Officer Development Framework

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.

This e-learning course includes a range of activities to help you develop your understanding of cyber security, the cyber threat and how to stay safe at work and at home​.

45 Minutes

This e-learning course includes a range of learning activities to help you better understand the importance of password management.

This e-learning course explores the use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and how the set up of desks and workstations can have a significant impact on health.

45 Minutes

This e-Learning course includes a range of learning activities to help you understand the dangers of phishing attacks. 

45 Minutes

This course includes a range of learning activities to help you develop your understanding of video conferencing and the cyber security measures that should be in place.

This e-learning course is for everyone as anyone who processes personal data must comply with data protection rules and follow good practice in data management. 

This e-learning course includes a range of learning activities to help identify simple opportunities to make a positive impact on our environment. 

This e-learning course addresses threats to equality such as discrimination, harassment and victimisation, explores how to promote fairness, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This e-learning course outlines the parameters of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), how it functions and how requests under the FOIA should be made and dealt with.

This e-learning course will develop your understanding of how and why we get things wrong and help to prevent potentially serious incidents in the workplace and beyond.

This e-learning course helps develop an understanding of information security through highly interactive activities and provides best practice tips to ensure information is kept secure.

20 Minutes

This e-learning module will give you a greater understanding of what behavioural agility is, providing you with practical advice to help you become more agile. 

20 Minutes

This e-learning module will give you a greater understanding of how to change your habits. It will provide you with practical advice to help you address your habits and behaviours.

60 Minutes

This e-learning course will assist newly elected and co-opted councillors to understand what local councils are, what they do and how they operate. 

This e-learning course explores how menopause affects women and why people and organisations need to learn about it.

This e-learning course will increase awareness of mental health and provide techniques to support you and those around you.

This e-learning course aims to raise awareness of common risks to personal safety and offers strategies to help minimise the chances of becoming a victim of crime. 

This e-learning course will help employees recognise, manage and reduce stress through a range of learning activities.

This e-learning course aims to increase awareness of unconscious bias and give practical tips on reducing the effect it has on decisions, attitudes and behaviour.

This e-learning course will explore health and safety legislation and its importance for individuals, employers and society.

50 Minutes

As someone who interacts with others on a regular basis, you have the power to make or break a person's day... and with that, your councils reputation! Develop your understanding of the importance of this through completion of the e-learning course.

This e-learning course will help develop an understanding of the hazards and circumstances that lead to fire and how to  manage them appropriately.

20 Minutes

Challenging, disappointing and stressful situations are all part of life. Knockbacks, job insecurities, money worries, illness, and relationship issues can affect us all at some point. This e-learning module will give you a greater understanding of resilience and offers practical advice to help you become more resilient.

This e-learning course will help develop an understanding of infection and measures that can be put in place to protect everyone in and outside of a workplace.

This e-learning course provides practical guidance and advice on how to effectively work from home. 

This e-learning course aims to provide a deep understanding of leadership, core skills and practical advice.

This e-learning course will explain what money laundering is, how to spot this financial crime and prevent 'dirty' money entering an organisation's system.

60 Minutes

This module is designed to provide local councils and councillors with an introduction to strategies needed to get the most from positive communication and engagement on social media.

60 Minutes

This module is designed to provide Clerks, Council Officers and Councillors with an introduction to the skills needed to be effective leaders in the different roles we have, and the different situations we face, in our local councils.

60 Minutes

This module is designed to provide Clerks, Council Officers and Councillors with an introduction to emotional intelligence and personal resilience, which is sometimes abbreviated to EI&R.

This e-learning course explains the terms neurodiverse and neurotypical and changes that can be made to support neurodiverse team members at work.

This e-learning course addresses some basic first aid responses to common accident and medical emergency situations that may be faced in a low-risk workplace.

This e-learning course will give you confidence in how to approach working with volunteers, providing training to them and ensuring they return.

Terrorism has cast a dark shadow over modern day times. With tools such as social media at their disposal, extremist groups have a long reach when it comes to radicalising vulnerable individuals, which is why understanding and vigilance have never been so important in the fight against terrorism.

This e-learning course explains what constitutes sexual harassment, how to recognise it and how to address and report it.

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 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.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

It is important for councils to create a communications strategy that supports the delivery of your council’s priorities, aims and objectives.

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.

This e-learning course explores the risks and legal responsibilities related to manual handling

This e-learning course increases awareness of the impact and type of bullying behaviours that can occur in the workplace, and provides guidance on what to do if you're being treated unfairly at work.

This course will help you hone your skills in customer service excellence and combines psychological insight with practical advice.

This course looks at what requirements and obligations local councils have under the Freedom of Information Act.

Breakthrough Communications discuss the necessary policies and procedures and what steps to follow when managing an Freedom of Information (FOI) request including the use of exemptions. The course will also cover how your council can ensure awareness among employees and councillors about FOI. 

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.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

Ideal for new councillors and new to role clerks and employees. The course is also suitable for everyone requiring a refresher on planning.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

A perfect follow up to A Basic Introduction to Planning covering some of the more specialised aspects of the planning system as well as looking at some aspects in more detail.