It is a big week for many Fórsa members as an indefinite work-to-rule began on Wednesday by all members working in the civil and public service.
As many of our members already know, a lot of work goes into withdrawing labour, and our workplace representatives and branch officers are dedicating lots of time and effort to pulling things together on the ground. In light of this, the Skills Academy will be watching as the situation unfolds and making changes to their schedule going forward.
Director of membership training Fiona Dunne said: “The Skills Academy are aware of the demanding environment in which branch officers and workplace representatives are currently working. We will reschedule courses and programmes during this period where needed.”
While some courses will be rescheduled, the Skills Academy will continue to provide training and encourage all workplace representatives and branch officers to continue training with the Skills Academy where they can.
Fiona said: “Our training provides our workplace representatives and branch officers with the skills and knowledge that enable them to perform their roles to the best of their capability and build their confidence to do so.”
Coming up in November, Skills Academy will pilot a new, certified course in the Lámh, the Irish sign language for children with additional needs. A much requested training following this July’s highly successful Live: Lunch and Learn, which gave members a taster for the subject and a ten-sign vocabulary.
In another big change for the Skills Academy, courses have now been organised into a
formal learning pathway, to guide our reps on the journey from new member, to rep, to branch officer and beyond.
Learning Pathway
Describing the learning pathway, Fiona said: “The essence of training is empowerment and our focus in the Skills Academy is building the capacity and capability of our workplace representatives from the moment they take on a representative role.”
The learning pathway will provide a map for members as they progress through their union roles and ensure they have training opportunities available to fill any gaps in skills they find they have along their journey.
Members start with the Fórsa Induction welcome session before gaining a firm foundation with the Workplace Representatives training programme, building their confidence and then filling gaps in their toolkit of skills with Branch Skills training session, before moving on to leadership training as part of divisional or national executives. This step-by-step approach builds their capabilities and confidence.
Coming up:
Branch Skills: Branch Training Officers ‘Facilitation Skills Workshop’ – Thursday 15th October – Nerney’s Court, Dublin
Requirements: Currently serving as Branch Training Officer
A fantastic opportunity for branch training officers. Learn the secrets to good facilitation; how to know when to let things go and when to move things on, how to manage tensions, how to keep participants engaged, and the importance of knowing when your input is needed and when to step back.
Branch Skills: Dignity and Respect Workshop – Tuesday 20th October – Nerney’s Court, Dublin
Requirements: Currently serving as Workplace Rep, Branch Officer, or Executive Committee member
Pilot Course
Dignity and respect are the basis of any healthy workplace. Learn how your behaviour and the behaviour of your colleagues impact your working environment. Examine the policies and procedures of your organisation and identify how those policies are implemented and adhered to.
Learn how to create an environment that allows you and your colleagues to flourish. Identify challenges to dignity and respect in your workplace and learn how to overcome them.
This is a pilot session, so don’t miss what might be your only chance to take this training!
Branch Skills: Lámh sign language certified training – Monday 23rd November – Nerney’s Court, Dublin
Requirements: Currently serving as Workplace Rep, Branch Officer, or Executive Committee member
Pilot Course
A fantastic opportunity, especially if you work with adults and children with additional needs in education, healthcare, and social care settings.
Lámh is Ireland’s standardised manual or key-word sign system. It is a simplified sign system for communication with adults and children with additional needs. Some adults and children in Ireland choose to use Lámh as their main method of communication and as their way of understanding the world and expressing themselves.
This course will be certified and broken into two parts. The first part will be delivered online. It will take three hours to complete and can be completed at your own pace but must be completed before the second in-person part. The e-learning platform will be available from 9th November.
The second part will be in-person, held in Nerney’s Court, Dublin, on the 23rd November. This session will take 4.5 hours, from 11am until 3.30pm.
The training will be delivered by Lámh, the organisation for the promotion of the Lámh sign system. Participants should provide personal email addresses to register for the e-learning platform as workplace email systems may automatically block registration confirmation emails.
Further information on this, and other Lámh courses, can be found here
How to register
If you see a course you would like to take, simply contact your branch’s training officer or secretary and let them know you are interested. They will confirm your eligibility and contact Skills Academy.
You will receive a registration link via email. Fill out the form in full and make sure you let Skills Academy know if you would like them to secure paid release for you.
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