A new leadership programme to upskill public service leaders in Wales has celebrated the completion of its first cohort.
The ‘Leading Modern Public Services’ programme developed by the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) supports senior leaders, service owners and aspiring leaders to transform their organisation by addressing the challenges and opportunities within digital transformation.
The first cohort gathered at the University of Wales Trinity St David’s Business School campus in Swansea to gain valuable insights into equipping their teams with the necessary skills to develop user friendly digital public services. There were 15 participants in total with representatives from Digital Health and Care Wales, Welsh Revenue Authority, NHS and local county councils. The programme has been designed to lead participants through a range of digital topics that underpin a senior leadership role, including how to assess their organisation’s digital maturity, how to address user problems through digital and developing practical strategies for organisational transformation.
Head of Skills and Capabilities at the Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS), Peter Thomas said: “Our new leadership programme demonstrates CDPS's dedication to reshaping the way digital services are designed and delivered. It addresses the gap between the increasing demand for online services and the digital skills needed to meet those expectations.
“The group will go back to their organisations fully equipped with the latest understanding around the Digital Service Standards for Wales, with new excitement and contacts across the sector. Not only have they inspired each other but they've inspired us too and I hope they’ll spread that desire to make digital everyone’s responsibility.”
The programme also welcomed guest talks from Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Office for the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, Sport Wales, Turing Institute, Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council. It is hoped the programme can continue to motivate more leaders to take part in driving change across Wales.
Joshua Hunt, Service Owner at Digital Health and Care Wales who was part of the first cohort to take part in the programme, said: “It’s been an invaluable experience, not only meeting people in such a variety of different jobs and sectors but also learning from the speakers who have shared their knowledge and information with us. I would encourage anyone, no matter what your role, to apply for it.”
Derek Walker, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales said: “As the Future Generations Commissioner, I’m thrilled by the launch of CDPS’s training programme for public sector leaders. This forward-thinking programme aligns with the ethos of the Future Generations Act by prioritising long-term digital sustainability, fostering collaboration across the Welsh public sector, and ensuring a focus on Welsh language and accessibility”
The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) will be holding the programme in North Wales during February, before returning to South Wales in April. If you are a public service leader in Wales and are interested in applying for a future cohort, please visit the CDPS website for more information.
