The 'go to' organisation for Local Government improvement in Scotland

There are regular network events that take place virtually, on MSTeams.  They provide colleagues with the opportunity to catch up, explore issues and challenges and opportunities, share resources and learning, and get support from colleagues in similar roles.

We host a variety of sessions for our network members:

• Key Topic Sessions – participative events that focus on a particular theme or issue. The sessions include input from one or two presenters who talk about the approach they are taking in their organisation, sharing their experience and learning. There is an opportunity for questions and discussion to explore the topic and for all participants to discuss challenges and opportunities and to share examples and learning.
• Open Space Sessions – are set up to give everyone an opportunity to catch up, find out what each other are doing and join small group discussions about relevant issues and challenges. There is no programme or agenda set in advance, the discussion topics are selected by participants on the day.
• Resources and Support:
  • Webinars – are short sessions (one hour maximum) and are open to all network members and also interested colleagues from other backgrounds.
  • Workshops – virtual events on MS Teams, aimed at OD practitioners to support their development.
• Headspace Sessions – colleagues come together to connect with each other, share experiences and to give and receive support. The focus is on wellbeing for OD practitioners who themselves provide wellbeing support to colleagues and groups and often lead council wellbeing strategy and activities.

Dates and details of our forthcoming sessions and events can be found below.

To find out more or to join the network, please get in touch.

Resources and information from previous sessions are available on our KHub pages.

Organisational Development Network Events

All members of the network are invited to these events which take place every 6-8 weeks.

Key Topic Session – Leadership Development

Tuesday 25 March 2025, 10.00am to 11.30am

A session to review the results of the leadership development survey that was carried out at the end of 2024, and consider how we might move forward and collaborate. Contact Amanda Spark if you would like to get a Teams invite or for more information.

Key Topic Session - Assessing Organisational Culture

Wednesday 18 June, 11.00am to 12.30pm

Introducing the new PSIF Culture Checklist which has been developed to support councils and partner organisations to evaluate organisational culture. At this session we will be joined by Pauline Moss, Strategy, Policy and Insight Manager at Renfrewshire Council.

In 2024, the Improvement Service and Renfrewshire Council worked together to develop a self-assessment tool to understand and evaluate organisational culture. The draft checklist was piloted within the council in early 2025 and is now being launched as part of the Improvement Service’s Public Service Improvement Framework, a self-assessment approach which supports improvement in councils.

Join us to hear about the development of the tool and how Renfrewshire Council used it to gather evidence to help them understand their culture and to identify areas for improvement and change.

Contact Amanda Spark if you would like to get a Teams invite or for more information.

Open Space Session

Tuesday 25 August 2025, 2.00pm to 4.00pm

Join us to catch up with OD colleagues and find out what everyone is working on, challenged by and excited about. There is no programme or agenda set in advance for this session, it depends what comes up on the day. Contact Amanda Spark if you would like to get a Teams invite or for more information.

Resources and Support

Webinars

These short sessions are open to all network members and also interested colleagues from other backgrounds. If you would like to run a webinar please contact Amanda Spark.

Workshops

Virtual events on MSTeams, aimed at OD practitioners to support their development.

Headspace Sessions

Colleagues come together to connect with each other, share experiences and to give and receive support. The focus is on wellbeing, for OD practitioners who themselves provide wellbeing support to colleagues and groups and often lead council wellbeing strategy and activities. Places are limited as this is a small group discussion so booking is essential.  Please get in touch to let us know what date you would like to attend and we will send you an invite.

• Thursday 27 February 2025, 3pm - 4pm
• Thursday 24 April 2025, 10am to 11am
• Wednesday 11 June 2025, 2pm to 3pm
• Thursday 21 August 2025, 11am to 12 noon