Developing our people Brochure 2023

Developing our people Developing our people

Creating a Learning Culture

Our success is dependent on having the right people with the right skills, in the right place at the right time, so we know how important it is that we invest in your learning and development.

Through The Aster Offer, we will encourage and support you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in line with business needs and The Aster Way whilst you invest what you have learnt back into the business by using and sharing your knowledge and skills.

Your Learning

During Building Performance conversations and check ins with your leader you are encouraged to discuss your personal and professional development.

This includes your learning needs, current performance, capability, and behaviours. This can identify gaps and opportunities for learning and development. It will also help define appropriate learning and development interventions to support business requirements and set you on a pathway to help you achieve your future aspirations.

Types of Learning to support Development

Learning can take many different shapes, sizes and formats. Through Building Performance conversations with your leader, you will both be able to tailor a learning plan that will meet the needs of both you and the business.

The infographic below demonstrates the variety of options available to you.

• Physical courses and workshops

• Industry specific conferences and events

• LIVE recorded webinars

• Distance learning courses

• Digital learning on Learn

• Professional qualifications and certifications.

Coaching

• Feedback from others on performance and behaviour

• Use 360 degree feedback as a tool for improvement

• Share knowledge across departments

• Use the Building Performance process for self reflection and learning

• Learn from industry associations and key figures

• Follow and participate with leading industry blogs

• Read white papers and research papers

• Watch YouTube videos and listen to podcasts

• Build internal and external networks.

Gain experience on the job

• Provide support and cover for your leader

• Seek opportunities to be involved in projects or take on extra responsibilities

• Speak at internal or external events

• Job shadow to learn the role of others

• Understand and work with different teams

• Become a subject matter expert

• Facilitate and chair team meetings

• Train, mentor or coach others

• Develop leadership skills through spending time with internal leaders

• Network and interact with senior leadership

• Work in groups to solve real business issues

• Become a mentor for others

• Apply learning from other organisations

• Volunteer through the Aster Foundation Become part of our colleague voice channels such as the colleague council, Transformation network or colleague forums.

Mentoring

Mentoring relationships are an opportunity to develop both the mentor and mentee through understanding other perspectives and lived experiences. It’s also a way of sharing skills and knowledge.

Sessions for all colleagues and leaders to introduce the fundamental skills of coaching, identifying how this can be applied to create a coaching culture.

Colleague Development Learning Offer

We know we all learn in different ways, that’s why we have designed a blended approach to our learning offer.

We compliment our face-to-face sessions with live virtual sessions, workshops, webinars, videos, podcasts and bite sized digital Learning that can be accessed via our learning platform, Learn at any time. This allows us access to learning in the moment when you need and want it, creating a learning focused culture.

The Aster Way Values

Our values

Our behaviours

We each contribute in different ways to help ensure everyone has a home

Customer and community centered

Accountable and honest

We find new and better ways of working. We don’t shy away from making hard choices that are in the best interests of Aster’s long-term future.

Responsive and value driven

Freedom to experiment and adapt

Our success comes through valuing difference, teamwork and positive challenge.

Supportive leadership

Network of teams

We offer a range of learning interventions tailored to The Aster Way.

We share a passion for improving people’s lives We work together to create a better future We support each other to be the best we can be

Building of core colleague skills

Colleague Development Learning Offer

We share a passion for improving people’s lives

Diversity and inclusivity

The Aster Way and our Diversity and Inclusion Principles help to underpin everything we do and support us to create a fair and inclusive culture for all. We do this by creating an environment where diversity in all its forms is welcomed and celebrated in everything we do. Here, you can find a whole host of resources, information and sessions to help inform, empower and support you to promote diversity and inclusion across the organisation.

Customer and community centered Health and wellbeing

We’re committed to providing a healthy and safe environment which encourages and supports your wellbeing, enabling you to be the best you can be at work.

As part of The Aster Offer, you’ll find a range of benefits and resources to help you to stay well and in work, as well as support for your personal development.

Directly or indirectly, we all have a role to play in achieving our vision of ‘Everyone has a home’. This tile will look at the skills and opportunities to put the customer at the heart of everything we do and build the skills we need to embed exceptional customer service.

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Personal development through The Aster Foundation

The Aster Foundation aims to enable the better lives of 40,000 people by 2030. It does this through investing in our communities and in their future through its impact programmes, innovative approach to tackling social challenges and influencing programme.

