A Professional Development Plan

A Professional arrivement PlanIn reflecting on my professional emergence, I consider that my skills and competencies have demonstrable solidly and that my level of responsibility has veritable to reflect this. Leading the return of the Neighbourhood Plan is a challenging task that has drawn on my skills crossways a actually broad clasp of areas. It has also however been a very rewarding area of work and one that I feel has significantly causeed my core spatial prep skills and lead volunteer a robust basis to further my professional development. I also believe that my inhabit at RDA and (name removed) City Council has enabled me to start to develop the wider generic skill set required of built environment professionals, subprogramicularly in terms of multidisciplinary on the job(p), negotiation and mediation, and leadership. This will provide a strong basis from which to develop my future(a) day career within the sector and effectively respond to change.STRENGTHSWe ll developed analytical and look skills ardent report writing/policy skillsBreadth of experience in spatial planning and regeneration through graphemes at ontogenesis Agency CouncilStrong interpersonal skillsWide range of professional contacts and networks through involvement in Regional Activities Committee and Young Planners EventsWEAKNESSESLimited knowledge of development control and the mechanism of planning inquiries, compulsory purchase powers etc.No direct line-management experienceNeed to develop skills in terms of managing conflict/difficult situationsOPPORTUNITIESUrban rebirth and current public policy commitment to building skills amongst built environment professionals e.g. Academy for Sustainable Communities, Regional Centres of Excellence, CABEEmergence of City Regions and development of associated organisations and bodiesWidening range of public sector special delivery bodies and regeneration agencies e.g. URCs, UDCs, RDAsMissing generation of planners could pr ovide opportunities for more rapid career progressionTHREATSImpact of Comprehensive outlay Review on regeneration spending and growth within the sectorImpact of review of land use planning/potential change of semi semipolitical direction under new Labour leadershipCompetition from recent increase in number of high calibre graduates completing accelerated RTPI-accredited master degrees.PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANPeriod September 2006 September 2008Date of next review March 2007WHERE AM I NOW?Current telephone line title and employer detailsSince 3 April 2006 I have been employed as Planning Officer (Planning Regeneration) at (name removed) City Council.Current job / roleMy trace area of work is the spue management of the production of a Neighbourhood Plan as a nonstatutory area planning document. The core tasks which the production of the Neighbourhood Plan involves arePreparation and agreement of the scope and approach to the production of the Neighbourhood PlanPreparation of a Baseline and Issues report direction and management of consultants to facilitate s concurholder and association engagement workshopsCoordination of both Officer convention and Advisory Group meetings Principal point of contact for community and stakeholder enquiries Preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan document and associated Sustainability Assessment and Consultation StatementLiaison with Elected Members andPreparation of formal reports to Planning Lead Member, Cabinet, and Council.Outside the project management of the production of the Neighbourhood Plan, my role also involvespreparing development briefs for rouge sites, and associated community and stakeholder engagementproviding policy advice in relevant preapplication discussions with developers relating to significant development sitesworking with partners to secure the implementation of plans and urban regeneration schemespreparing reports to Lead Member, Cabinet and Council to seek political endorsement where approp riate andproviding planning advice to colleagues and stakeholders across a range of disciplines including housing, property, neighbourhood management, education services, and landscape design.Current strengthsPolicy / report writing skills these were significantly developed through my work at RDA and will provide a strong basis to inform my production of policy documents and development briefs. See lumber book entry, p.xAnalytical and research skills these were also significantly developed through my work at RDA and have been critical in supporting my preparation of a Baseline and Issues report for the Neighbourhood Plan area. See log book entry, p.yProject management and collaborative working my project management of the Historic Towns and Cities study at RDA developed my project management skills in terms of managing the consultants and financial management. My skills in collaborative and multidisciplinary working were developed through liaising with the steering group and eng aging secernate partners and stakeholders. See log book entry, p.zCurrent areas for developmentEngaging and working with the local community due to the nature of my role at RDA this is not an area in which I had experience prior to working at (current employer). It will be important that I continue to develop skills in this area in order to effectively carry out the duties of my role. taking forward the Neighbourhood Plan process will be a key means of developing my skills in this area. See log book pages a, b and c.Knowledge of the development control / implementation side of planning this relates to developing my detailed knowledge across a range of key areas which could be termed the mechanism of planning. These include planning applications, appeals and inquiries, callins, development control and enforcement, and compulsory purchase powers. These are not areas in which I previously had experience given the nature of my role at RDA. They will however be important areas for d evelopment given the more local l implementation based nature of my role at (location removed).Developing skills in understanding and mediating political situations developing skills in political awareness and mediation will be important given the political nature of planning, and partnership working more generally. In terms of my role at (location removed), the areas which I will seek to strengthen include managing relationships with key partners and stakeholders, colleagues from separate sections within the Council, and Elected Members.WHERE AM I GOING?Long term goalsMy long term goal is to develop my career in the