Gateshead eLearning Zone

Update your Benefit Fraud Awareness

This course delivers a general introduction to the benefits system

This guide will give you the understanding and clarification on the different range of welfare benefits a person can claim. These benefits will be awarded based on different entitlement conditions which a person has to satisfy.

Induction is the process by which employees become part of Gateshead Council, competent in the job and confident in their management.  All employees, whether newly recruited or transferred/promoted within the organisation must be provided with sufficient information to assist their effective integration into their new position.

Lean Techniques (60 minutes) and Process Mapping (60 minutes)
The public sector is under constant pressure to deliver efficiency, lean principles which were borne out of the private sector have proven to deliver streamlined services in the public sector. As a whole-systems approach lean allows for understanding and identifying what customers really need, reducing waste and streamlining processes to improve service delivery.

Team Leading and Improving Performance (20 minutes)
Effective teams are organisational assets; they perform well and help the organisation to achieve its aims and objectives based on a shared vision. Motivating team members and improving team performance should be an ongoing process and managers need to be skillful in specific areas.

Getting started with supervising (45 minutes)
The first step on the management ladder is the supervisor, team leader, or first line manager. This role requires the individual to develop new skills such as communication, problem solving, managing people, leadership, planning, motivation and delegation.

The Bribery Act 2010 provides information on the law surrounding making or receiving bribes.

Please click on the title 'The Bribery Act 2010' above to access the module. 

Learn more about Agresso passwords and what to do if you are accessing Agresso for the first time or have forgotten your Agresso password.

This section also contains some useful password troubleshooting questions and answers.

Please click on the title 'Agresso Passwords & Security' above to access the learning materials.

Learn more about the Agresso Chart of Accounts, terminology, coding structure and products.

Please click on the title 'Agresso Chart of Accounts' above to access the learning materials.

Need help with an Agresso query?

Need to contact the Agresso Helpdesk?

Need to access Agresso Proformas e.g. Chart of accounts creation, GL07 requests, training requests?

Please click on the title 'Agresso Helpdesk Service Information & PROFORMAS' above to access the learning materials.

This section provides key contact details for the following;

Corporate Finance, Group Accountant and Service details

Financial Services, Exchequer Services contacts for creditor and debtor related enquiries

Please click on the title 'Key Contact Details' above to access the learning materials.

Use the guides in this section to answer queries quickly and give you the skills and knowledge to use Agresso accurately, effectively and efficiently.

Please click on the title 'Agresso Basics & Getting Started' above to access the learning materials.

Learn how to create, save, recall enquiries in Agresso. 

Please click on the title 'General Ledger Reporting & Enquiries' above to access the learning materials

A detailed reference guide to the new Delegated Banking in Agresso 5.6.2.

Please click on the title 'Schools Delegated Banking' above to access the learning materials.

These guides explain how to use the new procure to pay functionality in Agresso 5.6.2.

Please click on the title 'General P2P User Guides, Gateshead Services and Housing Company' above to access the learning materials

These guides explain how to use the new procure to pay functionality in Agresso 5.6.2. and are specific to the business processes associated with construction services.

PLeae click on the title 'LES P2P Construction Services' above to access the learning materials.

These guides explain how to use the new procure to pay functionality in Agresso 5.6.2.and are specific to school based users.

Please click on the title 'Schools P2P User Guides' above to access the learning materials.

Use these quick reference guides for help with specific Agresso queries.

Please click on the title 'P2P Quick Reference Guides' above to access the learning materials.

Use these detailed reference guides for help with specific Agresso queries.

Please click on the title 'Accounts Payable / P2P Enquiries' above to access the learning materials.

Quick and easy answers to frequently asked questions.

Please click on the title 'Accounts Payable / P2P FAQs' above to access the learning materials.

General Guides to raising Subscriptions and Sales Orders in Agresso.

Please click on the title 'Debtors / S2C / Accounts Receivable' above to access the learning materials

Detailed and quick reference guides to debtors.

Please click on the title 'Accounts Receivable / Debtors Enquiries' above to access the learning materials

Need to raise a new Customer or Supplier in Agresso or amend exisitng details?

Please click on the title 'Raising a New or Amending Customer or Supplier Links' above for information.

Background

Agresso (v5.6.2) represents a fundamental change to the Creditors business process and allows the Council to reinforce agreed purchasing policies, segregation of duties and other internal controls which have always been in place. 

Financial Regulation 9.2 within the Council Constitution require that orders are placed for “all work, goods and services” (with specific exemptions) to ensure funds are not committed before authorisation. Orders must also comply with the Corporate Procurement Policy in respect of contracts, tenders and market testing and Confirmation Orders should not be used unless in genuine exceptional circumstances. Further details can be found in the Corporate Procurement Handbook - http://council/pro.htm

Please click on the title 'KEY MESSAGES Creditors' above to display the full message.

