Changes to Essential Training

We are pleased to announce the launch of ‘How we work at Essex’ that will replace the existing suite of Essential Training for all employees. This has been developed to better reflect our values, reduce the workload required to complete Essential Training and to respond to feedback from colleagues. A new programme to replace the current suite of Essential Training for managers ‘Do you manage the Essex way?’ is also being developed for launch in March 21.

The termly Essential Training reports and Essential Training policy have been updated to reflect this new approach to Essential Training for all employees. The termly reports will be updated to reflect the new training and the new policy outlines a need for all employees to engage with annual refresher training. More information about these developments can be found below:

1. How we work at Essex aims to extend the focus of Essential Training to include values-based decisions and behaviours in addition to ensuring that colleagues are aware of their statutory obligations, professional standards and legal requirements. It is anticipated that the course will take approximately 2-3 hours to complete with a short refresher for all staff expected every academic year. How we work at Essex will be launched on week commencing 23rd November with termly reports being sent in late January.
2. Do you manage the Essex way? Is being designed to provide managers at Essex with a greater understanding of how we manage at Essex. Resources and guidance will be available to support managers in their role. It will include insights from managers, practical activities and an opportunity to plan your future development as a manager. We intend to launch this in late March and will keep you updated with developments.
3. Annual refresher training. To ensure that colleagues continue to be fully supported in their roles, Essential Training refreshers will need to be completed after the start of academic year 2021-22. It will introduce important legislative changes that people will need to be aware of, raise relevant issues or themes that have emerged during the last year and test essential aspects of How We Work at Essex.

If you have any questions or feedback regarding our Moodle resources or approach please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at develop@essex.ac.uk.