National Probation Service Hertfordshire: Management Development Programme

We have been working with NPS - Hertfordshire for over 5 years, providing a wide range of services. One of our commissions was to design and deliver a Management Development programme specifically for them..

The NPS has undergone rapid change over the last few years, becoming a national service with new objectives and a particular responsibility arising from the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000. Extending over two years, the programme has included training for Board members, for the Chief Officer and the senior team, and for managers, including those managing complex partnerships with other agencies in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

We have delivered briefings and facilitations for senior staff on a range of issues, and delivered management development training programmes for middle and senior staff for six and twelve month periods. Another key area of our work is recruitment and selection as we have provided advice, guidance and training on all aspects of recruitment and selection. This is including providing the opportunity for interview panels to have credible candidates on which to hone their skills.

Another of our core programmes was to deliver one and two day interactive training for all staff on equality and diversity issues, which focused on making a measurable difference to the day to day work of the organisation. Alongside these events, we have designed and delivered action learning events and coaching.

Senior managers in NPS - Hertfordshire now have a collective understanding of how to integrate equalities into the strategic management of their service. They have prioritised training and development, and made sure that equality issues are integrated into all training events and processes. Furthermore, with our training NPS - Hertfordshire managers can now use their performance management procedures more effectively and equitably.

We value our long standing relationships with NPS - Hertfordshire as it reflects that delegates not only enjoy our interventions but that they make a measurable positive difference to individual and organizational performance.