Officer Development Framework

In part two of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications covers how councils demonstrate accountability and lawfulness with UK GDPR legislation.

The course deep dives into how councils demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR. The different lawful bases for the processing of personal data are considered and how to create the policies and documents required for local councils. You'll also explore the requirements of the published Privacy Notice and how to create Legitimate Interest Assessments and Data Protection Impact Assessments.

Essential for new councillors in order to understand their responsibilities and for existing councillors wanting a refresher on the subject.

This course explores what brand identity means for parish and town councils, why it matters, and how to create a clear and consistent identity that reflects your council’s purpose and values. 

Councils often social media to connect with the communities. This course will explore the wide range of social media platforms available.

Breakthrough Communications will focus on how to get the most from key social media platforms, exploring ways of ensuring your social media output supports your council to achieve its goals and aims. You will also be introduced to social media advertising.

Councils often find it challenging to connect with young people. This course will define "young people" and how to effectively reach and engage them, both on and offline.

Breakthrough Communications explores what is actually meant by the term "young people", the different groups within that terms and issues that matter to each. Insights on forming partnerships with local youth organisations will also be covered.

This session is for offficers that are involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

In part three of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications covers data subject rights and information security.

The course explains how to deal with data subject rights, including Subject Access Requests (SARs), and the steps to take to ensure you are compliant and able to consider what exemptions may apply. There is also an introduction to information security for local councils and what this means in practice.

This course explores how to build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.

From local newspapers and magazines to regional TV and radio, traditional media provides councils a platform to communicate with residents. Breakthrough Communications explains how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media and how to build effective two-way relationships with journalists without being daunted.

It’s important for all councillors to understand how data protection laws relate to their role - this is true for new as well as longer serving councillors.

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

Canva is a versatile design tool that can be used for free. It allows you to quickly create posters, newsletters and other physical documents. You can also create images for social media and websites as well as videos.

This introductory course to finance is for inexperienced clerks, deputy clerks and RFOs in their first few months in role and will provide an overview of a council's financial year and a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

If you have 9 month's experience or more, this session is unlikely to cover anything you don't already know. Please leave this course for new clerks and book yourself onto more detailed finance courses as bookings made by experienced clerks or anyone that is not eligible, may be removed without notice.

In this course, Breakthrough Communications provide councillors, officers and employees with an understanding of where our behaviour comes from, what resilience means in the context of council roles and how to build emotional intelligence.

Council-focused scenarios will be explored and how best to respond to each of them.

In part two of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications covers how councils demonstrate accountability and lawfulness with UK GDPR legislation.

The course deep dives into how councils demonstrate accountability with UK GDPR. The different lawful bases for the processing of personal data are considered and how to create the policies and documents required for local councils. You'll also explore the requirements of the published Privacy Notice and how to create Legitimate Interest Assessments and Data Protection Impact Assessments.

Recruiting passionate and engaged individuals to stand as councillors is becoming increasingly challenging. This course focuses on how to spark interest in your community for serving as a councillor.

Breakthrough Communications teach strategies to raise awareness about the vital role of the council and its councillors, build relationships with key stakeholders, and inspire people to get involved. By the end of the session, you'll have practical tools to promote the work of the council, highlight the rewards of being a councillor and encourage community members to consider stepping forward.

In part one of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications will cover the foundations, theory and core principles of UK GDPR legislation.

This introductory course guides councils through the theory and core principles of UK GDPR and other relevant legislation. We will explain what policies, practices and processes local councils need to have in place to deliver their data protection obligations.

In this course, Breakthrough Communications discuss practical techniques for managing difficult conversations and situations. 

Handling realtionships professionally is critical in local councils. It can, however, be tough dealing with challenging people and situations.

A crisis could strike at any time and be anything from flooding to a meeting going viral.

There are many ways in which you could find yourself in the eye of the media storm. Brealthrough Communications will take participants through the detail of preparing for any crisis. Passing on expert tips and guidance on being prepared and the effective steps your council could take should the worst happen.

Canva is a versatile design tool that can be used for free. This course will explain how to get more out of Canva for your council by creating complex designs and a brand for your council for instance.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

An opportunity for new clerks, appointed in 2025, to come together, meet the DAPTC team and learn more about how we can support you in your role.  

This course is for clerks/RFOs, employees in finance and councillors. The course explains how VAT rules affect local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form 126. It's particularly important for councils contemplating major building projects.

Please note: this course is Optional in the CDF but it should be considered Intermediate for councillors on Finance Committees.

It’s important for all councillors to understand how data protection laws relate to their role - this is true for new as well as longer serving councillors.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

This session is for offficers that are involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Councils often find it challenging to connect with young people. This course will define "young people" and how to effectively reach and engage them, both on and offline.

Breakthrough Communications explores what is actually meant by the term "young people", the different groups within that terms and issues that matter to each. Insights on forming partnerships with local youth organisations will also be covered.

In part one of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications will cover the foundations, theory and core principles of UK GDPR legislation.

This introductory course guides councils through the theory and core principles of UK GDPR and other relevant legislation. We will explain what policies, practices and processes local councils need to have in place to deliver their data protection obligations.

This course explores what brand identity means for parish and town councils, why it matters, and how to create a clear and consistent identity that reflects your council’s purpose and values. 

Social media is a great tool for councils to use to improve their communication. This course provides the basics so you can get started in  the right way.

Breakthrough Communications focus on the basics of Facebook, creating a social media strategy and time-saving tools and techniques. The aim is to make you and your council more confident using social media.

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

This course explores how to build effective two-way relationships with journalists, how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media.

From local newspapers and magazines to regional TV and radio, traditional media provides councils a platform to communicate with residents. Breakthrough Communications explains how to write effective press releases and how to get regular coverage in your local and regional media and how to build effective two-way relationships with journalists without being daunted.

In part three of Data Protection & GDPR training for councils, Breakthrough Communications covers data subject rights and information security.

The course explains how to deal with data subject rights, including Subject Access Requests (SARs), and the steps to take to ensure you are compliant and able to consider what exemptions may apply. There is also an introduction to information security for local councils and what this means in practice.

Councils often social media to connect with the communities. This course will explore the wide range of social media platforms available.

Breakthrough Communications will focus on how to get the most from key social media platforms, exploring ways of ensuring your social media output supports your council to achieve its goals and aims. You will also be introduced to social media advertising.

It’s important for all councillors to understand how data protection laws relate to their role - this is true for new as well as longer serving councillors.

This course is for clerks, finance staff and councillors who already understand the rules of VAT and explains when VAT cannot be reclaimed in relation to exempt activities and what options may be available.

It's ideal for councils that lease or hire out land and buildings such as village halls, community centres, meeting rooms, sports facilities or markets, who need to understand when their council is at risk of not being able to reclaim VAT and vital for any council contemplating major building projects, or incurring significant expenditure on running these facilities.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

This session is for offficers that are involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

This course is aimed at new chairs and vice chairs of councils and committees and to those considering stepping into such roles. It can also act as a refresher to those already in post and with more experience.

The course is delivered in two parts; a video and, at a later date, an online session. There are a maximum of six places to ensure all of your questions are answered and important points thoroughly discussed.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

Essential for new councillors in order to understand their responsibilities and for existing councillors wanting a refresher on the subject.

An opportunity for new clerks, appointed in 2025, to come together, meet the DAPTC team and learn more about how we can support you in your role.  

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.