By working together with supporters, partners and beneficiaries, the Foundation works to close the gaps in financial inequality, support mental wellbeing and employment, and help our communities to thrive through volunteering. They are building businesses to change the world through our social incubator, inc. Here you can find out how to get involved and support their work.

Understanding our business and our customers

How we work and who our people and customers are – this tile helps you to develop your understanding of the business and how we can all work together towards our corporate strategy.

Colleague Development Learning Offer

We work together to create a better future

Freedom to experiment and adapt

Mindset, adaptability and change Building performance

With an ever-changing world, we need to make sure we can deal with these changes and be adaptable. Our ability to cope with change can be influenced by our mindset and how we approach situations. This tile looks at how to prepare yourself for adversity, become more resilient and shift your mindset and perception of what is in front of you.

Promoting an environment where risk taking, innovation and thinking outside the box is encouraged is integral to how we work.

This tile will look at how you can create an innovation mindset, help you think outside of the box and look at how we perceive challenges and what alternative options you can try to solve the problem at hand.

It’s important to us that we build our business with high performing teams, and we all understand the role we play in achieving our corporate strategy, and in turn, that we reward and recognise your contribution. You told us in the colleague survey that it’s also important to you that you have quality conversations about your performance, development and career opportunities and that we proactively manage poor performers. This tile will provide you with information, details and more on Building Performance and what it means for you.

Restorative practice Data and digital

In a technological world that is ever adapting and changing, the key to keeping up to date with the changes is more essential than ever.

Within data and digital, you will find content, resources, and helpful tools to help develop your skills and understanding of the technology we use and how to use them, all to make sure you are one step ahead.

Emotional intelligence

This is all about the ability to understand and manage emotions effectively.

Emotional intelligence in the workplace can provide significant benefits and further develop your career, in addition to creating better relationships and promoting a positive work environment.

EI helps you perceive, reason with, understand and manage the emotions of yourself and others. Being able to handle emotions gives you the ability to guide and help people, and it can help you be happier and more successful. This tile will look at ways to develop your EI skills through a variety of resources, sessions and much more.

Aster is a restorative organisation and committed to ensuring the way all colleagues and leaders interact at work follow the restorative principles.

These expectations and approaches are embedded within The Aster Way and our resolution principles - this is the roots of our relationship with you.

This tile will provide details and information on what restorative is and how you can use the tools yourselves.

Colleague Development Learning Offer

We work together to create a better future

Analytical skills

Analytical skills refer to an individual’s ability to identify a problem, investigate to find out relevant facts, and find a logical solution.

Analytical skills are used when detecting patterns, brainstorming ideas, observing, collecting, and interpreting data, integrating new information and making decisions based on the situation. Within this tile you will find content, resources and tools to help build your analytical skills and utilise them within your role.

Critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is the ability to effectively analyse information and form a judgment.

To think critically, you must be aware of your own biases and assumptions when encountering information and apply consistent standards when evaluating sources.

If this is something you would like to develop and work on, you can find content, links and resources all tailored to building your critical thinking skills.

Knowledge sharing

Part of The Aster Way, sharing ideas, encouraging and promoting new perspectives, helps us to promote a culture of learning and diverse thinking.

If you want to see how you can get involved in initiatives across the business, you can find links within and contact details of how to get involved in discussing topics and themes with other like-minded colleagues.

Colleague Development Learning Offer

can be

Using agile working tools Network of teams Collaboration and Teamwork

As a way of working, agile is an iterative approach to work that helps individuals and teams deliver results effectively and efficiently.

An agile approach looks at small incremental approaches and tasks to help deliver successful outcomes. Here you will find resources, tools and links that can help provide structure and ideas on how to work more agile.

Collaboration, support and teamwork are at the heart of The Aster Way. Creating a safe and supportive environment for colleagues to share, explore and use their voice can be explored in this tile.

You will find a variety of content ranging from communication skills, trust, psychological safety and more.

Understanding what is happening outside of our teams and across the business can provide us with many benefits such as developing new ideas, building new relationships and improving our communication skills.

In this tile you can find information and resources to help you develop your networking and communication skills.

We support each other to be the best we

Engaging and Influencing Communication

When we do things we enjoy, we are more motivated and engaged.

When we are faced with tasks that are less enjoyable, it can sometimes feel difficult to find the value and drive behind what we are doing.

