ADSO is hosting a virtual course ‘Becoming a DSO – an introduction’ held via Zoom.

This is a quick introduction, designed to give you some essentials and to give you the chance to ask questions and meet other new starters.  It will be delivered as a single 3-hour workshop.

Audience

This course is aimed at newly appointed Democratic Services Officers who wish to develop their understanding of their role.   Specifically designed for those taking their first steps into the world of Democratic Services, this course is aimed at those in the first twelve weeks of starting.

How the course will be delivered

The course will be delivered virtually, and by the end of the workshop you will:

• Understand what a local Council is and how it is funded.
• Know the different types of local Council and what services they provide.
• Understand how decisions are made and your role in supporting this, both in and out of meetings
• Have a sense of how accountability works in local government, how Councils and Councillors are held to account and the role of scrutiny.
• Have considered how the political environment of your workplace affects your role and makes it unique.

The workshops will include plenary presentations, case studies and smaller group working, enabling delegates to learn with colleagues from across the country.

Trainers 

Rachel Basham
Rachel has over fifteen years’ experience of working in local government, in a variety of roles across Democratic Services and Leadership teams. Her current substantive post is Member Services Manager at Surrey County Council, although she is currently on a 12-month secondment at Woking Borough Council, providing additional strategic support to their Leadership team. Rachel is a City and Guilds qualified adult trainer alongside being an assessor for both the ASDO Certificate in Democratic Services and the Charter for Member Development.

Vicky Wemyss-Cooke
Vicky is currently the Committee Services Manager at London Borough of Camden and has been a DSO in London for almost 30 years and for the last 7 years has been the Committee Services Manager in Camden, managing a small team servicing Council, Cabinet, scrutiny and non-executive committees, along with a range of other bodies such as school appeals panels and tenants’ consultative committees.  Throughout her career, she has also undertaken a range of roles in support of local, national and regional elections and currently serves as Chief Count Supervisor for the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency area.  Vicky has been an active ADSO Member from its inception and is an assessor for the Certificate in Democratic Services Knowledge.

Date and time

Thursday 20th March 2025, 9.30am-12.30pm

Cost

• ADSO Member rate – £55 + VAT per person to attend the course
• Non-ADSO Member rate – £80 + VAT per person to attend the course
• ADSO Learner – Free

How to book a place

Please book a place using the link below.  The terms and conditions of booking can be found here.

Booking requirements

• A purchase order number is required for all bookings.  Please make the PO out to ADSO. Courses cannot be attended if a purchase order is not received.
• A hardcopy of the purchase order is required.
• Please provide us with your ADSO Membership number (if applicable)
• A few days after booking you will receive a calendar invite for the workshop(s).  Please note that your email address will be visible to all participants unless you advise us otherwise.
• Please send the above information to adsotraining@emcouncils.gov.uk.