Public Sector Skills 2008

Beyond Competence: Are We There Yet?

Agenda

• P1: Morning Plenary
  Running time: 09:30 - 11:00
  
  An expert Panel focus on key public sector skills issues in a 90-minute session for all delegates. A scene-setting message from the conference chair is followed by four 15-minute presentations and an interactive 25-minute Q and A (from 10:35-11:00) involving speakers, session chair and delegates.
  
  Speakers
  • 09:30 : Ruth Spellman OBE - Chief Executive : Chartered Management Institute

    Session Chair
    
    As chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, Ruth leads the drive to encourage individuals, businesses and government to invest in the high level skills we need to increase UK competitiveness and productivity. Prior to joining the Institute in June 2008, Ruth was the first female chief executive officer of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, following seven successful years as Chief Executive of Investors in People. Prior to that she was a senior member of the consulting practice at Coopers & Lybrand, HR Director of the NSPCC and an advisor to NEDO (the National Economic Development Office). She brings a broad experience of the private, public and voluntary sectors to her new role. Ruth was awarded an OBE in the 2007 New Year Honours List for services to Workplace Learning. She was also recently voted 14th out of the 100 most influential HR individuals in the UK. She is married to a physicist, Dr William Spellman, has three grown up children, and currently resides in Hertfordshire.
    

  • 09:35 : Penny De Valk - Chief Executive: Institute Of Leadership and Management / Board Member : City & Guilds

    'Making A Difference – Leadership In The Public Sector' - new research findings from the Institute of Leadership & Management.
    
    Penny (a Board Member of City & Guilds) was appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer of the ILM (Institute of Leadership & Management) in October 2007, prior to which she was Strategy director for Ceridian, a US-based $1.5bn HR services organisation. She also headed up their employee support business Lifeworks for four years before joining the UK Board of Ceridian to develop & run several HR businesses in the UK. With a BA and MBA, Penny’s background includes corporate marketing, executive development and consultancy in business to business service environments. Before joining Ceridian, she was CEO of the Institute of Management in Auckland, New Zealand and was named as ‘one to watch’ in the HR magazine Most Influential league table for 2008.

  • 09:50 : Ian Watmore - Board Member: Government Skills / Civil Service Apprenticeship Champion / Permanent Secretary : Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)

    Building Professional Skills for Government - delivering the first skills strategy for Central Government. Progress on delivery, a taste of common action and a focus on apprenticeships in the civil service.
    
    Ian is the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He is a member of the board of Government Skills, the sector skills council for Central Government and he is Civil Service apprenticeship champion. Previously, he was in the Cabinet Office where he was the head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, the Government’s Chief Information Officer, and the first head of the Government Information Technology profession. He joined the Civil Service in September 2004 after a 24-year business career in IT, culminating as Accenture’s UK Managing Director from 2000 to 2004. He has a degree in mathematics and management studies from Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a member of the board of the English Institute for Sport which provides sports science and sports medicine to Olympic and elite athletes. He spent five years on the Board of e-Skills UK, the sector skills council for IT and telecoms. He is a former member of the Council for Industry and Higher Education, and Business in the Community. In 2005 he received the computing industry’s Outstanding Contribution to UK IT award. He is 49 years of age, is married with four teenage sons, and lives in the north west of England.
    

  • 10:05 : Alan Woods OBE - Chief Executive : Skills for Justice

    'You're Hired! Can We Help The Public Sector Horse To Drink?' - addressing careers and qualifications pathways in the public sector, and how the sector can work together to deliver on workforce issues.
    