In this tile, you can find ways to improve your motivation, keep yourself and your colleagues engaged which can in turn lead to higher performance and excitement in what you are doing.

To be a supportive colleague, we need to be able to communicate with kindness and encouragement as well as providing feedback.

Using DISC, can help provide insights into your own personality and behavioural preference but also of those around you which can help influence how you talk and interact with others.

You will be able to find here content, resources and links on all areas of communication; how you communicate, what your style is, how to communicate with impact and much more.

Leadership Development Offer

Our new Leadership Development Framework is all about providing you with the practical tools, resources and knowledge you need to be a great leader.

As part of The Aster Offer under Programme Experience, the new pathways not only aim to help you develop transformational leadership skills wherever you are in your leadership journey but also provide you with the core skills and knowledge to be an effective leader enabling high performing and engaged teams.

Leadership Pathways

A critical component to our Leadership Development Framework is our Leadership Pathways.

As part of your development under the ‘Building Leader Performance’ pathway we have tailored a programme for you, our maintenance leaders, and supervisors.

Aspiring Leaders

To provide potential leaders with a programme of personal and professional learning to develop a pipeline of next generation leaders.

Suitable for: Colleagues with potential to be leaders

Strategic Leadership Building Leader Performance Leader Welcome

To provide all new leaders with a programme of personal and professional learning, to give them the best possible start.

Suitable for: All new leaders

Varied and flexible learning interventions with offers to support effective leadership and develop skills for the future.

A programme of personal and professional learning to develop a flexible and resilient leadership team equipped for the challenges of the future.

Suitable for: Executive Board and their direct reports

Suitable for: All leaders from Team leader to Heads of service

Building of core leadership skills

Coaching

Flexible individual

Leadership Development Offer

Leadership Pathways

• To build awareness of key leadership skills and behaviours

• Building the foundations for effective leadership

• Develop and practice using skills and behaviours in a safe space

Aspiring Leaders Leader Welcome

• Access to mentoring

• Access to expertise and resources.

• Dedicated leadership pathway to support the wider Aster welcome.

• Support in creating a network through a dedicated welcome session with other new leaders

• Learning interventions in the following areas:

• The Aster Way

• Immersion session

• Safety First

• Introduction to governance and risk

• Mental Health Champions

• Building Performance.

• Building an awareness of the wider programme of learning

‘Building Leader Performance’ pathway.

• Learning interventions with offers designed to support the development of core and critical skills and behaviours

• A range of interventions with learning and resources designed and delivered internally, and accessible through LEARN

• Annual programme of learning offers that can be accessed by leaders based on their development needs

• A flexible and adaptable offer that evolves over time to meet the needs of the business

• Opportunities to develop and enhance skills through bringing leaders together to solve business challenges

• A programme that enables high performing leaders to support new or under performing leaders through mentoring

• Enabling high performing leaders to access Enhanced Leadership interventions

• Access to coaching and mentoring.

• A programme that recognises the unique requirement for development at this level. To create opportunities designed to set direction and ensure Aster is a sustainable, high-performing business

• Individual focus on personal and professional development with access to personal and team coaching

• Team development via traditional coaching, 360 feedback and team experiences to improve overall team effectiveness, team roles and moving from good to great with the support of an Executive Coach

• A regular programme to include external research, scenario planning, speaker sessions, experiences and events to support discussions and planning for the future (collectively and as individuals)

• Traditional and reverse mentoring programmes

• Access to all other leadership development interventions through the ‘Building Leader Performance’ pathway.

Building Leader Performance

Strategic Leadership

Leadership Development Offer

Building Leader Performance - Leadership Skills

Effective recruitment and onboarding

We want to attract and retain a talented workforce.

From recruitment, onboarding to our colleague welcome the journey for new colleagues should reflect our vision and values.

Here you can find procedures, templates and guidance to help you successfully recruit and retain.

Keeping your team safe Building performance

It’s important to us that we build our business with high performing teams and that you all engage with our vision and understand the role you play in achieving our corporate strategy, and in turn, that we reward and recognise your contribution.

You told us in the last colleague survey that it’s also important to you that you have quality conversations about your performance, development and career opportunities and that we proactively manage poor performers.

This tile will provide you with information, details and more on all things Building Performance and what it means for you.

Making sure that your team feel safe and are safe at the same time is an essential skill required for all leaders.

