Case Study: Training and Development - Leicestershire and Rutland Improvement Partnership

The Leicestershire and Rutland Improvement Partnership was established to support the 7 Districts in Leicestershire to work together to improve performance management, management development and members development across all the Councils

As part of the work of the partnership a Senior Women’s Network was planned to build upon the experience of 6 female Chief Executives within the Partnership. The aim was to create a sustainable and viable network which was supportive, developmental and offered greater opportunity to women within the organisations and in the sector.

The Network was launched on 30 November 2006. Achievements so far include:

• Completion and analysis of a questionnaire showing the needs of members and what they want from a network
• Coaching/mentoring programme being established with training participants
• First event around ‘role play’ and facilitation for dealing with difficult staff being organised
• Community of Practice being set up with consultants, IDeA, to enable the Network to communicate, share good practice and actively problem solve

Each partner Council will now have a Champion to lead on the Network in their Council, supported by a Facilitator who will act as the main link with the Community of Practice.

The name has been changed to Women Managers Network to better reflect the women involved and to add to the "encouragement/support" aim of the Network. The link to the 6 women CEOs will be retained.

Six and twelve month plans have been drawn up. These include activities such as:

• Bringing women managers together to build local networks
• Promoting the Leicestershire experience to the rest of the East Midlands and nationally
• Promoting work life balance and sharing methods of achieving this
• Building the confidence of women in the workplace
• To identify mentoring/coaching opportunities to build skills
• Linking with other networks and the public sector
• Ensuring the sustainability of the network

Lynn Aisbett