Award in Democratic Services
This qualification is offered at level 3. Learners must complete all 7 modules set for this award. This is a knowledge qualification. Learners will be ‘tested’ on their knowledge and understanding in each of the 7 modules, summarised below.
Module 1 – The structure and functions of local government in England
The learner will be asked to demonstrate an understanding of local government and its relationship with central government. An understanding of the different types of local authorities, the relationships between them and knowledge of areas such as election cycles, the role of political parties and the rules of proportionality will also need to be demonstrated.
Module 2 – The legal framework of local government in England
The learner will be asked to show an understanding of the basic legal requirements for local government in England. Knowledge of the constitutional requirements for local government in England will also have to be demonstrated.
Module 3 – The role of elected members and officers in local government in England
The learner will be asked to understand the roles and responsibilities of elected members in local government in England, including the electoral processes for being elected, the different roles members can play within the Council and on outside bodies. They will also need to demonstrate the roles and responsibilities of officers, including the importance of delegation, the importance of political independence and an understanding of the various codes and protocols used.
Module 4 – Executive and the role of Council in local government in England
This Module will require the learner to explain the different options for executive arrangements in local government in England, the key features of the strong leader model and the elected mayor model. The learner will also have to demonstrate an understanding of the role of Council and the powers reserved to it.
Module 5 – The role of Scrutiny in local government in England
The learner will be asked to show a knowledge and understanding of the powers and responsibilities of scrutiny and the role it plays in influencing decision-making. The module will also ask the learner to explore the new requirements of scrutiny and its role in influencing key partner organisations.
Module 6 – Community leadership and engagement in local government in England
This module will ask the learner to demonstrate an understanding of the context and requirements of partnership working in local government in England. This would include an understanding of issues such as the duty to co-operate, the role of local and multi – area agreements, local strategic partnerships and the comprehensive area assessment.
Module 7 – Understanding your own Authority
The learner will be asked to show an understanding of the key features of their own authority, including its geographic, environmental, economic, social and political makeup. They will also be asked to demonstrate an understanding of the governance arrangements in their own authority, including the decision making structures, processes and its political context.
Certificate in Democratic Services
Modules
Learners MUST complete the 7 modules which form the Democratic Services Award and then they must complete 6 practice modules to be able to gain a certificate in Democratic Services.
In undertaking the Certificate, the learner MUST complete the following 3 mandatory modules (8, 9 and 10).
Module 8 -Behaving professionally in a Democratic environment (credit value 4)
The learner will be asked to show evidence of of demonstrating a number of ‘democratic’ behaviours including adaptability and innovation, communication, customer focus, self management, political awareness and working effectively with others.
Module 9 – Working Relationships in local government (credit value 3)
The learner will need to provide evidence to show that codes of conduct and protocols have been followed in respect of relationships between officers, elected members and members of the public. Evidence would also need to be provided to show that in maintaining and developing relationships the learner has treated individuals in a fair and equitable way, with due regard for diversity and has shown political sensitivity.
Module 10 – Organising and co-ordinating events (credit value 4)
Evidence would need to be provided demonstrating how venues are selected, resources are identified and booked and attendance is encouraged. The learner would need to provide evidence showing how an event has been supported. Events could include civic events, partnership meetings, member training events or scrutiny visits/ events.
A credit value has been applied to all the ‘Practice’ Modules, in order to show the approximate ‘size/ length’ of the module. The higher the credit value the larger the Module and longer it will take to complete. A credit value of 1 equates to approximately 10 hours.
As well as the compulsory modules listed above, the learner must then complete a selection of the optional modules listed below, to a total credit value of at least 8:
Module 11a – Managing and Supporting Meetings (credit value 5)
The learner will need to provide evidence of preparing an agenda, supporting the running of the meeting, advising at the meeting and producing clear and accurate minutes if the meeting, together with recording and notifying agreed actions. Meetings could be formal committee meetings, informal working/ task groups or partnership meetings.
Module 11b – Presenting and advising effectively in a democratic environment- (credit value 2)
The learner would need to provide evidence that they have pro-actively advised elected members with clarity and accuracy in a public environment. This could include presenting reports at a committee meeting, delivering a presentation to members, or facilitating a training and development session. Learners would also need to provide evidence of situations where they had given clear and succinct advice in a reactive manner.
Module 11c – Planning and implementing scrutiny activities- (credit value 6)
The learner would be asked to provide evidence to show assistance in the scoping of a scrutiny activity, demonstrating an agreed plan with timescales and methodology identified. They would also need to show assistance in the identification of witnesses and types of research, how these are evaluated and the production of a final report in an agreed format and ‘signed off’ by agreed stakeholders.
Module 11d – Researching, analysing and reporting information- (credit value 2)
The learner will be asked to show evidence of research undertaken including how this has been collected (e.g. from similar authorities, by electronic information sources etc), analysed and presented for report in an appropriate format.
Module 11e – Supporting elected members casework- (credit value 2)
The learner will need to show evidence of how assistance has been provided to elected members in managing and supporting their casework. This could include dealing with complaints about services, failure to meet agreed standards and requests for information about services and service providers. A learner would need to demonstrate appropriate response times and relevant delivery of responses.
Module 11f – Supporting the development of elected members- (credit value 2)
The learner would need to demonstrate evidence of how assistance has been provided in supporting the development of elected members. This could include helping to identify individual development needs, supporting members in training and development events and helping produce a development programme.
Module 11g – Managing and publishing information- (credit value 2)
The learner would need to demonstrate evidence of storing information in the relevant location. The learner would also need to show the type of information available to the public, its correct form for presentation (e.g. website/ printed means) and adherence to the requirements of freedom of information and data protection.
Module 11h – Supporting the civic office (or Chairman of an authority) – (credit value 3)
The learner would be asked to provide evidence to show how support has been given to the work of the Civic/ Chairman’s Office. Evidence would need to demonstrate how office diaries have been organised and prioritised, how arrangements for events have been communicated to Civic/ Chairman representatives and other support staff and how major Civic/ Chairman occasions are planned for. In undertaking this module evidence would need to demonstrate how relevant protocols have been followed.