Officer Development Framework

Across three practical online sessions, learn how to stay calm under pressure, communicate with confidence, handle difficult conversations and build more positive working relationships.

An opportunity for new clerks, appointed in 2025, to come together, meet the DAPTC team and learn more about how we can support you in your role.  

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

This introductory course to finance is for inexperienced clerks, deputy clerks and RFOs in their first few months in role and will provide an overview of a council's financial year and a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

This course is for officers and employees involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

This course is for clerks/RFOs, employees in finance and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affect local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form 126 and its importance when contemplating major building projects.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

This course is for those who already understand the rules of VAT and explains when VAT cannot be reclaimed in relation to exempt activities and what options may be available.

Ideal for new councillors and new to role clerks and employees. The course is also suitable for everyone requiring a refresher on planning.

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

This introductory course to finance is for inexperienced clerks, deputy clerks and RFOs in their first few months in role and will provide an overview of a council's financial year and a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

This course is for clerks/RFOs, employees in finance and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affect local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form 126 and its importance when contemplating major building projects.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

This course will help clerks/RFOs and employees to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This course explains to councillors and officers the role of the internal auditor in providing assurance to the council that it has sound financial controls and how to appoint one.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

This course is will help clerks/RFOs and employees to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This course is for officers and employees involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

In-person events aimed at smaller parish councils in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking at venues around the county.

There are currently no dates available for this course. Please check back again soon.

This course will help clerks/RFOs and employees to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return (AGAR) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This course is for clerks/RFOs, employees in finance and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affect local councils, whether they are VAT registered or reclaim VAT using Form 126 and its importance when contemplating major building projects.

Online events aimed at clerks of smaller parish councils and parish meetings in Dorset, providing topical updates and opportunities for networking.

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return on an income and expenditure basis (mandatory for councils regularly spending over £200,000) and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This session explains how to convert receipts & payments accounts to income & expenditure accounts, how this affects the Annual Return and the timing of year-end activities and the audit process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly.

This course is for those who already understand the rules of VAT and explains when VAT cannot be reclaimed in relation to exempt activities and what options may be available.

Ideal for new councillors and new to role clerks and employees. The course is also suitable for everyone requiring a refresher on planning.

This course is for officers and employees involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

This course provides councillors, officers and employees an understanding for the need of internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

Ideal for new councillors and new to role clerks and employees. The course is also suitable for everyone requiring a refresher on planning.

Ideal for new councillors and new to role clerks and employees. The course is also suitable for everyone requiring a refresher on planning.

This e-learning course includes a range of activities to help you develop your understanding of cyber security, the cyber threat and how to stay safe at work and at home​.

This e-learning course includes a range of learning activities to help you better understand the importance of password management.

This e-learning course explores the use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and how the set up of desks and workstations can have a significant impact on health.

This e-Learning course includes a range of learning activities to help you understand the dangers of phishing attacks. 

This e-learning course includes a range of learning activities to help you develop your understanding of video conferencing and the cyber security measures that should be in place.

This e-learning course is for everyone as anyone who processes personal data must comply with data protection rules and follow good practice in data management. 

This e-learning course includes a range of learning activities to help identify simple opportunities to make a positive impact on our environment. 

This e-learning course addresses threats to equality such as discrimination, harassment and victimisation, explores how to promote fairness, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

This e-learning course outlines the parameters of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), how it functions and how requests under the FOIA should be made and dealt with.

This e-learning course will develop your understanding of how and why we get things wrong and help to prevent potentially serious incidents in the workplace and beyond.

This e-learning course helps develop an understanding of information security through highly interactive activities and provides best practice tips to ensure information is kept secure.

This e-learning course explores what behavioural agility is and provides practical advice to help you think on your feet and adapt quickly and positively.

This e-learning course explores habitual behaviour and provides practical advice to help address habits and behaviours.

This e-learning course will assist newly elected and co-opted councillors to understand what local councils are, what they do and how they operate. 

This e-learning course explores how menopause affects women and why people and organisations need to learn about it.

This e-learning course will increase awareness of mental health and provide techniques to support you and those around you.

This e-learning course aims to raise awareness of common risks to personal safety and offers strategies to help minimise the chances of becoming a victim of crime.