Update to the New Organisational Structure for NAEP

In 2006 The Executive Committee for NAEP agreed to the implementation of a new organisational structure to improve the operational and business management of the organisation. This structure which was presented at Conference 2006 was scheduled to be in place by January 2007.

Since October 2006, the Executive Committee have further refined this structure in order to provide a more streamline and proactive hub to the organisation and which will be directly influenced by the membership. The transition to this redefined structure has been taking place from October 2006 and is now in place.

Initiating a change to the structure of NAEP

In January 2006 a membership survey was carried out to ascertain member's views on the organisation and its functions. As a result of the feedback a strategic plan was formulated and is now being acted upon by the Executive Committee to address some of the issues raised by the members.

The benefits of the new structure:

• Creates a framework to ensure that members have greater influence inthe business of the organisation.
• Separation of the operational work and the governance responsibilities
• Allows for greater involvement of the members i.e. opportunities to join specialised sub groups and spreads the workload from a few to a greater number
• Allows for the organisation to draw on a wider range of skills from within the membership
• Provides a communications framework for feeding into the business planning process
• Provides members with greater control over the organisation and its functions
• Provides clarity on roles and responsibilities
• Ensures that resources are used appropriately

How the organisation will look in 2007

The Regional Network
This is the body of the organisation and is the main driving force of NAEP. Each region may have more than one group depending on size and numbers. Each Regional Group will elect a Chair and Vice Chair, who will have responsibility for representing the members views at the Regional Chairs meetings and on to the NAEP Council. Regional groups will arrange their own meeting agendas, with meetings dates scheduled before and after the full Council meetings to ensure that there is effective and timely two-way communication.

Special Interest Groups
These groups will be made up from members with a special interest or skills and who can contribute and have an interest in the development of specialised areas of work in a national organisation. Four Special Interest Groups are currently in operation, with additional groups evolving as required. Each group will be given a lifespan that will be predetermined by the task. In order for the Groups to have a sound foundation and be initiated within a short time frame, it was agreed that the Chairs of the Special Interest Groups would initially come from the previous Executive Committee. In future, it is intended that each group will eventually elect their own Chair. The Groups will meet as appropriate to carry out the work that they are undertaking and will prepare reports for the AGM and the full Council meetings.

The Council
This is the heart of the organisation. The Council now consists of the Regional Co-Ordinator from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Chairs of each of the Special Interest Groups. The Council will now meet five times a year, which includes an Annual General Meeting, to debate issues and concerns on behalf of the membership; this will feed into the business planning cycle of the organisation. Ultimately, the Council is responsible for determining the direction of the organisation.

Regional representatives are not only responsible for ensuring the views and opinions of the members in the regions are heard at Council but are also responsible for feedback to the membership, so there is a two way process of communication which fundamentally allows all members to influence and inform the organisation.

Regional representatives will meet with the Regional Co-Ordinator approximately four times a year.

It was previously proposed that the new structure would see the formation of a Business Development Group which would take the lead on the organisational governance of the organisation.

In order to maintain a synergy between the Regional and Special Interest Groups, the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Service Development Officer, it has been agreed that the 'business' management of this part of the organisation is best retained within the Council - to this end the Business Development Group will not be formed. This will also maximise meeting times in concluding and progressing all business matters of the organisation.

How will it happen?
In January 2007 the organisation will have started a transition to the new structure and business timetable.

Timetable:

We hope that you will enthusiastically support this new structure and help us to implement it in a smooth manner. We certainly hope that members will feel a positive impact of the changes and will take the opportunity to contribute further in the work of the organisation.

If you have any questions or indeed would like to become more involved with organisation we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please contact in the first instance:

John Glover - NAEP Chair Tel: 01840 211115
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it