Working with Elected Members to Improve Frontline Services

 Delivered online via Microsoft Teams

To learn more about our in-house option, please contact us for details: [email protected]

Understanding and navigating the political environment of a council can be difficult for many officers coming from other public sector or private organisations. In APSE’s recent research “Striving to Thrive”, 79% of respondents reported behavioural issues from councillors, officers or other staff within the last four years. Nurturing and building positive relationships, de-escalating conflict and protecting professional boundaries make a crucial difference to the day-to-day lived experience of local councillors and are vital components of creating a harmonious and productive culture within authorities. When members and officers work well together, the council and the community get the best, but it can be fraught with problems.

Based on APSE’s extensive research, this one-day interactive workshop will take council officers through the different roles of elected members and officers, the challenges of working together, developing relationships to improve outcomes for communities.

It will be delivered by an experienced Councillor who will give an insight into the mindset of an elected member; and an experienced officer with experience of working with elected members over several years.

Who should attend?

Any officers who come into contact with elected members through front-line service delivery and those who need to regularly work with members or have ambitions to move into that level.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate the different officer & member roles and where they intersect
• Evaluate the impact of better member/officer relationships on community outcomes
• Analyse the challenges and opportunities in the roles and relationships
• Develop skills needed to navigate political dynamics
• Understand the importance of respect and professionalism from both perspectives
• Gain tips on conflict management when poor behaviour leads to problems
• Appreciate the effect of member/officer relationships on the organisational culture

Click here to download the brochure