Public sector leaders will join senior police this week on the first-ever Independent Command Programme, which has been designed to help them address the common challenge of delivering efficient services with less money at a time of unprecedented change and rising public expectations.
Senior staff from local government, the NHS and the Fire Service will join 40 senior police representatives on the course from 19 to 23 April at the NPIA's training centre in Bramshill, Hampshire.
The programme builds on leaders' ability to think broadly to find innovative ways to deliver high-quality services with reduced budgets.
It covers subjects such as strategic thinking, negotiating and influencing, emotional intelligence, leadership and ethics. Delegates will also develop increased financial and business management skills, better political awareness, and knowledge on dealing effectively with uncertainty.
They will also take part in exercises designed to give them a better understanding of how partner bodies work and the challenges they face so they become highly effective leaders in their own workplace. They role-play representing organisations from health, social services, probation and other sectors and plan how they would approach a challenge such as reducing child poverty. Their plans are then scrutinised by a high-level panel which includes a Chief Police Officer, a senior academic and a local authority Chief Executive.
Participants will be assessed during the course, receiving feedback from course tutors and peers. The delegates also produce an academic paper on a relevant issue facing their organisation. Following the course, the delegates' line managers will also receive a report on their strengths and areas for agreed further development.
Angela O'Connor, chief people officer at the NPIA, said: "This programme allows delegates to "walk in the shoes" of leaders from partner public sector organisations, so they improve their understanding of the challenges each of them faces. This shared understanding will improve the way partners work together to deliver the high-quality services our communities demand of us all."
The Independent Command Programme is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Police College. Future ICPs will be held on the following dates:
21-25 June 2010 - Bramshill
12-16 July 2010 - NPIA Ryton site
13-17 September 2010 - Ryton
1-5 November 2010 - Bramshill
13-17 December 2010 - Ryton
21-25 February 2011 - Bramshill
