The 'go to' organisation for Local Government improvement in Scotland Improvement ServiceProducts and ServicesSkills and DevelopmentElected Members Development products ELECTED MEMBERS DEVELOPMENT The IS works with councils and other partners to provide high quality and cost-effective training and development opportunities for elected members. We aim to: provide local, regional and national direction in meeting the current needs, and anticipating the future needs, of elected members provide programmes, expertise, advice and support to elected members and councils to meet these needs encourage collaboration and the sharing of resources to provide high quality and cost-effective development opportunities for elected members. What support is available to elected members? The team provides a non-partisan role in supporting all elected members in Scotland. The Elected Members’ Development programme provides the following support: Standing for election If you are considering standing for election, this website will help you understand the many different aspects of a councillor's role, provide you with information to help you decide if being a councillor is for you and ensure you are well prepared should you be elected. Induction materials for newly elected members If you are newly elected, the IS produced induction resources for elected members. Each council has their own set, which can be requested from officers in your council. Alternatively, you can access our generic induction resources. Professional Development Framework We are currently developing a Political Skills Self-Assessment which will be available for councils to use following the Local Government Elections in May 2022. For more information on this please contact david.barr@improvementservice.org.uk Briefings The elected members' briefing series has been developed by the IS to help elected members keep apace with key issues affecting local government. Webinars The elected members' webinar series has been developed by the IS to provide elected members with further development opportunities. They are live recorded so elected members that could not join in on the day, can access and view the content. Coaching for Senior Elected Members Coaching provides elected members with a confidential space, with a qualified, professional and impartial coach that will support and challenge them to achieve greater impact in their role as an elected member. Further information can be found on our coaching pages. Administration self-assessment and improvement planning support The IS can provide a facilitated self-assessment and improvement planning session to Administrations, using agreed checklists of key statements to critical review how the Administration operates. The checklists explore areas such as leadership, communication, working relationships with officers, and roles and responsibilities, but will be tailored to the needs of each Administration Find out more about the process and enquire about support. Consultancy Consultancy services are available upon request, to enquire further please contact david.barr@improvementservice.org.uk Newsletters Keep up to date with the IS and the elected members team by reading our newsletters. You can also subscribe to get the newsletters to your inbox. Other resources In addition to our own briefings and guidance for elected members, many of the organisations we work with also produce information and advice for councillors. We've gathered some of the resources that we consider useful for elected members. David Barr - Project Manager, Organisational Development Email: david.barr@improvementservice.org.uk Introduction to Integration Coaching for Senior Elected Members Political Mentoring Development Programme Elected Member Induction Materials Elected Member Guidance and Briefings Elected Member Webinars Partner Resources for Elected Members RELATED CONTENT Scotland's Councillors 2017-2022 A survey of councillors elected in 2017. It looks at the demographic profile of councillors and questions relating to their role, such as additional employment status, how councillor duties are managed and why they chose to stand for election. Follow Me: A Guide to Social Media for Elected Members in Scotland An introduction to what social media is and how councillors can use it for communication. This also contains brief guides to the most popular social media tools. KNOWLEDGE HUB RELATED LINKS Scottish Members Services Development Network (SMSDN) Officers working in members’ services across Scotland, spanning all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities. Useful Information Our Staff Join our Team Scottish Councils & CPPs Privacy Statement Cookie Policy Accessibility Statement ISO27001 Contact 01506 282012 info@improvementservice.org.uk © Improvement Service Our cookie policy By using this website you agree to our cookie policy. We use cookies to generate statistical data about how people use our site. We never share information or attempt to identify individuals. See our cookie policy for more information. Accept all cookies See all cookies