The County Support Officer

There will be one CSO for an area with about 300 clerks (or about 40 new clerks a year). In some places the number of clerks will be lower and the contribution towards expenses will be made pro rata. In order to answer straightforward technical questions the CSO should be WWYC/CiLCA qualified. The CSO must also be fully aware of the advisory and training services.

The CSOs prime role is to offer support and to connect the new clerk with other resources. CSOs will need to question, listen and respond, giving practical options including pointers towards advice, training, networking and information resources. An important element will be to give new clerks the means to work out solutions for themselves.

The CSO is responsible to the SLCC’s National Mentoring Officer who manages the New Clerks’ Support project. He identifies and organises training for SLCC representatives to act as CSOs. He helps to produce the welcome pack and manages e-groups for all clerks and WWYC. He works with the training team to identify and support mentors/facilitators specifically for clerks taking WWYC.

The CSOs job description is as follows:

• To help the new clerk to understand their role and the roles of others
  
• To introduce the new clerk to local, countywide and national networks
  
• To help establish informal local networks especially enabling new clerks to work with other clerks and principal authorities in their district
  
• To make sure the new clerk knows who to contact when needed
  
• To answer straightforward technical questions and, when appropriate, to refer the clerk to the regional advisor or CALC officer for a response
  
• To identify when the new clerk is in difficulty and listen so that the clerk doesn’t feel isolated and to suggest a way forward ensuring that the new clerk is given opportunity to own the problem
  
• To help the new clerk sustain motivation for their job
  
• To recognise the boundaries of the role and to refer the clerk to other sources of help when necessary
  
• To inform the clerk of training options
  
• To draw the new clerk’s attention to written information supporting the work of a clerk
  
• To work with the local branch, RTM, CTP and advisors as appropriate
  
• To undertake a training course and obtain the certificate for related work
  
• The CSO will maintain a log of hours and expenses to guide the Mentoring Officer on how much is being input compared with what the SLCC can pay.

On occasion, the CSO might be able to help a clerk who is not new to the sector if a clerk is undergoing a period of change that requires a listener and the skills of the CSO (as opposed to the skills of an advisor). The clerk may refer him/herself to the CSO or an advisor might suggest that the clerk talks to the CSO.