How can we build the capacity of staff to work and engage with communities?
Many different people are involved in community engagement activity. Last month we looked at building community capacity. This month we are focusing on staff.
For some staff, community engagement may just be a small – but important – part of their job. For others, it will be central to their role.
For all staff, it is essential that you consider whether you and your team have the skills that you need to perform your role. And, that you think about how you can develop these in the future.
How can we assess our skills?
With such a range of different people involved in community engagement, the skills you need will vary significantly.
There are a number of tools that you could use as a guideline to assess the kind of skills that you and your team need:
• National Standards for Community Engagement – do you work towards these standards? What skills do you need to meet them?
• Learning in Regeneration Skills Pack – provides advice on:
- identifying what you need to learn
- assessing the skills of one person or your whole team
- reminding you what you are already good at!
- sources of support, if you need help with meeting your learning needs
The pack is for everyone involved in regeneration – including staff, volunteers, committee members, and others. A free copy of the Learning in Regeneration Skills Pack is available from learndirect Scotland on 08456 000 111
What have other organisations done?
A police authority in Cheshire took an interesting approach to building staff capacity in community engagement. In 2004/05, it ran an 18 month programme to enhance staff capacity in community engagement.
The project focused on transferring skills from one dedicated and experienced community engagement specialist. This individual was involved in supporting staff across the authority to:
• develop their facilitation and research skills
• gather views and feedback from the public
• use a range of engagement methods
• develop effective community engagement monitoring systems
• engage with specific groups, such as young people
• build learning into an overall community engagement strategy.
The project was very successful in building the skills of staff members to engage with local communities. A detailed case study has been produced, with useful information about the approach, achievements and lessons learned.
Find out more…
Skills Framework for Regeneration – the Learning in Regeneration Skills Pack uses this framework.
Learning opportunities – the SCR works in partnership with learndirect Scotland to offer free advice on training opportunities, and access to online learning.
Better Community Engagement – provides a framework for learning about community engagement which can be used to help with creating learning opportunities and programmes.
Next month
We will be focusing on how service providers can be more joined up in their approach to community engagement.
