The PA Networking Lunch & Workshop takes place on Wednesday 22 October, from 1.15pm in Darwin Peter Brown Room, Darwin College.

• 1.15-2pm – Bring your packed lunch or something to share! Free tea and coffee will be provided.
• 2-3pm – The Workshop will start with a group discussion on projecting a professional image in the workplace led by Alison Whelan, Human Resources Advisor followed by Nicky Roissetter, IT Trainer, who will be presenting her top tips for navigating the new SharePoint site. Please email your questions about SharePoint in advance of the Workshop.

Please kindly email PANetwork@kent.ac.uk to register your attendance.

More information about the PA Network is available here.

Staff can sign-up for the Effective Interpersonal Skills programme. The programme takes place over three sessions – all sessions should be attended to gain maximum benefit of the training.

The programme includes development of practical skills as well as encouraging participants to explore the basis of their personal values and behaviour at work. The programme encourages a non-threatening learning environment where participants examine and practice verbal and non-verbal assertive skills, including how to influence others and how to respond to requests.

• Monday 10 November 2014, 10am-1pm: The first three-hour session will give participants the background on assertive behaviour. Participants will be introduced to the concept of ‘assertive rights’ and will be given opportunities to consider how they value themselves in day-to-day work interactions. At the end of the workshop, participants will be asked to consider examples of recent (or up-coming) situations when they have to interact with people, and bring these ideas back to workshop 2.
• Wednesday 19 November 2014, 10-1pm: The second three-hour session People will have the opportunity to practise in order to understand levels of appropriate assertion and levels of appropriate response, including practicalities of verbal and non-verbal behaviour. Participants will work through example situations in small groups and will receive feedback from colleagues on effective behaviour and areas for personal development. Participants will be introduced to strategies which they will be encouraged to practice at work before workshop 3.
• Friday 28 November 2014, 10am-1pm: The third three-hour session will involve participants feeding back their experiences in small groups and receiving feedback from colleagues. The workshop will also be used to help participants to understand how others (service users, students, colleagues) perceive them and how that should influence interpersonal behaviour. Interactive discussions will help individuals to formulate improved approaches to work discussions. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on areas for personal development and to consider some specific personal commitments.

If you are interested in attending, please book via the Learning and Development website.

In addition to formal annual promotion and salary award schemes, the University recognises the efforts and achievements of staff across five different University-level schemes through a series of annual staff awards events.

Each of these schemes recognises different elements of the staff experience, including: the desire to make a difference locally and globally through our environmental efforts (Green Impact); making a difference by engaging with and supporting our community (Innovation and Enterprise); encouraging a continuous learning environment for all our staff (Learning and Development); recognising the importance of our staff efforts in creating a positive student learning experience (Learning & Teaching); and maintaining a healthy work environment that also emphasises the team efforts of our staff (the VC’s Cup). More information about each of these schemes will soon be available on the University’s 50th Anniversary website.

In our 50th anniversary year, there will be additional special awards included that celebrate sustained and outstanding contributions across these areas. Additionally, a new scheme and event celebrating research will be added. We are also in the process of developing case-studies from individual departments to share good practices, with a view to encouraging all departments/schools to consider how they acknowledge the efforts of their staff.

Does your school or department have good staff awards case-studies that you would like to share with others? If so, please get in touch with Cindy Vallance.

University staff are being offered the chance to take part in a pilot programme to help develop resilience, manage stress and work more effectively.

The Occupational Health Department is liaising with WorkGuru – the company behind the web-based learning programme. The link-up means that staff participants will be able to access the programme without cost if they commit to the six-weeks pilot. The pilot will be open to 30 individuals and spaces will be allocated on a ‘first come; first served’ basis.

More information on the WorkGuru programme and the pilot at Kent is available here.