Designed for scrutiny officers who want to lead, this programme will develop the mindset, knowledge and strategic capabilities for scrutiny leadership
We’re announcing our pioneering scrutiny officer leadership training programme: Elevate – launching in October
We’re really excited to share with you news of Elevate, a powerful new development programme from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS), designed exclusively for officers who lead, or aspire to lead, in the world of local authority scrutiny.
It will go beyond technical skills, equipping you with the strategic insight, leadership mindset, and peer support needed to thrive in scrutiny, one of the most vital yet often solitary roles in local government.
And on September 9 at 10.30 am you can join others who are interested in the course at a drop-in session run by course leaders Camilla and Sarah where you can ask questions you have about this new, exciting programme.
To get an invitation to the drop-in session please email Sarah
Why Elevate?
At CfGS, our mission is to support better decision-making for the public good. Elevate is our latest offering in that mission, a carefully crafted programme that builds leadership capacity and confidence in scrutiny roles.
How it works and your commitment
This course is being offered to 10 scrutiny professionals as a pilot programme with those taking part being charged approximately 50 per cent the fee for the full course, on the understanding that they will help to shape the full course which will be launched in 2026/7.
There will be nine online half-day modules, delivered every six weeks – with practical tasks and research between sessions to embed learning, and an additional requirement to feed back to the course leaders to develop the material.
The course will include a strong focus on leadership development, not just technical knowledge. And an opportunity to help shape the future of scrutiny support through structured feedback.
Module topics include
- Aligning Scrutiny Thinking
- Scrutiny and Leadership
- Culture
- Planning for Success
- Lines of Enquiry and Questioning
- Successful Task Groups
- Research
- Impact and Review
- The Public
More than a programme, a professional community
One of our key ambitions is for Elevate participants to form a lasting, autonomous peer network, a community of practice that supports each other both during and long after the programme. Together, we’ll tackle the challenges of scrutiny leadership.
Pilot pricing, and what's included
As a pilot, we’re offering Elevate at just £1,200, around half of the anticipated full programme cost.
Included in the price:
✔ Full access to all nine modules
✔ A free ticket to our flagship 2026 Scrutiny Conference in Birmingham on 12 March (worth £220)
✔ A chance to influence the final programme design – expected to run in 2026
Interested? Act now - places are very limited
We are now accepting expressions of interest for the pilot cohort. If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for — and you’re able to provisionally secure the budget — please complete our expression of interest form by 3 October 2025 (see embedded form, below).
Take the next step in scrutiny leadership.
If you want to know more register for our ‘find out more’ session at 10:30 on the 9th September, e-mail Sarah to book.
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