Hi all and welcome to Spring (well the daffs are out round here).
We are all rather on tenterhooks about what may or may not happen, and when, this year. In the absence of concrete information, although informed guesses abound, it’s business as usual here with the caveat that it can all change ‘if needs be’.
National Training Programme 2024
As Director of Training, training and getting out information about ADSO’s training is what I am most preoccupied with. We have made a good start to the 2024 training year with our National Training Programme courses fully booked through to the end of April, although I believe there may be a few places left on the Structures and Functions Course on 18th April. Bookings for courses between May and September are now open.
New course areas under development
We are also progressing well with our new course areas all of which are completing their pilot phase and will be added to our programme over this year. There is a single session course ‘Becoming a DMO’ for those of you who are thinking about or who have just become Deputy/Monitoring Officers alongside your DSO role. We are in the midst of piloting a new course on supporting Planning and Licensing which will run over two sessions and our third new area is some training being developed for those DSOs who support school appeal panels. Keep an eye out for these later in the year.
Alongside these subject specific areas, I am beginning some work on professional development for senior DSOs. I don’t know what this will look like yet as it is early days but I will keep you informed via the newsletter and regional meetings. For those of you, and there are many, who take on some training, I will be developing a ‘Training skills’ course later in the year, this won’t be about making professional trainers of you but be focussed on strengthening your understanding of and skills in designing training, supporting learning and facilitating in your current role. Once I am closer to a finished design we will be looking at possible demand so again, if you are interested, I’ll be communicating via this newsletter and the regional reps.
Interested in becoming an ADSO trainer?
Every now and then I seek new volunteers for the trainer group. These are the (usually serving) DSOs who volunteer to train on our national programme courses. I’d like to recruit around 2 or 3 new trainers so if you are interested and meet the following criteria, let me know:
- You have delivered some training in your own council (or previous council). You can have a little or a lot of experience I don’t mind, but some will be of benefit.
- Your employer/manager must be willing to release you to undertake training for ADSO, We would agree how much during discussions, and participate in trainer group meetings and development sessions.
- You must be willing to work alongside other colleagues in the trainer group
- You must be open to learning and developing yourself – working both within your comfort zone and willing to push your boundaries a bit (although always supported) – and be a bit curious about how other DSOs and differently organised Councils ‘do it’.
- You will be comfortable working virtually in delivering our national programme via Zoom but ideally also open to working face to face with client groups.
I would stress I don’t expect you to have professional training skills or experience, this is something you might wish to do to pursue your own development, to widen your role and skills and get exposure to others in the DSO community who work in different environments. Contact me to arrange a discussion if you are interested on susan.biddle@adso.co.uk.
Code of Practice on Good Governance
A draft Code has been prepared by SOLACE, CIPFA and LLG. There is a link to a Local Government Lawyer article on this where you can access the draft code which you may wish to draw to the attention of your Monitoring Officer:
Susan Biddle, ADSO Director of Training