SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL STAFF

For full information and the links to book onto any of the following internal courses, please click on the Supporting and Developing button on the front, right hand page of The Source.

Supporting and Developing

or visit the Supporting and Developing pages of the HR Strategy:

Please note: if you don’t have easy access to The Source, most of the information and links are available on Devon E-Learning (DEL), which can be accessed publicly at You can register using a personal email account if you work for DCC but don’t have a DCC email address. Once you have logged on, in the Course Search box type Supporting and Developingto find the page.

  1. Internal Courses

Courses can be booked using the internal booking system, Zipporah:

If you have any queries or do not have access to a computer, please phone 01392 383000 and ask for Claire or Amy Woolley .

1.1Looking to the Future

This course includes:

  • Understanding your life goals, achievements and transferable skills
  • Looking at your work/life balance
  • Exploring your ideas and visions, and what’s stopping you
  • Finding out what you need to learn, how you do it, and what is available
  • Making the best of the support on offer within DCC

The course is run over half a day.

1.2Interview Skills Workshop

This workshop provides:

  • An awareness of what is required in a supporting statement, CV and application form.
  • An understanding of how interview questions are created.
  • An understanding of how to structure an appropriate response.
  • An awareness of the effect of non-verbal communication during an interview.
  • Interview practice and feedback.
  • Making full use of transferable skills.
  • Regaining control in an interview situation.
  • Identifying key areas for preparation.

This course can be run over half or a whole day.

1.3Redundancy Seminars

This seminar covers:

  • Benefits entitlements
  • Job Centre Support on-line
  • Job Seekers Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Tax Credits
  • Tools and Support
  • Redundancy pack provided

This is a 90 minute session with the opportunity to ask questions on a one-to-one basis.

1.4 Stress Management and Building Resilience

We run a “Stress Management – Building Resilience for Individuals” course. This course helps you to recognise how personality and behaviours can influence your response to pressure, and helps you to consider ways of dealing effectively with the demands of work.

We also run a separate course for managers, “Stress Management – Managing your responsibilities”. This course equips managers with the tools to identify and meet the legal, organisational and moral requirements for tackling and reducing work-related stress, and direct them to the support services available to employees.

Each course last for half a day.

1.5Pre-retirement Courses

"Preparing for Retirement" aims to help you adapt to this major change in lifestyle and to make the most of opportunities that lie ahead. We aim to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where you can feel free to participate and voice any concerns.

The seminar covers a wide range of topics to provide information and contacts for further advice and support. It also provides you with the opportunity to discuss your individual circumstances with representatives of relevant agencies and institutions, Devon County Council support staff and other retirees.

This is a one day course.

1.6Self Employment Workshop

Depending on demand, we’re considering offering an in-house workshop for those considering self employment. If you are interested, please add your name to the waiting list

by selecting “Support for Employees”, “Self Employment Workshop”. Free public courses are also available.

1.7Learning and Developing

You can find details of other management development programmes and useful tools and information on the Performance Development homepage on The Source –

Booking Internal Courses

All of the above courses can be booked using the internal on-line booking system, Zipporah:

If you have any queries or do not have access to a computer, please phone 01392 383000 and ask for Claire or Amy Woolley .

2. Additional Internal Support

2.1. Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing@Work has introduced a new, free and confidential suite of services to help staff achieve a happy and healthy balance inside and outside of work.

The Employee Assistance Programme offers support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and is accessible by telephone, email and online. DCC employees can request help with a range of issues including work, family, bereavement, stress, finances, or relationships.

The programme offers:

  • Telephone support with personal legal matters, career change, family issues, consumer issues, gambling, substance abuse, comprehensive debt support & housing
  • Immediate emotional support from qualified counsellors (24/7)
  • Self-referral for 6 sessions of face-to-face, or structured telephone counselling
  • Support for couples with relationship issues
  • Up to 6 sessions of face-to-face Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
  • On-line Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
  • An Online Health Portal – health assessment, medical factsheets, fitness advice & personal coaching

Call 0800 0305 182 (24 hours a day) or log on to

Username: Devon

Password: Council

The Employee Assistance Programme replaces the existing employee counselling provision.

2.2. Devon E-Learning (DEL)

Most of the information available on The Source is also available on DEL, which can also be accessed externally outside of DCC, so if you don’t have a DCC email address you can register on DEL using a personal email account. Email supplying your name, email address and workplace to request a password.

You will also find a huge range of online learning resources, learning modules, videos, workbooks, links and articles on DEL including:

  • Looking to the Future resources
  • Job Search Skills
  • Writing a CV
  • Completing an application form
  • Effective Job Search workbook
  • Interview Skills toolkit
  • Mental Health Awareness
  • Leading and Managing Change

They are all free to use in work as part of your agreed development or in your own time. Please use the following link: Once you have logged on, in the Course Search box type Supporting and Developingto find the page.

2.3Coaching for Change

There are opportunities to apply for up to 3 sessions of Coaching for Change. Coaching for change is a solutions focussed approach which can help you make decisions about your career choices and direction. These sessions are normally one to one sessions for approximately an hour to one and a half hours each.

For more information and a coaching request form look on The Source or DEL.

Additional External Support

3.1.Careers South West

If you are going through consultation for service re-design, you can access up to 3

one-to-one sessions with a Careers Adviser. The sessions can cover careers advice, help with CVs, application forms and interviews. To make an appointment with a Careers Adviser, please phone 01566 771130.

Other options include emailing a Careers Adviser or web chat. One to one support and on-line support can be offered. Lots more information may be found at:

3.2. Libraries

Free Fridays offer free extended computer and internet access every Friday, with extra support from trained library staff.

Work Clubs, based at 12 Devon libraries, include advice on CV writing, interview techniques and volunteering opportunities.

From summer 2014, Exeter Central Library will offer help for new and small businesses.

For further information, please visit:

3.3Self Employment and Business Start Up

There is a wealth of information, advice and resources on self employment and business start up, including free training:

Exeter area - EBS services

North Devon area - North Devon+

Torbay area - Outset

West Devon area - BiP

For further information, please visit theSupporting and Developing pages on The Source and click on Self Employment and Business Support or visit DEL.

3.4Free IT Skills Training

If you are at risk of redundancy, you can access free part-time IT training during your notice period. First you should speak to your line manager to agree time off work as part of your entitlement to reasonable time off for training or job searching.

  • UK On-line Learn My Way (for those with very little or no experience)
  • Level 1 Award in IT Users Skills (for those with limited IT experience)
  • Level 2 Certificate in IT User Skills (ECDL)
  • Word processing
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Improving Productivity

To access the training with Westward Pathfinder you can email Judith Lewis or Jo Osgood and say that you are interested in IT training as part of Skills Support for Redundancy.

You can also phone Judith Lewis or Jo Osgood on 01392 422450. North Devon-based staff can phone Maria Davie on 01271 410301. You can complete the training in Exeter, Bideford, Barnstaple or Torquay.

3.5Free Maths and English Training

If you struggle with Maths and English skills, you may be eligible to get an up-to-date qualification for free. See Free Maths and English courses.

Please contact us to meet with a tutor and to ensure that we place you on the correct course for you.

Call 0845 155 1014 or email .

4.0Feedback and improvements

Please email Sally-Ann Turner, HR Strategy Manager if you have any feedback on the support available or if you have any suggestions for improvements. You can also phone Sally-Ann Turner or Claire Birch on 01392 383000.

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