Supporting Suicidal Callers

Join us to learn how to deal with a caller who is talking about suicide.

We are very lucky to be joined by Lorraine Khalaf from the NHS who will be able to share her insight on how to deal with suicidal callers and how to support yourself and your colleagues when dealing with this type of caller.

This event will comprise of a presentation from Lorraine followed by a Q&A session.

We would love to hear from you ahead of the event, so if you have any questions you’d like answering, please email [email protected] and we will pass these to Lorraine to answer on the day

These sessions will take place on

10 October 2022 – 15:00-16:00
26 October 2022 – 15:00-16:00

Please book via ACT on the Parliamentary Intranet – you must have a network account in order to access this training. https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5338

Forthcoming Commons Library Talks

Details of all forthcoming Commons Library Talks can be found on ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=1563
Please note that you must have a parliamentary network account to access ACT.

Topics include:

Help with fire safety remediation work: high rise blocks (England)

Improving the UK’s science capability for managing animal diseases (NAO talk)

The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

Energy prices, security and market reform

The creation of the UK Infrastructure Bank (NAO talk)

Rising cost of living

An introduction to occupational and personal pensions in the UK

Mental Health reforms in England

Tackling local breaches of air quality (NAO talk)

Understanding and interpreting survey data

Legal aid and other options (England)

Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others

Caseworker Discussion Forum hosted by the Commons Library

The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

The next session is taking place on Thursday 18 August, 9:30-10:30am and will be on the topic of Wellbeing – looking after yourself and others. It will be chaired by Wendy Wilson from the Library.

The Forum will be complemented by a dedicated Teams chat which will allow you to share ideas and best practice, as well as support being on hand from the Library should specialist knowledge be required.

(Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.)

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

Upcoming HR Familiarisation Sessions

Learn about skills starting as an Office Manager

Office Manager – Getting Started Workshop for Members’ Staff

To book, please click this link Thursday 15 September 10-12 pm

Course overview

This workshop focuses on the elements of an Office Manager’s role that relates to HR best practice. It provides an opportunity to build knowledge and get practical guidance from the Members’ HR Advice Services.

The Members HR Services team
Your role as an Office Manager for an MP
Recruitment
Running the office
Insurance
EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

PDS Summer Training Sessions

Date	Topic	How to sign up
Thursday 28 July 2pm	Cyber Security Briefing essential to understanding the risks and mitigations around cyber security for us all, both in and out of work	Registration form for webinar here
Friday 29 July 10am	Introduction to Microsoft Teamstips on using Teams as a tool to organise and communicate. Learn about chats, channels, calendar, calls and files	Registration form for webinar here
Tuesday 2 August 11am	Accessibility features demonstration from Microsoft Microsoft are running a session on how to use the inbuilt accessibility features on your Windows device and Microsoft365 applications	Email the Digital Service Accessibility Champions
Thursday 4 August 2pm	Introduction to SharePointtips on how to use SharePoint as a tool for creating, saving and collaborating on shared documents	Registration form for webinar here


Friday 5 August 10am	Introduction to OneDrivetips on how to use OneDrive as a tool for individual work, document storage and remote access to personal files	Registration form for webinar here
Thursday 11 August 2pm	Using Microsoft Outlook effectivelytips for managing your mailbox and getting the best out of available features	Registration form for webinar here
Friday 12 August 10am	Microsoft Plannerhow to use Planner to work collaboratively and manage team tasks, projects and work streams	Registration form for webinar here
Thursday 18 August 2pm	Introduction to Microsoft Teams tips on using Teams as a tool to organise and communicate. Learn about chats, channels, calendar, calls and files	Sign up for webinar here
Friday 19 August 10am	Cyber Security Briefingessential to understanding the risks and mitigations around cyber security for us all, both in and out of work	Registration form for webinar here
Thursday 25 August 2pm	Introduction to OneDrivetips on how to use OneDrive as a tool for individual work, document storage and remote access to personal files	Registration form for webinar here
Friday 26 August 10am	Introduction to SharePointtips on how to use SharePoint as a tool for creating, saving and collaborating on shared documents	Registration form for webinar here
Thursday 1 September 2pm	Microsoft Plannerhow to use Planner to work collaboratively and manage team tasks, projects and work streams	Registration form for webinar here
Friday 2 September 10am	Using Microsoft Outlook effectivelytips for managing your mailbox and getting the best out of available features	Registration form for webinar here

Housing Casework Forum – 21 July 2022

The Library, in conjunction with the Members’ Services Team, is pleased to invite you to the Casework Discussion Forum which will take place virtually each month.

The next session is taking place on Thursday 21 July, 2-3pm and will be a Q&A session on the topic of Housing. It will be led by Wendy Wilson from the Library.

(Please note, you do not have to be a Caseworker to attend these sessions, they are open to any Members’ staff who handle casework.)

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

To book, please visit ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5177

Best Practice Guide on Whistleblowing – Guidance for MPs as Employers

Following the recent publication of the Best Practice Guide on Whistleblowing (guidance for MPs as employers). The Members’ HR Team would like to invite you to join them for one of the upcoming familiarisation sessions that will provide information that sets out the way in which employees may raise a whistleblowing concern and how those concerns should be addressed.

The session will cover:

What is considered as a whistleblowing concern
How a whistleblowing disclosure is raised
The legal protection and requirements under whistleblowing law
The practical steps that should be taken to ensure a fair and thorough investigation

30 June, 9.30am https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5192

28 July, 9.30am https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5193

CPA Parliamentary Academy

The CPA Parliamentary Academy is a free learning hub for parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament, created by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

For further details, please see this page: https://w4mp.org/cpa-parliamentary-academy/

CPA Parliamentary Academy

FREE, flexible online courses for all staff at the UK Parliament

Learn whenever, wherever with the CPA Parliamentary Academy

The CPA Parliamentary Academy is a learning hub for parliamentary staff and Members of Parliament, created by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

Our online learning platform, available for free to anyone working in a Commonwealth Parliament, offers a curriculum of online courses on parliamentary democracy, from how the committee system works to constituency engagement.

At the CPA, we know how busy people working in Parliament are. That’s why we’ve designed courses that can be started, worked on, and completed at any time. No essays, no long exams, no uncomfortable exercises. Just log-in on your lunch hour, or whenever fits your schedule, and progress at your own pace.

Why learn with the CPA? Our courses can widen your horizons, transporting you around the Commonwealth to get the perspectives of people who are shaping the way Parliaments act and operate. More than 60 MPs, clerks and international experts have contributed video lessons, offering their personal insights on subjects ranging from gender-sensitive budgeting to codes of conduct.

Beyond our online courses, we also offer a variety of other professional development opportunities, publications and resources, and run regular events that are open to Members and staff across the Commonwealth.

To get started, register for the CPA Parliamentary Academy with your parliament.uk email address.

https://www.cpahq.org/parliamentary-academy/

To explore the CPA’s online library of publications, articles, podcasts and more, visit our Knowledge Centre:

https://www.cpahq.org/knowledge-centre/

To find out what events we’ve got coming up, check out our Events page:

https://www.cpahq.org/events/

Mental Health First Aid drop-in session for Members and Members’ staff

Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.

https://parlinet.parliament.uk/house-of-commons-members-staff/

Do you know how to support your own mental health and that of your team? Have you seen an increase in the number of constituents and colleagues who are presenting with mental health concerns and would you know where to signpost them if you needed to?

Organised by Tracey Crouch MP and the Members’ Services Team, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England will be hosting a taster morning in Attlee Suite from 9am-1pm on 19 May 2022 to explore what you need to support yours and others’ mental health and wellbeing.

See here for full details.