The tutorial is intended to give new Agresso users a brief overview of system functionality, menus, navigation tools and windows within Agresso 5.6.2.

This is an interactive tutorial. You will receive a certificate following its successful completion.

Please click on the title 'Agresso E-tutorial' above to start the tutorial.

Currently a pilot scheme only.

Please click on the title 'Schools Workflow Journals' above to access the learning materials.

These guides explain how to use the new procure to pay functionality in Agresso 5.6.2.and are specific to school based users.

Please click on the title 'Schools P2P Reference Guides' above to access the learning materials.

This section illustrates how to set up, modify and save budget monitoring reports using the GNREVMON balance table.

Reports can be quickly modfied to report by key areas such as cost centre, funding stream or by curriculum (dept).

Please click on the title 'Schools Budget Monitoring and General Reporting' above to access the learning materials.

This section includes a set of resources that provides an overview of the Care Act, including statutory guidance and key messages, aimed at everyone involved in adults' care and support

This section includes a set of resources that explains the information and advice requirements of the Care Act and its statutory guidance with a view to promoting wellbeing.

This section includes a set of resources covering assessment and eligibility and independent advocacy.

This section includes a set of resources covering care and support planning, personal budgets, direct payments and reviews.

This section includes a set of resources that explains the requirements of the charging and financial assessments section of the Act and its statutory guidance, and includes deferred payment agreements

This section includes a set of resources that looks at the entitlement to transition assessments of young people, young carers and carers of young people and includes information about how those young people are also supported through the Children and Families Act 2014.

This section provides a set of resorces that inttrroduces the new legal requirment on local authorities of integration, co-operation and partnership, not just in service provision but in the areas of prevention, information, advice and market shaping.

This course is intended to provide you with an introduction to the Agresso excelerator advanced functionality that is used for extracting data from Agresso and producing reports.

It illustrates how to set up templates using Agresso browser and balance table enquiries in addition to reporting trees and functions.

Flexible learning opportunities for Gateshead Council employees.

Presentation Skills (60 minutes)
This module will give guidance on planning and preparing for presentations.

Planning and Chairing Meetings (45 minutes) 

After completing this module you will be able to plan meetings, inform and prepare attendees, structure and control meetings and record their outcomes. The module is intended for anyone who as part of their job has responsibilty for planning and/or chairing meetings and their outcomes

This module is for Social Workers to access general learning and development information and documentation.  If you are a Social Worker who is interested in becoming a Practice Educator, further information and guidance can be found here.  Also information on the future of becoming a Social Worker and the programmes being supported by Gateshead including Frontline and Step up to Social Work.  In addition to this documentation for a newly qualified Social Workers Assessed and Supported Year of Employment can be found and the results of the latest Social Work Health Check amongst much more social work related information.

Agile Working for Managers (25 minutes)
This module has been designed to guide management personnel through the introduction of agile working. Case studies and practical scenarios are included to bring the learning to life and to help you put key agile working concepts into action.We’ll look at the benefits of agile working, as well as the potential pitfalls, and underline the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for your newly decentralised team.

This e-learning module looks at the professional responsibilities of both manager and staff member in periods of transition. We outline the different types of change that can occur, as well as the typical emotional stages that we as individuals may pass through. We also provide illustrative case studies and a best practice guide to dealing with change.

This is the third of four modules on the subject of change management, and this time we focus on the change process itself. Each stage is examined, from seeing the need for change, through initiating the change and then fostering involvement and commitment. We’ll explore how to create and communicate a compelling vision, and how to use a participative approach to engage and involve your colleagues.

The fourth and final module of our Change Management suite, Change Tools is a useful overview of the different models and theories at the disposal of the modern manager. The tools in question will help you to evaluate organisational integrity, gauge the level of commitment amongst participants and leaders and put together a change management team comprising of complementary skillsets. The module includes downloadable content that lets you apply the tools to your own team or organisation.

The second module in our Change Management series looks at the impact that change can have on the individuals within an organisation. We look at the different ways in which employees engage with change, and examine the motivation behind these behaviours. The module also identifies four key ‘change roles’ which individuals can adopt to help facilitate the process, and features regular knowledge checks designed to test the learner’s understanding.

Part one in a series of four modules on the subject of change management, this title serves as an introduction to organisational change and how it can be best navigated from a managerial position. The concept of workplace change, and the common reasons behind it, is examined using established models, and we look at the effect that organisational culture can have on the change process.

