ARCHIVED Working in a Political Environment ARCHIVED (INTE00062)
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- This is an East Riding Council staff course. If you are not a member of staff, you will not be able to apply or enrol to this course.
Course details
For all of us working at the council it is important to have a good understanding of the political structure and makeup of the organisation. This course provides an excellent opportunity for all staff to find out more about the roles and responsibilities of East Riding councillors, and to understand how the role of elected councillors differs from that of officers.
Collaboration, discussion, and feedback is an essential part of the working relationship between councillors and officers and is crucial to the work of the council. This course will help you to understand the protocols that govern this relationship, and to ensure that effective working practices are in place.
This is a two-part learning opportunity. The initial eLearning will help to increase your knowledge of working in a political environment. Once this is completed, you will be invited to join a virtual Q&A session with the Leader of the council and/or other councillors.
You will need to complete both parts of this learning opportunity to complete the course.
What do I need to join the course?
No prior knowledge is required; the course aims to give you all of the knowledge you need to work in a political environment.
For eLearning and the virtual Q&A sessions you will need a computer/laptop/tablet/smartphone, access to MS Teams, a webcam/camera and a reliable internet connection. You may also choose to use a headset or earphones with a microphone attachment.
You should ensure that you have a suitable place to study that is free from any distractions. Once you have completed the elearning, we will contact you to offer you dates to attend a virtual or physical Q&A session.
What do I need to provide for the first session?
You may wish to bring a notepad and pen to make notes. You can write down any questions you may have that you would like to address in your future chosen Q&A session.
How will I be taught?
The eLearning course is available via eLearn and can be accessed on a laptop, tablet, desktop or mobile phone. The Q&A sessions will be facilitated and delivered by the council leader and/or other counicllors and support staff from the members team either in person or via your laptop/tablet/mobile phone accessible via MS Teams.
What will I learn?
As part of the course you will learn about the political structure of the council and the roles and responsibilities, relationships, protocols and working arrangements of councillors and officers. You’ll also find out about best practices for information sharing and impartiality.
This will include:
- The political structure and political environment that applies to the council
- The roles and responsibilities of councillors and how this differs from officer roles
- The role of both member and officer and the protocols that govern working relationships
- Effective working practices and relationships to ensure we meet the needs of councillors
- What is appropriate in terms of information and impartiality
What could I do next?
If you want to develop your understanding of working in a political environment further then the following course may be of interest to you:
- Preparing committee reports and attending committee meetings
If you wish to undertake further training you should discuss this with your line manager in the first instance. Details of other courses are available to view on the course booking sytem