LSE Professional Services Forum(PSF) Michael Etheridge Nicole Garnier Michael Etheridge Nicole Garnier

Why the need? Few existing opportunities for Professional Service Staff in similar roles to connect Minimal sharing of best practice Feelings of isolation in smaller departments Poor internal communication Few existing opportunities for Professional Service Staff in similar roles to connect Minimal sharing of best practice Feelings of isolation in smaller departments Poor internal communication

The evidence… Staff Survey 61% agreed that ‘the School feels like a collection of separate units, rather than a single organisation.’ 58% agreed ‘there are inadequate opportunities to get my ideas and suggestions passed up to senior management.’ School Action Plan Building community engagement and employee ‘buy in’. Create a School-wide collective identity. Staff Survey 61% agreed that ‘the School feels like a collection of separate units, rather than a single organisation.’ 58% agreed ‘there are inadequate opportunities to get my ideas and suggestions passed up to senior management.’ School Action Plan Building community engagement and employee ‘buy in’. Create a School-wide collective identity.

The story so far.. Drafted a proposal, consulted with HR, colleagues at UCL First meeting in March 2015 attended by 65 PSS, facilitated by Head of Organisational Learning Consultation with Senior Management. ‘Admin Forum’ > ‘PSF’ Contribution to PSS award scheme Drafted a proposal, consulted with HR, colleagues at UCL First meeting in March 2015 attended by 65 PSS, facilitated by Head of Organisational Learning Consultation with Senior Management. ‘Admin Forum’ > ‘PSF’ Contribution to PSS award scheme

Short & Long term aims To address current lack of representation (existing forums: AMF, AUMF etc) Raise profile of PSS around LSE, engage them with School policy and strategy Improve relationships between departments around school To run a PSS Conference annually To address current lack of representation (existing forums: AMF, AUMF etc) Raise profile of PSS around LSE, engage them with School policy and strategy Improve relationships between departments around school To run a PSS Conference annually

LSE Professional Services Forum Terms of Reference To provide PSS with a forum to discuss and engage with School policy and strategy. To offer a platform for communication between PSS and other parts of the School (e.g. DMT, HR). To facilitate the sharing of best practise and foster interdepartmental collegiality. The Forum meets termly. Membership of the PSF The forum is open to all professional service staff at LSE, particularly those currently not represented by an existing forum (e.g. the Academic Managers’ Forum). Terms of Reference To provide PSS with a forum to discuss and engage with School policy and strategy. To offer a platform for communication between PSS and other parts of the School (e.g. DMT, HR). To facilitate the sharing of best practise and foster interdepartmental collegiality. The Forum meets termly. Membership of the PSF The forum is open to all professional service staff at LSE, particularly those currently not represented by an existing forum (e.g. the Academic Managers’ Forum).

Obstacles? Time and Resources! work taken on on top of current roles – has proven problematic! Why Management buy in is important Profile – challenge making ourselves known – amongst PSS and Academic staff Impact – attendees to first meeting questioned what impact could the PSF have as a ‘forum’ not a ‘committee’?

Any questions?