This short module on effectively communicating change to staff is based on sound advice from communications consultant Paul Masterman. The key message is the importance of talking to and involving staff, particularly in difficult times. After completing this module you will know how to communicate difficult messages to staff.

Completing this module will help you to consider the impact of change for you and your team. It will also enable you to prepare your team members for change and support them through the change process.

Completing this module will help you to consider the impact of change. It will also help you to understand the need for change and how to cope with it.

This modules explores delegation and planning.

A managerial skill that involves the planning, scheduling and controlling of activities designed to meet specific objectives within an agreed timescale and budget.This comprehensive e-learning module will take you through the stages of the project management process and provide practical exercises and information to improve your project management skills. A short assessment section is included.

This is the process by which risks are identified, evaluated and managed, it is essential for any business that wishes to achieve its strategic objectives and improve outcomes for both employees and customers.This e-learning module will help the learner to identify risk as either a threat or an opportunity. We’ll look at the different roles and responsibilities that exist with regard to risk, and outline the nine categories into which risks can be grouped.

This forms part of a suite of three modules, all about delivering excellent customer service. We all experience customer service, both good and bad. We may react to it in different ways depending on our circumstances and expectations and we may have different ideas on what makes good customer service.In this first module you'll reflect on your knowledge and experience and then explore customer service in the context of a local council.

This forms part of a suite of three modules, all about delivering excellent customer service. We all experience customer service, both good and bad. We may react to it in different ways depending on our circumstances and expectations and we may have different ideas on what makes good customer service.In this module you will further explore the benefits of customer service standards for you, the organisation and the customers.

This module has been put together to provide you with information and guidance around your organisation's communication support. By the end of the module you will be able to recognise the different types of deafness and dispel the common myths. We’ll help you identify the different ways in which deaf people communicate, and recognise the different forms of communication support available. We also look at working with an interpreter.

This forms part of a suite of three modules, all about delivering excellent customer service. We all experience customer service, both good and bad. We may react to it in different ways depending on our circumstances and expectations and we may have different ideas on what makes good customer service.Communication is at the heart of providing excellent customer service. Eighty percent of complaints received by an organisation are likely to have poor communication as their root cause. This module focuses on skills to help you communicate effectively either face to face, in writing or on the telephone. You will also find some techniques for how to manage difficult situations.

Did you know that failing to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people could mean that you are acting unlawfully? This could result in a court case, a fine and negative publicity for your business.This short e-learning guide will explain when and why adjustments are sometimes necessary (and why they’re sometimes not). It will help you to provide the best possible service to customers with disabilities, and at the same time ensure that your business is fully compliant with the latest legislation.

Bullying and harassment in the workplace can, in addition to creating an unhappy and unproductive environment, carry legal implications for employers. Our Dignity at Work module will demonstrate how managers can help create a positive working environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We examine the factors which contribute to team culture and outline the differences between firm management, healthy conflict and bullying. Employee rights is covered, as are dealing with a complaint and how to conduct both a formal and informal enquiry.

Every forward-thinking organisation now aims to be a good employer, and to be a business that delivers accessible and high-quality customer service. This includes ensuring equality of access and tackling unfair discrimination in the workplace, in line with the statutory obligations under the Equality Act 2010.Our e-learning module will guide both employees and managers through their responsibilities, identifying protected characteristics, highlighting key concepts of discrimination and underlining the benefits of equality. Advice is given on areas such as using respectful language and avoiding making assumptions, and the module features several real-life case studies and an accompanying knowledge check section.

In this module, we show you some practical steps that you can take to avoid discrimination against disabled people. In a professional setting, this might mean examining recruitment policies, making changes to the working environment or providing different ways of communicating effectively with colleagues and customers.

This module provides an overview of the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty. The aim is to explain what this legislation means for service planning and delivery. It will help you to apply equality as you go about your work.

Agile working is becoming a common feature of the modern workplace, with professionals increasingly undertaking much of their work away from the traditional confines of the office. Our e-learning module will demonstrate how agile working can reduce costs, improve productivity and provide employees with a better work-life balance.We’ll guide you through the different varieties of agile working, from hot desking to home working, and provide step-by-step instructions on getting started (including a look at the latest technology), making effective use of your time and staying in touch with HQ.

Coaching is a critical leadership skill, and when used effectively it can be the difference between acceptable levels of performance and exemplary levels. This comprehensive module serves as a toolkit, enabling you as a manager to coax the best out of your team.The Coaching unit will enable you to describe the purpose and benefits of coaching, identify the needs of the people you are coaching, deliver effective coaching and give and receive effective feedback. Practical case studies and interactive exercises will keep you engaged throughout.