    In October 2007, Alan was appointed CEO of Skills for Justice, the Sector Skills Council covering employers, employees and volunteers working in the UK justice system. Skills for Justice provides the support necessary for the Justice sector to identify its current and future learning needs, to engage more effectively with learning providers in order to meet these needs with quality development programmes, and to link the acquisition of learning to reputable, valued qualifications. It does this through four main work programmes: 1: Engaging with and influencing employers, government departments, devolved administrations and key partners; 2: Understanding and articulating the current and future skills needs of those working in the Justice sector; 3: Developing tools and services to improve workforce skills, working with employers, learning providers and individuals; and 4: Implementing practical solutions to improve workforce skills, working with employers, learning providers and individuals. Prior to this, Alan was Chief Executive of a charity tackling anti-social behaviour and environmental degradation, leading it to become a Sunday Times Top 100 Small Companies to Work For. Alan has an MBA from Henley College and a Bachelor’s degree from the Open University. He was appointed OBE in 2004 for services to sustainable development.
    
    

  • 10:20 : Liz Chandler - Head: Merseylearn / Training and Development Officer : Merseytravel

    'Unlocking The Potential Of Your Workforce'
    
    Liz was winner of the 2007 National Training Awards Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Linda Ammon prize, for outstanding achievement in providing opportunities for individuals as they seek to develop their careers and make their contribution to society. A Chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Liz joined Merseytravel (the Passenger Transport Authority for the Merseyside area, that also runs and operates the Mersey Tunnels and Mersey Ferries) in April 2002, with the task of developing and implementing a new learning and development strategy that would deliver a learning culture across the whole organisation. Prior to joining Merseytravel, Liz had worked at Liverpool City Council for 17 years, undertaking a variety of roles in mainstream HR and learning and development. Liz also acts as an ambassador for both I.i.P and National Training Awards.

• A1: Assessing Skills Needs
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  10% of the public sector workforce has no formal qualifications and hundreds of thousands of workers have literacy, language and numeracy needs. Learn to approach effectively individuals with such needs and discover how the power of learning can transform the lives of people at work. How can organizations use skills assessment at the heart of their improvement agenda? How can technology transform the way an organisation understands and develops its greatest asset – its people?
  
  Speakers
  • Liz Smith OBE - Director : unionlearn
  • Matilda Gosling - Senior Manager in Research and Policy : City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development
• A2: Creating A Learning Culture
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  Creating a culture where learning thrives is a noble and important goal. But how is it done? What is the role of training, knowledge management and other forms of learning?
  
  Speakers
  • Brian Dines - Training & Accreditation Manager, London Underground : Transport For London
  • Chris Brandreth - Commercial Director : Four Counties Training Ltd
  • Dr Jamie MacAskill - Director, Business Development : Barnet College (Training For London)
• A3: E-Learning: Bringing The Pieces Together
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  Many organisations are moving from instructor-led skills training to online or blended learning. This case-study led session outlines how employers can ‘bring the pieces together’, using impartial and expert advice on learning technologies, pedagogy, learner support and accreditation.
  
  Speakers
  • Erica Plowman - Learning Designer, UELConnect : University of East London
  • Peter Forrest - Associate Director of UELConnect : University of East London
  • Sarah Frame - Director of UELConnect : University of East London
  • Shani Gbaja - Associate Director of UELConnect : University of East London
• A4: Building Professional Skills For Government
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  What are Government Skills and central government employers doing to ensure a better skilled workforce with readier access to appropriate qualifications? This session will provide an overview on progress made on implementation of the Skills Strategy for central government. It will focus the future use of and approach to qualifications by the sector. Government Skills' Apprenticeship pathfinder coordinator will share insight and lessons learnt from the recent pathfinder roll out, helping delegates consider the roll of apprenticeships in their business environment. This session is aimed at education professionals, those working in learning and development and/or managing staff across local and central government.
  
  Speakers
  • Brigid Feeny - Apprenticeships Pathfinder Coordinator : Government Skills
  • Gillian Sellix - Qualifications Policy Manager : Government Skills
• A5: Developing Leadership And Management Skills In The Public Sector: Contemporary Challenges
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  Learn how challenges for leadership, management and health literacy place skills at the heart of transformation for the health workforce.
  