Here you can find information on what and how to keep your team safe but also techniques and skills you can implement to be able to have conversations on these topics, to help promote behaviours like psychological safety, honesty and openness and transparency.

Delivering great customer service

This tile will look at the skills and opportunities to help support our work to put the customer at the heart of everything we do and build the skills you and your team need to embed exceptional customer service.

Understanding Safety First Understanding governance and risk

We prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and our customers above everything else.

We all have to play our part. Safety First, Always, only works if every single one of us takes responsibility for our own safety and wellbeing, and that of our colleagues and customers. Here you will find links, resources and guidelines to support you, as leaders to prioritise Safety First.

Find here information and resources on how you can help support colleagues with risk and opportunity management and legal and regulatory compliance, and lead on things such as data protection (including processing data subject right requests), business continuity, anti-money laundering, policy methodology and management and information governance.

Leadership Development Offer

Building Leader Performance - Leadership Skills

Being an effective communicator

Digital capability Health and wellbeing

We’re committed to providing a healthy and safe environment which encourages and supports your wellbeing, enabling you to be the best you can be at work. As part of The Aster Offer you’ll find a range of benefits and resources to help you to stay well and in work. Here you’ll find sessions and resources to support your personal development and overall health and wellbeing.

To be a supportive colleague and leader, we need to be able to communicate with kindness and encouragement as well as providing feedback.

Using DISC, can help provide insights into your own personality and behavioural preference but also of those around you which can help influence how you talk and interact with others.

You will be able to find here content, resources and links on all areas of communication; how you communicate, what your style is, how to communicate with impact and much more.

Within data and digital, you will find content, resources, and helpful tools to help develop your skills and understanding of the technology we use and how to use them, all to make sure you are one step ahead.

As the way we work evolves, being flexible and open to change will help us to adapt and embrace new opportunities. Working virtually has changed how we communicate, run meetings, interact with our teams and as a leader, it’s important to keep up with what’s best for your team and the organisation.

You can find various videos, resources and tips on how to lead with success in a hybrid world.

Working flexibly in a variety of locations provides us with many benefits and opportunities.

Here you can find out what you can do as a leader to build connections, and create exciting, supportive and engaging relationships with your team and others within the organisation.

Skills to lead in a virtual first environment Building a network in a virtual world

Leadership Development Offer

Building Leader Performance - Leadership Skills

Knowing and taking action on your data

Data helps provide us with evidence of how something is working and how to flex and change. This tile will run through how to collect data, interpret and utilise it for success and growth.

Effective project management

Project management is a set of processes to help teams plan, execute and deliver successful project outcomes.

Using project management effectively can help teams reduce risks, work to a budget and deliver outcomes.

Here you’ll find content and sessions on how to improve your project management.

Your role in dealing with complaints

An effective complaints process helps us to learn from the issues affecting our customers and then take steps to improve the services we provide.

Good complaint handling promotes positives relationships with our customers and enables us to resolve issues before they become worse.

As a leader involvement in complaint resolution develops ownership, decision making and engagement.

Effective complaint management also provides an essential insight into our day-to-day operations, allowing leaders to assess the effectiveness of our services and drive a positive complaint handling culture.

Managing poor performance Managing attendance

As a leader you need to be prepared to have those difficult conversations if colleagues in your team are underperforming.

Within this tile you can find lots of use resources, sessions and also procedures to support you to have a poor performance conversation.

Poor attendance can be attributed to lots of reasons including health problems, family issues, unhappiness at work or stress.

Find out here what you can do as a leader to manage attendance in your teams and have the right conversations to support interventions and next steps.

Leadership Development Offer

Building Leader Performance - To support TAW Behaviours

Understanding and living The Aster Way

The Aster Way is not just a set of words. It’s a shared understanding of the way we work – creating a fair and inclusive culture.

It’s a set of straightforward principles that underpin everything we do, every day. From how we lead and learn, to how we collaborate, communicate and innovate, this is how we’ll reach our visionthat everyone has a home. Here you can find all information around The Aster Way to make sure you are aligned to our values and behaviours.

Inclusive leadership

The Aster Way and our Diversity and Inclusion Principles help to underpin everything we do and support us to create a fair and inclusive culture for all.

We do this by creating an environment where diversity in all its forms is welcomed and celebrated in everything we do. Here, you can find a whole host of resources, information and sessions to help inform, empower and support you to promote diversity and inclusion across your teams and the organisation.