Conflict is an inevitable ingredient in any workplace, but it can actually be regarded as a good thing sometimes – it can show that people are engaged and committed, and it may help to drive positive change. The most effective and efficient workplaces are not necessarily those where conflict doesn’t arise, but those where conflict is handled constructively.This module will look at the causes and types of conflict that can arise in the workplace. We'll demonstrate best practice approaches to resolving issues, and show everyday measures that can help to prevent future disharmony.

Learning disabilities are among the most common forms of disability in the UK, and also the least understood. People with a learning disability will typically find it harder to learn and understand than most. Many people, however, are able to live fairly independent lives.This course will help you to understand more about common conditions, and the difficulties that sufferers can face in everyday life. We’ll look at how you and your organisation can improve your written and verbal communication to ensure that your service is accessible to all. We’ll also examine how legislation has evolved to protect the rights of those with learning disabilities.

Most business people would not put being able to write well at the top of their key skills list – and yet writing is still the primary communication medium in most organisations. Being able to write effectively saves time, effort and frustration.Over the course of this module, the learner will be instructed as to how to write effective letters, briefs and emails, and we’ll demonstrate the power that good writing has to persuade and influence others. We’ll cover the areas of clarity, structure, punctuation and etiquette, and look at which situations are best suited to either a letter, email or phone call.

Emotional Intelligence (40 mins)
Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability of individuals to recognise their own and others' emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and to use this information to guide thinking and actions. Studies have shown that people with high levels of emotional intelligence have greater mental health, exemplary job performance and more potent leadership skills.
By the end of our Emotional Intelligence module, the learner will understand how EI can increase their self-awareness, help them to work with others and improve their professional performance.

In order for an organisation to provide excellent products and services, staff need to perform to the highest of standards – but how will we know when we’re performing well, and how can we identify possible areas for improvement? This is where effective professional feedback comes in. Our module will outline the importance of feedback, and illustrate how to seek, receive and use feedback to improve your workplace performance. We’ll also examine the skills needed to give feedback to others and what we have to do to ensure a constructive and valuable experience.

Meeting Skills (35 minutes)
Meetings are an inescapable part of professional life, and can serve a valuable purpose – from resolving issues to motivating employees. It’s important, therefore, that we know how to structure our meetings effectively.The Meeting Skills module will provide the learner with the skills they need to plan a meeting, identify objectives, prepare an agenda and put an appropriate structure in place. We’ll also demonstrate how to use control techniques to improve the productivity of meetings, and the best approaches to summarising agreement and minute-taking.

Personal resilience is, essentially, the ability to bounce back from difficult situations. It’s a quality that can prove crucial in a professional setting, where stress, adversity, knockbacks and tight deadlines are often all too common. This module gets the learner thinking about their own level of resilience and how it can be improved upon. Included are various tips and techniques for stressbusting, relaxation and visualisation.

Using Teamwork to Boost Performance (20 minutes)
This module is aimed at anyone who needs to effectively lead a team. It will enable you to identify the basics of good teamwork, which in turn will allow you to improve your team's performance. The module suggests techniques to enable you to establish a team purpose, build team spirit, improve team performance and then assess your own performance as a leader.

It is important to set up and maintain protective and supportive regulations to tackle racial discrimination and harassment. This module introduces you to the law as it currently relates to housing and racial harassment, the Codes of Practice that supplement legislation around housing and racial harassment and how to combat racial discrimination and harassment.

This module explores what is meant by the terms ‘honour based violence’ and ‘forced marriage’. We will help you to understand what honour means in the context of honour based violence, and to recognise the underlying motives and excuses for honour based violence and forced marriage.

An estimated 2 million people in the UK have an addiction to some form of substance, and it’s estimated that alcohol alone costs the country £21 billion. This module aims to raise your awareness of drugs and alcohol. We’ll take a look at the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption and view some useful tips for cutting back, as well as examining the more common drug types and their side effects and symptoms.We will also provide sources of support for individuals and employers, including a guide to spotting the early warning signs of substance misuse.

Social media has presented organisations with a range of new opportunities to spread awareness and gain opinion, making it possible to reach millions of potential customers with just a few keystrokes. Learners will acquire an improved understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of social media as we explore the different platforms available and their potential uses. We also provide a step-by-step guide to putting together an effective social media strategy for your organisation, and a look at real-life case studies of online success stories. There are dedicated sections for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging and video content, and a 10-question knowledge check rounds off this comprehensive course.