  Speakers
  • Chrissie Oldfield - Senior Lecturer And Courses Director; Faculty of Business Computing And Information Management : London South Bank University
  • Edward Rosen - Principal Lecturer : London South Bank University
  • Milo Crummie - Head of Department, Faculty of Business, Computing And Information Management : London South Bank University
  • Professor Susan McLaren - Director, Faculty of Health And Social Care : London South Bank University
• A6: Excellence In Managing Customer Relationships
  Running time: 11:30 - 12:30
  
  Whether the customer is internal or external there is a need to provide excellent service. This isn’t just about delivering excellence in initial contact, but also in the way staff are managed to deliver this, and how customer relationships are managed strategically for everyone’s benefit. This session will look at some quick basic tools for achieving all levels of excellence in customer relationships.
  
  Speakers
  • Graham David - Artistic Director : Blue Beetle
  • Mel Dykes - Senior Presenter : Blue Beetle
  • Vicki Adebola - Presenter : Blue Beetle
• B1: The Diploma In Public Services
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  Skills for Justice is working with Skills for Health, Government Skills, Skills Plus, Council for Administration and the Ministry of Defence to develop an exciting and innovative qualification for young people aged 14-19 in England. This session will enable delegates to understand how it will work, and how public service employers can play a key role in its development, enable qualification delivery and 'spread the word' to help ensure its successful implementation.
  
  Speakers
  • Christine Flower - Diploma Development Partnership lead on qualification development : Government Skills

    (Representing the central government sector)

  • Neil Fletcher - Diploma Development Partnership lead on employer engagement and higher education : Skills Plus UK

    (Representing the local government sector)

  • Pip Maskell - Diploma Development Partnership lead on the gateway process : Skills for Health

    (Representing the health sector)

  • Rowena Thomassin-Timms - Diploma Development Partnership lead on additional specialist learning : Skills for Justice

    (Representing the justice sector)

• B2: Deliver Better Public Services With Free And Subsidised Training Through Train To Gain And Apprenticeships
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  Does your workforce have the right skills for the delivery of effective and efficient services now, and in the future? This session will explore two Government funded training streams: Train to Gain and Apprenticeships. Find out what funding is available and how to access this to support your organisation's development.
  
  Speakers
  • Jude Winter - Deputy Chief Executive : HCT Group
  • Sacha Corcoran - Deputy Director for Partnerships and Innovation : City and Islington College
  • Teresa Esan - Director of Employer Engagement And Employability : City and Islington College
• B3: Coaching And Mentoring
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  Discover how make the best use of existing skills and potential by sharing knowledge and learning through coaching and mentoring. This session will highlight the practical ways to use coaching and mentoring effectively to raise skill levels and enhance performance.
  
  Speakers
  • Carmelina Lawton-Smith - Senior Lecturer in Training and Development : Oxford Brookes University Business School
  • Dr David Langford - Dean Business School : Oxford Brookes University Business School
  • Elspeth Macfarlane - Head of Consultancy and Corporate Learning : Oxford Brookes University Business School
  • Dr Tatiana Bachkirova - Course Leader - The Centre for Coaching and Leadership Development : Oxford Brookes University Business School
• B4: Qualifications Vs Skills
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  What’s in it for me? What’s in it for the organisation? What’s in it for the sector? Are qualifications delivering improved performance at the front line? Do we need a Sector Skills Agreement for all public services? Are employers really at the centre of the skills debate?
  
  Speakers
  • Julie Beardwell - Academic Projects Manager : De Montfort University
  • Stephen Peak - Head of Corporate Development, Leicester Business School : De Montfort University
• B5: Partnering To Deliver Work-Based Learning And Qualifications
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  The demands of the public sector highlight the need to offer staff relevant and innovative learning and development. This results in improved organisational capability and the ability to attract and retain talented people. The University of Portsmouth Business School has worked with the public sector to design and deliver work-based solutions and will draw upon these experiences to provide an insightful session.
  
