apply your knowledge in practical exercises and case studies with colleagues from other local authorities.

You will need to bring pen and paper, or laptop, or your own preferred minute writing medium!

Trainers – Ian Millichap and Vicky Wemyss-Cooke

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.

Vicky is currently the Committee Services Manager at London Borough of Camden and has been a DSO in London for almost 30 years and for the last 7 years has been the Committee Services Manager in Camden, managing a small team servicing Council, Cabinet, scrutiny and non-executive committees, along with a range of other bodies such as school appeals panels and tenants’ consultative committees.  Throughout her career, she has also undertaken a range of roles in support of local, national and regional elections and currently serves as Chief Count Supervisor for the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency area.  Vicky has been an active ADSO Member from its inception and is an assessor for the Certificate in Democratic Services Knowledge.

Date and time

Workshop One: Thursday 7th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Thursday 14th November 2024. 9.30am-12.30pm

Delegates are required to attend both workshops.  Please note that you only need to book onto one 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

How to book a place 

Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024

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.

Nov
12
Tue
Workshop 1: Working in a Political Environment @ Via Zoom
Nov 12 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

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 November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two – Tuesday 19th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm

Delegates are required to attend both workshops.  Please note that you only need to book on one 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.

Nov
13
Wed
Workshop 1: Introduction to Health Service Governance @ Via Zoom
Nov 13 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

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: Wednesday 13th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm
Workshop Two: Wednesday 20th November 2024, 9.30am-12.30pm

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 

Bookings for October to December open on 1st August 2024

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.