Self-development is about taking responsibility for one’s own personal and professional development. It’s an area which, in an age of CPD, PDP and lifelong learning, has become increasingly important to both individual and organisation. The Self-development e-learning module will familiarise the learner with the different terminology and features of personal advancement, and will arm them with the skills to assess, formulate, execute and review their very own career development plan.

One of the most important and yet difficult to master aspects of interpersonal communication is assertiveness. Assertiveness is what we often call 'standing up for yourself' and it forms an important aspect of relationships – both business and personal. This short ‘self-help’ guide has been compiled using material from the University of Cambridge counselling service. Neil Rothwell (Clinical Psychologist Forth Valley NHS Trust) and Chris Croft Management Consultant.

This module looks at a particular type of abuse which happens to girls and sometimes women that is collectively known as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This awareness raising module is aimed at anyone who works with children and young people and anyone who comes into contact with children and young people are part of their role.

The aim of this course is to introduce you to meditation and the science behind it and also to provide you with various techniques and skills to increase your experience when meditating.

In this module we explore what dementia is and who it affects. We will help you identify the symptoms associated with dementia and describe the different forms of dementia and what causes them.

This module explains how to properly share personal information so that our services can be improved. It covers why we need to share information, what information can be shared and with whom, and how to share information in a safe way.

Email has changed the way that we do business, but lately we've been hearing more about the problems of email stress and overcrowded inboxes. This module explores aspects of email stress and offers practical advice to help you use email more effectively. Upon completion of the course, the learner will have the confidence to manage email more comfortably and thus help to reduce stress levels across their organisation.

This module will provide you with a basic understanding of hate and mate crime and an increased understanding of how to respond to it. The module was originally put together in association with Warwickshire County Council, and the content has been adapted so it can be easily used by any public sector organisation.

The task of writing minutes is not just reserved for secretaries. Any person can be called upon to take the minutes of a meeting they attend.

This module is a practical guide that looks at the value of minutes whether the meeting is planned with an agenda and a chair person to manage the meeting, or if it is unplanned without an agenda and is less structured.

This module is designed to give you an overview of stress awareness at work. We'll explain why stress occurs and how it can manifest itself physically and psychologically, and offer practical hints and tips on how to cope with the ever-increasing demands of the modern workplace.

We're going to focus on an office environment during the module. However, if you work in an environment where special rules apply to good health and safety practice, you should seek additional training on these. Ask your manager for details.

Welcome to this module about Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).

This module is designed to give you an overview of management responsibilities with respect to health and safety laws and policies that affect you and your team.

We'll be focusing on an office environment for this module. If you work in an environment where special rules apply to good health and safety practice, additional training should be provided to you and your team

Welcome to this module on good manual handling practice at work. In this module you'll learn about common manual handling injuries and their causes, how to identify manual handling risks to yourself and your colleagues, and the best way to lift and move items around the office

This module has been designed to give you an overview of risk assessments. By the end, you'll be able to define risk assessment and identify the key principles. You will understand the difference between a hazard and a risk, and will recognise which risks require assessment. You will also be confident in undertaking the risk assessment process.

This module will instruct you on how to formulate a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) for those who may not be able to get themselves out of a building in an emergency. You will learn who is responsible for constructing the plans and how they should be written.

This module is designed to give you an overview of good DSE practice at work, and by the end of the module you will be able to set up your workstation and influence your working environment to minimise risk.

We will focus on an office environment during the module.

Prevent is the UK government strategy aimed at reducing or eliminating the risk of individuals becoming involved in terrorism. Completing this module will help you to identify signs of radicalisation, and understand when and how to report concerns appropriately.

This module is designed to give you an introduction to good health and safety practice in the office workplace. If you have any questions that relate to a specific health and safety issue in your office, talk to your manager.

Welcome. This module is designed to give you an overview of driving safety at work.

Agile Working for Managers (25 minutes)
This module has been designed to guide management personnel through the introduction of agile working. Case studies and practical scenarios are included to bring the learning to life and to help you put key agile working concepts into action.We’ll look at the benefits of agile working, as well as the potential pitfalls, and underline the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for your newly decentralised team.

Agile Working for Managers (25 minutes)
This module has been designed to guide management personnel through the introduction of agile working. Case studies and practical scenarios are included to bring the learning to life and to help you put key agile working concepts into action.We’ll look at the benefits of agile working, as well as the potential pitfalls, and underline the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for your newly decentralised team.

Agile Working for Managers (25 minutes)
This module has been designed to guide management personnel through the introduction of agile working. Case studies and practical scenarios are included to bring the learning to life and to help you put key agile working concepts into action.We’ll look at the benefits of agile working, as well as the potential pitfalls, and underline the importance of setting clear goals and objectives for your newly decentralised team.