  Speakers
  • David Hall - Senior Lecturer : University of Portsmouth Business School
  • Julia Ward - Lead for Leadership and Management Development : Portsmouth City NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust
  • Linda McCormack - Business Development Director : University of Portsmouth Business School
• B6: The QCF And Its Opportunities For The Adult Social Care, Children And Young People's Workforces
  Running time: 13:30 - 14:30
  
  This session will explore the implications of the emerging Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) for the social care, children, early years and young people's services in England. CWDC (Children's Workforce Development Council) and Skills for Care will explain in brief the QCF and highlight the opportunites for the sector. By the end of the session, participants should have a greater understanding of the QCF and its opportunities.
  
  Speakers
  • Andy Tilden - Programme Head : Skills for Care
  • Louise Kershaw - Development Officer: Standards & Qualifications : Children\'s Workforce Development Council
• C1: Managing ‘Generation Y’: A New Skills Approach
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  Many young adults - the so-called ‘Generation Y’ – are equipped with skills and abilities much in demand by public sector employers. But will their particular attitude and motivation to work find a natural ‘home’ in serving the state? This session will address the new kind of career management skills required to recruit, retain and develop this lucrative pool of talent.
  
  Speakers
  • Dr Paul Redmond - Head of Careers & Employability : University of Liverpool
• C2: Are Values-Based Leadership Skills The Key To Unlock Performance?
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  This session demonstrates the Queen’s Award-winning work of the Metropolitan Police Leadership Academy which designs and delivers a wide portfolio of developmental leadership programmes to both junior and senior staff across London. At the heart of these programmes lie its core organisational values, created by extensive collaboration with staff. An opportunity to learn how blending core skills with the development of values-based leadership behaviours not only results in increased performance but in a workforce with greater competence, courage and confidence to perform their role ethically and effectively.
  
  Speakers
  • Chief Inspector Ben Honey - Head of the Leadership Development Team : Metropolitan Police Leadership Academy
  • Bill Griffiths CBE, BEM, QPM - Director of the Leadership Academy : Metropolitan Police Service
  • Jonathan Crego - Director Hydra Operations : Metropolitan Police Leadership Academy
• C3: Achieving Operational Efficiency Through Peer-To-Peer Learning Networks
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  Achieving operational efficiency and creating an enterprising culture requires new and dynamic learning methods that deliver real results. This session will introduce the learning networks concept and its benefits as demonstrated through the highly successful ProfitNet programme. Running in the UK, Ireland and South Africa, ProfitNet provides realistic and workable solutions and the necessary tools to implement sustainable improvements.
  
  Speakers
  • Chris Dutton - Assistant Head of School : University of Brighton
  • Dr George Tsekouras - Senior Research Fellow CENTRIM (Centre for Research in Innovation Management) : University of Brighton
• C4: The Use Of Gaming Technology In L And D
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  So called ‘Serious Gaming’ is gaining credibility as a valuable addition to traditional methods of training and development. What evidence is there that this technology works? Which gaming scenarios may be appropriate for use in the public sector?
  
  Speakers
  • David Wortley - Director : The Serious Games Institute
• C5: Creativity: Adding Value In The Public Sector
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  Do you deliver services that support individuals, families and communities? In this session, through your active engagement in artistic processes, you will discover how, by innovation, change and adaptation, creativity can add value to the public sector. We will draw from innovative approaches to learning, coaching and team development as well as artistic theory and practice.
  
  Speakers
  • Dr Janek Dubowski - Head of Psychological Therapies : Roehampton University
• C6: IT Innovation: It's Not A New Idea
  Running time: 15:00 - 16:00
  
  With IT and innovation central to the delivery of transformational change and sustainable advantage in an uncertain economic climate, this session considers how Higher Education can work in partnership with organisations to extend and capitalise on the knowledge and skill base of their existing, mid-career IT professionals.
  
  Speakers
  • Professor Mike Norman - Managing Director Confrere : Brunel University
• P2: Afternoon Plenary
  Running time: 16:10 - 16:40
  
  'Skills And Learning In Public Services: Future Challenges, Opportunities And Action'
  
  Investment in workforce skills, learning and development enhances and sustains the quality of public services delivered to and accessed by users.
  