Leading through change

With an ever-changing world, we need to make sure we can deal with these changes and be adaptable. This can all be influenced by our mindset and how we approach situations. This tile looks at how to prepare yourself for adversity, creating a more resilient self all by shifting our mindset and perception of what is in front of us.

Restorative practice Creating engaged teams

Aster is a restorative organisation and committed to ensuring the way all colleagues and leaders interact at work follow the restorative principles. These expectations and approaches are embedded within The Aster Way and our resolution principles - this is the roots of our relationship with you. This tile will provide details and information on what restorative is and how you can access training and tools to support you to lead your team in a restorative way.

Coaching as a leadership style

Coaching is a skill that can improve performance and support you and your team’s development.

Being able to implement a coaching style to your conversations as a leader can help develop understand and ask the right questions to provide the opportunities for your team to learn and develop. Find sessions, resources and tools to develop your coaching skills.

Part of The Aster Way is creating an environment that is supportive, rewarding and motivating through autonomy and creativity.

We want everyone to be the best they can be at work and as a leader you can influence and shape this.

This tile will provide content on how you can create environments and build teams for success.

Leadership Development Offer

Building Leader Performance - To support TAW Behaviours

Working collaboratively

The more we talk, interact and engage leads to the chance of relationships being built and strengthened, allows for more open and honest conversations through promoting a psychologically safe environment.

The safer people feel, the more likely they are to discuss areas of concern, development and opportunity. If this is an area you would like to explore more, then you will find a variety of content ranging from communication skills, trust and psychological safety and much more. Collaboration, support and teamwork are at the heart of The Aster Way. Creating a safe and supportive environment for colleagues to share, explore and use their voice can be explored in this tile.

You will find a variety of content ranging from communication skills, trust, psychological safety and more.

Leading with respect and understanding professional boundaries

Being valued and treated respectfully helps to promote a positive work culture where colleagues are fulfilled, loyal, engaged, and motivated to perform at their very best. This tile will help you look into how to communicate with respect and understand where the boundaries lie.

Emotional intelligence, empathy and self awareness resilience

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to understand and manage emotions effectively. Emotional intelligence in the workplace can provide significant benefits and further develop your career, in addition to creating better relationships and promoting a positive work environment. EI helps you perceive, reason with, understand and manage the emotions of yourself and others.

Being able to handle emotions gives you the ability to guide and help people, and it can help you be happier and more successful.

This tile will look at ways to develop your EI skills through a variety of resources, sessions and much more.

Being an effective mentor

Mentoring has the potential to be beneficial for both the mentors and their mentees. Mentoring encourages professional and personal growth, helps develop the mentees knowledge and their skill set and is a great way to build your own network. Being a mentor can also help with developing your leadership and development skills through communication, imparting knowledge and asking impactful questions. Find here, all things related to being a mentor, how to become an effective mentor and help people learn from your experiences.

Professional Development

What is an apprenticeship?

• An apprenticeship can be for anyone at any level doing any role

• A route to gain a qualification

• Gaining a professional qualification whilst continuing to learn in your role

• A minimum of six hours is set aside for learning, usually at a college, university or a training provider, the rest of the time is spent applying knowledge and skills in the workplace, doing the job that the learner set out to do

• Lasts for a minimum of 12 months and is a recognised apprenticeship standard

• Once completed, you’ll gain an official, recognised qualification

• The levy is just a pot of money we can use to not only fund new apprentices coming into our business but also up-skill and provide professional development for our current colleagues.

View: Apprenticeship Booklet

We offer a range of professional development opportunities including upskilling using our apprenticeship levy.

Learning and Organisational Development Budget

As part of The Aster Offer under Programme Experience, having a leadership and colleague learning offer that encourages your personal and professional development is really important.

We want to provide learning that enables you to develop your knowledge, skills and behaviours in line with The Aster Way.

Over the coming year we’ll develop our colleague learning offer so that it provides a range of opportunities for you to learn and grow.

Learning comes in many different forms and the new Learning and Organisational Development Guidance helps you understand the variety of options available when it comes to learning and development opportunities.

All learning, professional development, conferences and work requiring budget will now come from one combined centralised budget.

We have developed some guidance and a process to access this central pot and ask that you and your leaders think carefully about your requirements ahead of requesting access to the allocation. The form to apply for funding from the centralised budget can be found here.

View: Learning and Organisational Development Booklet