Hello everyone and happy January – I am hoping it will get a little warmer soon as my heating bills are terrifying.
I want to trail the 2024 National Training Programme in this newsletter and have a few other things to pass on to you.
National Training Programme 2024
We run our training programme on a calendar year basis so have just begun our new programme for 2024. As before all courses are delivered online, this maximises the number of places we can offer and keeps the price down. I was at one of the East of England’s regional meetings this week and was asked about waiting lists and the speed at which places are filled. So I wanted to remind you all that if, within your region, or even just within your own Council, you have enough people for a bespoke course do get in touch as this should be possible. Also make sure you put your name on the waiting list if you are unsuccessful in getting on a course. Not only do places become available at the last minute but the waiting lists give me a sense of whether we need to slot in more courses over the year. However, if you book a place and don’t attend or fail to let us know in advance that you can’t, we will have to charge you if we can’t fill the place- be warned, waste not want not!
The programme for 2024 is on our website here https: //www.adso.co.uk/adso-training/book-your-course/ – this tells you what is fully booked and when the next course bookings will be opened.
During 2023, we have been developing some new courses which, once successfully piloted, will appear during 2024. These are:
- School appeals – piloted in December
- Becoming a DMO/MO – to be piloted 24th January
- Planning and Licensing – to be piloted 7th February
During 2024, after a couple of successful facilitated discussions at our 2023 Conference, I also hope to be pulling together some suggestions for training/development for more senior DSOs. This is unlikely to be course based as needs and aspirations vary within this target audience but it is very early days yet so I have no fixed views. I have asked our Vice Chair Peter Sass to provide some insights on this and am happy to say he will provide the much needed ‘DSO perspective’. If you are more senior and experienced in post and you are looking for a bit of a stretch, don’t forget the opportunities presented to you already by being an assessor, a trainer or getting involved at regional or even national level.
Annual General Meeting
Just a quick plug for our AGM which will take place on 8th February 4-5pm. This will be online and you will be receiving an email with the agenda and details later today. We hope many of you will attend to participate in decisions about how ADSO operates.
Mental health training for councillors – a bespoke opportunity for your councillors
We have been asked to circulate details of this course which may be of interest to you.
Democratic Services Officers have been instrumental in supporting a successful mental health training session for councillors that is now being offered nationally. Over 93% of nearly 700 councillors who have taken a two-hour session have rated it ‘Excellent/Good’. Such is its success, it is currently being evaluated by the National Institute for Health Research. During the training session members learn and discuss evidence-based techniques to support their own mental health and wellbeing and how to use local government powers to create mentally healthier circumstances with residents and partners.
The training was designed and is delivered by local government and mental health expert Ed Davie who was a senior councillor himself for 12 years, a LGA Expert Peer for 10, worked for mental health charities for 14 years and has a master’s degree in public health. Originally produced for Thrive LDN it has been delivered to all 32 boroughs and the City – see a blog and short video here for more information on the content.
Please contact Ed directly for more details and how to book your bespoke session on ed.davie@centreformentalhealth.org.uk
Interim positions
From time to time, ADSO is asked if we know of anybody available for interim democratic services work. We have found such people to be in very short supply. However, one person with democratic services and technical/IT experience has approached us recently to advise of their availability. They live in the Lincolnshire area but would be prepared to travel. They are available with immediate effect. If you are interested, please contact john.austin@adso.co.uk and we will put you in touch with the person concerned.
Susan Biddle, ADSO Director of Training