  The Public Services Forum has led a programme of work over the last two years through a task group involving key Government, employer and trade union colleagues. Its remit was to progress a shared ambition for improved skills in public services, focusing on practical routes to success and to develop an action plan for employers and trade unions to take forward. As part of this work, the Forum has also progressed a live study of the adult social care sector to learn about the sector's approach to learning, skills and workforce development.
  
  It is hoped that the work of the Learning and Skills Task Group will enhance and support skills and career progression for a significant section of the UK workforce - providing an opportunity to make a real impact on the achievement of progress on skills at a national level across all sectors.
  
  This 30-minute session will outline its key findings and recommendations for public services skills, based on its evidence gathering, analysis and dialogue: What are the future challenges and opportunities for skills and workforce development in the public sector, and what might a future campaign for joint action from public service employers and trade unions focus on?
  
  NB: This session is followed by a drinks reception (16:40-17:20) available to all delegates and speakers.
  
  Speakers
  • David Amos - Director of Workforce : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    David Amos is the Director of Workforce at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which provides local and national clinical services employing over 6000 staff and a turnover of over £500m. He is a member of the Public Services Forum which brings ministers, trade union and public sector leaders together; a member of the National Employers Advisory Board which advises the Ministry of Defence on reservists’ matters; and is the interim national chair of Managers in Partnership (MIP) – the new trade union for health care managers. He is a regular columnist such as in the (Health Service Journal and the Employing Healthcare Professionals journals) and conference speaker. Before joining UCLH, he was the Deputy Director of Human Resources (Delivery) at the Department of Health from 2001 until 2004, having originally been the Head of the Recruitment and Retention Unit. Formerly, David was the Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development at St Mary’s NHS Trust from 1996, originally joining in 1994 as the General Manager for medical services. Formerly Clinical Services Manager at Guy’s & St Thomas NHS Trust and general management trainee.

  • Frances O'Grady - Deputy General Secretary : Trades Union Congress (TUC)

    Frances became TUC Deputy General Secretary in January 2003, the first woman ever to hold this post. Frances has lead responsibility for a wide range of key areas of policy development across the TUC's work including trade union recruitment and organisation, inter-union relations and TUC services to members. She sits on the board of the think tank, IPPR and is joint Vice Chair of the LSC National Council. Since March 2006, she has been Co-Chair of the Public Services Forum Learning and Skills Task Group. She is also a member of the UK Skills Board, and in April 2007 was appointed to the Low Pay Commission.

  • Nita Clarke - Director : Involvement and Participation Association

    Nita Clarke is the Director of the Involvement and Participation Association (IPA). She was formerly the adviser on trade unions to Prime Minister Tony Blair, working as assistant political secretary in the Political Office at 10 Downing Street from January 2001 to June 2007. Her role included liaison with individual unions and the TUC, developing national policy in areas such as the two-tier workforce and work-life balance, supporting ministers by trouble-shooting in industrial disputes. Nita was a senior official with public services union UNISON from 1992 -2001.
    

  • Paula McDonald - Deputy Director - Pay & Workforce Reform : Cabinet Office
  • Tom Watson MP - Chair: Public Services Forum and Minister : Cabinet Office

    Session Host
    
    Tom Watson was elected to Parliament in June 2001 and was quickly appointed to the Home Affairs Select Committee. He was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Paymaster General in 2003 and entered the Government as an Assistant Whip at the end of 2004. Between May 2006 and September 2006 he was Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans. In July 2007, he rejoined Government in the Government Whips office and in January 2008 was appointed Cabinet Office Minster. Before entering Parliament, Tom worked as Political Adviser to Sir Ken Jackson at the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union. He has also worked for the Labour Party and Save the Children and served on the Rover Taskforce, the Government-appointed body that helped extend the life of the Longbridge car plant. Tom was Parliament's first blogger and has a well-established interest in technology. As Cabinet Office Minister, Tom leads on Transformational Government; Civil Service Issues; Civil Contingencies; Central Office of Information; Government Communications Network and the National School of Government.

*Agenda, speakers & timetable subject to change or alteration.

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