Behaviour Code for MPs’ Staff

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There are still some spaces available for next weeks’ ‘Behaviour Code – Why It Matters For All MPs’ Staff’ session at 3pm on 7 December. A further session has also just been arranged for 10am on 19 December.

It is essential that all new MPs’ staff attend so if you haven’t already please sign up here:

Course: Behaviour Code – Why it matters for all new Members’ Staff.

Caseworker Discussion Q&A – Dealing with domestic abuse cases

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Thursday 16 November 2023
Location: Online via MS Teams

With Sally Lipscombe from the Library’s Home Affairs Section and Hannah Cromarty from the Social Policy Section.

To book and view other Caseworker Discussion Q&A sessions, please visit ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5177

Moneyhelper

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Exclusive webinar for MPs’ staff

  • Boosting financial wellbeing one step at a time
  • A free MoneyHelper webinar for MPs’ staff
  • Monday 6 November, 14.00-15.00
  • Register and more details

During Talk Money Week, MoneyHelper (brought to you by the Money and Pensions Service) is hosting an exclusive webinar to support MP’s staff to have better conversations with constituents about money. Our financial wellbeing experts will help you:

  • Discover how to navigate conversations about money.
  • Learn how MoneyHelper can assist with your constituents’ queries on issues like housing, money, debt, and pensions.
  • Empower your constituents with tools to help enhance their financial wellbeing.

Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to an MP’s office, the free MoneyHelper webinar will help you guide your constituents to make more informed financial decisions. Secure your spot and register today!

Training for Members’ Staff

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The Members’ and Members’ Staff Services Team, along with Teams across the House of Commons, provides a wide range of training, learning and development activities that have been developed to support Members’ staff in their different roles and responsibilities.

To see the dates of courses coming up soon, view the Monthly Training Bulletin. You can also find all the training available to Members’ Staff on ACT.

Note: you must have a parliamentary network account and be connected to the network in order to access the above links.

Caseworker Discussion Q&A: Update from the Members’ Services Team

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Time: 14:00
Date: Thursday 17 August 2023
Location: Online via Teams

Update from the Members’ Services Team, including:

  • Training – Tom Mitchell, Training & Learning Facilitator, will update the group on the Training Ambassador Network, new starter learning pathways, as well as seeking your ideas and feedback for new training courses.
  • Engagement – Lydia Smith, Engagement Manager, will provide an overview of the engagement programme for the remainder of 2023, including an update on the dissolution roadshow events.
  • Wellbeing – Tanya Harris, Health and Wellbeing Manager, will provide an update about the Employee Assistance Programme – Health Assured.

It is nearly one year since the Casework Discussion Forum launched. We would like to use this session to gather your feedback about the Forum, suggestions on how it can be improved, and ideas for what topics you would like to see covered in 2024.

Caseworker Discussion Q&A – Constituents and dealing with debt

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Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: Thursday 20 July 2023
Location: Online via MS Teams

England and Wales focus, signposting organisations in Scotland and NI

With Lorraine Conway from the Library’s Home Affairs Section

To book and view other Caseworker Discussion Q&A sessions, please visit ACT: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?id=5177

MP Staff Training: Understanding Stalking & Harassment

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Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Date: Tuesday 8 August 2023
Location: Online via Teams
Open to: all Member’s staff.

This course is being run in conjunction with the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC).

The session will cover:

  • What is stalking and harassment?
  • What does the law say?
  • Motivations for stalking (inc. 5 Typologies)
  • Impact of stalking and how to manage risk
  • How and Why to report stalking

To book, please visit this link https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=2084

Behind the Scenes with the Official Report

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During the summer recess, the Official Report (Hansard) is offering Members’ staff an opportunity to learn how parliamentary proceedings are edited in the Official Report.

Spend an hour and a half with us and find out:

  • How Hansard reporters and editors publish MPs’ speeches
  • Which debates are read the most by constituents and how to share parliamentary contributions online
  • Who to contact with queries about the Official Report and where to read speeches before publication

We finish with a tour of the Hansard offices and the Press Gallery.

We will be holding sessions on the parliamentary estate during the summer recess on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 July, as well as on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 August.

We welcome all Members’ staff and any questions they may have!

For more information and to book a place, please contact [email protected]

Improving the management and wellbeing of political staffers:insights from Prime Minister’s Advisers in the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

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A Wellness Working Group online event.

Presenter: Dr Jennifer Lees-Marshment University of Auckland, New Zealand
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Date: Thursday 8 June 2023
Location: Online via Teams

This presentation will present suggestions for how to improve the management and wellbeing of political staffers, drawing on research conducted in 2022-23 through interviews with political practitioners, including 66 advisers for Prime Ministers Scott Morrison, Justin Trudeau, Boris Johnson and Jacinda Ardern.

It will discuss best practice recommendations made by experienced staffers who have worked in Prime Ministerial offices in Australia, Canada, the UK and New Zealand. These include clearer orientation, more relevant and ongoing training, as well as training of those involved in managing, effective and positive feedback to create and office culture, and the use of tools to constrain workloads, maintain motivation and support wellbeing.

This will be of interest to existing staffers, prospective special advisers, and anyone who may aspire to, or find themselves in the position of managing other staffers/colleagues.

To receive an invitation to the event, please email [email protected]

Managing Workplace Stress for MPs Staff – new training course

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A brand new training course from the Members’ Services Team.

The first presentation will be on Tuesday 13 June 2023.

For further information and booking, please visit https://parliament.learningpool.com/course/view.php?id=2059 (parliamentary network account required)

Course Overview

  • Learn how to recognize the symptoms and triggers of stress in the workplace. 
  • Learning coping strategies and self-care techniques for dealing with stress. 
  • Learn how to support co-workers who are under stress. 
  • Learn techniques to manage pressure and improve resilience to stress. 
  • Learn how to set boundaries in the workplace. (E.g. how to communicate when your workload is too high to take anything else on, how to communicate you need a break after a stressful interaction) 
  • Learn how to access available support services.