public sector. there are a wide range of reasons which underpin this commitment. These include the range of opportunities available, the breadth of work and the ability to make a difference and see actual results from your work, together with the supportive organisational culture and commitment to staff development and maintaining a positive worklife balance.My goal would be to work within planning/regeneration within a special delivery body as I believe this would offer the greatest potential for creativity and innovation. Within the vivacious organisational landscape, this could for example be within an Urban Regeneration Company. There are however likely to be other similar bodies emerging in the future as the organisational landscape changes.I believe that my experience to date within the RDA working on a strategic / policy based level, together with the more local level, implementationfocused experience I will get in my present role at (location removed) will put me in a good position to realise my goal by giving me a broad range of experience in planning and regeneration.Short term goalsI will develop my skills in terms of working with the local community and securing effective engagement in the planmaking process.I will develop my knowledge of the mechanics of planning, including planning applications, appeals and inquiries, callins, de velopment control and enforcement, and compulsory purchase powers.I will develop my skills of political awareness through managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders, colleagues from other sections within the Council and Elected Members.(continued on next page to allow for space for comments, right)HOW WILL I GET THERE? intent 1 Develop skills of community working and engagement.How will I get there?Liaise with the Consultation and Commissioning group and other colleagues to develop a best exert approach to community engagement as part of the production of the Neighbourhood Plan. First meeting December 06.Learn best practice techniques of facilitation from specialist consultants licensed to facilitate the Neighbourhood Plan workshops. Initial meeting set up for March 07.Continue to assist in the facilitation of relevant community engagement workshops and events at the Council. Workshops approaching in November and December 06.Continue to attend community facilitation wo rkshops through my volunteer role with regional Planning Aid (see examples in log book, pages d, e and f). Workshop event July 07.Attend relevant training events on community engagement techniques organised by the RTPI, Planning Aid, or the (location removed) Planners Training Group. Specifically, event on Engaging with Young People in February 07.Objective 2 Develop detailed knowledge of the mechanics of planning.How will I get there? sake with development control colleagues at (development regeneration services consultancy) in pre-application discussions with developers for scheme proposals for key sites. Meeting scheduled for October 06.Developing my working knowledge of the key development control principles, through familiarisation with the GDPO and planning legislation, and familiarisation with the Councils relevant draft and adopted Supplementary Planning Documents, including the Planning Obligations SPD, Housing SPD, Greenspace SPD, Design and Crime SPD, and the Nature con servation Biodiversity SPD. Have read and understood all documents by January 08.Relevant web-based research via Localaw and the DCLG and HMSO websites to develop my knowledge of relevant documents relating to the statutory procedures and legislative context.Involvement with colleagues from the Plans Group in relation to assisting in the preparation of case for appeals and call-ins. One-to-one arranged with (colleague) for November 06.Attendance at relevant planning inquiries to observe and learn from proceedings. Inquiry examining (details removed) due for January 07. halt updated of amendments to the statutory procedures through reading relevant articles in Planning, the Planning Matters website, and attending Planning Law update events. Ongoing review amendments/learning outcomes in April 07.Objective 3 Develop skills in terms of political awareness and relationship management.How will I get there?Co-ordination of the Neighbourhood Plan Officer Group and Advisory Group, which w ill develop my skills in relationship building with officers from across the Councils Directorates, in addition to Elected Members and community representatives. Meeting scheduled December 06.actively engage key external stakeholders in the production of the Neighbourhood Plan, including the (location removed) URC, the PCT and NHS Trust, (local area) Police, and key Registered Social Landlords.Continue to build my network of professional contacts through my role on the RTPI Regional Activities Committee and my involvement in the (regional) Young Planners Group and Planning Aid.Comments SummaryOverall this is a clear and comprehensive Professional Development Plan. The candidate has thought deeply about where he sees his career progressing, so while his short term goals are focused on improvements relating to his current role, this is part of a wider vision for the future. There is clear ownership of the PDP on reading it you understand the candidates strengths and weaknesses throug h the same themes being picked up and addressed in the SWOT, the strengths/weaknesses of the PDP, and future objectives. So while the short term goals might not directly and explicitly work towards the long term goals, it is easy to see how these goals/objectives have been arrived at. Although the rilievo of the APC submission is not shown here, the PDP is also clearly identifiable as belonging to this candidate, and it is therefore clear that it is a very personal account. References are make to sections of the log book, which help with this. The actions that are identified are a little vague the comments show how this has/could be improved by identifying more structured/ detail activities, and by introducing target time frames. The candidate does not rely solely on general activities in the workplace, but identifies some firm CPD activities that will very likely have to take place outside of the day-to-day employment e.g. structured reading/research with particular topics/docume nts in mind. Candidates should avoid relying solely on activities that will take place during day-to-day work to meet objectives undertaking an activity at work doesnt necessarily mean you will learn from it, and opportunities to take on certain work activities are often outside of your control.