Postgraduate Certificate in Managing Public Services

The programme is delivered by means of five one day interactive workshops followed by action learning activities, work based reflection and individual guidance tutorials, either face to face or via telephone/email.

You will also be allocated an individual tutor to guide you through the programme.

You will complete five work based assessments relating to your personal effectiveness, leadership and management skills, performance management, partnership working and a final work based service improvement project.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is spilt into 4 Modules, each focusing on key areas in Public Service Management.

The 4 Modules are:

MODULE ONE : PERSONAL IMPACT

This module is designed to allow you to explore your existing personal and management strengths and your impact on others (focusing on effective management practice).

The module introduces the concept of 'Personal Impact’ helping you to assess and develop your personal skills and practice as a manager. On completion you should be able to understand and review your competencies of:

- Self Awareness

- Personal Effectiveness

- Communication

MODULE TWO : FOCUSING ON RESULTS

This module introduces some of the ideas and techniques around managing staff to achieve results. This is sometimes referred to as Performance Management or Managing for Performance and performance is most often measured in terms of delivering results.

This module is concerned with developing your skills as an effective manager which involves being clear about, and communicating, exactly what results we are seeking to achieve, working co-operatively in our teams to get the best out of everyone, and generating improvements in your service to the community. Improvements happen when employees are engaged, valued, listened to and motivated to contribute. That is the Manager’s job.

MODULE THREE : LEADING AND DEVELOPING OTHERS

This module is concerned with understanding the important role that you, as a manager, have in leading, developing and supporting employees to fulfill their potential and realise your organisation’s vision.

In module 2, Focusing on Results, we considered how managers have to bring people together to achieve results. They need to know about the outcome or task, when it has to be completed, how effective performance will be measured and about the people who will actually contribute to its achievement. Being able to lead, develop and support individuals and teams is vital in enabling others to maximise their contribution and to perform at their best. This is the focus of this module.

MODULE FOUR : ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

The overall rationale of this module is to extend knowledge of and competence in achieving the goals of modernisation.

The module aims are to raise your awareness of the context of the organisation in a changing local government arena. An important aspect of this change is the emphasis on collaborative working. We will explore the local government modernisation agenda, particularly considering the key challenges of partnership, citizen engagement, and continual performance review.

MODULE FIVE : SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The module aims to develop skills and knowledge in the analysis of a work-based problem and the formulation of recommendations relating to the management of your service. On completion of the module, participants will have extended their skills in applied research methods, and will have collected and evaluated evidence in support of recommendations applied to their organisation.

Successful completion of this programme will award a Postgraduate Certificate. For participants wishing to progress further, there is also the opportunity to progress to MA Public Sector Management Development.