Gateway Training - private sector training courses

Essential Scrutiny Skills

Description

This half day course is designed for councillors who are new to scrutiny. It is also an ideal course for councillors who wish to improve or enhance their existing scrutiny skills.

We recognise that scrutiny select committees, panels, reviews and task groups are organised and run slightly differently across councils, however this course covers the core skills required to be a successful scrutineer.

Selection of Topics Covered

Setting up a scrutiny event - co-option; expert witnesses, public, stakeholders, etc.
Choosing and setting up the venue - who sits where etc.
Putting people at ease, building trust and rapport and engendering collaboration
Handling nervous or ‘difficult’ people sensitively - understanding body language
Getting to the facts by asking open questions in a non-adversarial way
Active listening skills - understanding what people really meant by what they said!

Course Objectives

	Provide a ‘critical friend’ challenge to executives, external authorities and agencies
	Reflect the voice and concerns of the public and its communities
	Take the lead and own the scrutiny process on behalf of the public
	Make an impact on the quality of delivery of public services

Downloads

Download the course outline here

gateway hints

Regard every scrutiny situation an opportunity to make improvements rather than to criticise
Speak and ask questions as a member of the public - this is not the Spanish Inquisition!
Listen intently to what is being said but be conscious of what is not being said!

To find out more about this course please contact charles@gatewaytraining.net

Public Sector Courses

Private Sector Courses

Gateway Training 4 Clarence Court, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 1JL tel: 0800 083 2374 mobile: 07970 150 156 email: charles@gatewaytraining.net