“Are you ready? Are you still ready?”: Orientation and Training for Parliamentary ResearchersPhilip KayeManager, Legislative Research ServiceLegislative Assembly of Ontario
September 10, 2014
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The Larger Picture
Part of Quality AssuranceUniqueness of the parliamentary environment
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The Beginning: Hiring the Right People
Multi-stage process starts with drafting of the advertisement
Research Officer participation in the process
Both oral and written questions–in the case of the latter, priority attached to assessing writing skills and issue identification 3
The Legislative Research Service (LRS) (research side)14 Research Officers (ROs)1 Research and Publications Librarian1 Statistics and Data Librarian1 Research Reviewer
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Recent Developments
Significant staffing changes–retirements, pursuit of other opportunities
7 of 14 ROs started between December 2012 and April 2014
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Formal Orientation Program
Evolved over past 15 yearsUsually stretches over two weeks
(approx.) with most meetings during the first week, especially the first two days
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Goal of the Program
Learning the fundamentals of what we do and how we do it from colleagues and management
Understanding LRS’s core valuesStarting to develop key work relationships
and sense of being part of a team
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Preparing for the First Project
Principle of learning by doingReady for first project on Day 3What precedes?
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Learning the Basics: Days 1 and 2
Introductions to staffMeetings! Meetings! Meetings! Separate
meetings with the LRS Manager; branch Director; Supervisor, Office Operations; 1 or 2 Research Officers; Research and Publications Librarian; Manager, Library Client Services
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Learning the Basics: Days 1 and 2
Learn among other things: core values; office procedures; library client request database; document management system; steps for handling a project from beginning to end; team approach with Research Librarians–also Library tour
Access to Staffnet and staff orientation site, including key documents (e.g., best practices)
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Subsequent Meetings/Activities (first two weeks, if possible)
Separate meetings with Executive Director of iDivision and Legislative Librarian; Statistics and Data Librarian; Research Librarians (legislative and legal databases; House documents); Digital Coordinator; Clerk of Procedural Services; Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Observe Committee and House proceedingsAssembly Orientation Program for New Staff
(every few months)11
First 3-6 Months
Developing appropriate research strategies
Review of written work by LRS Manager, including application of following principles of good writing: brevity, clarity, and simplicity
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Mentorship
Ongoing on an informal basisFormalized re Committee responsibilitiesAssembly mentorship program
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Ongoing Professional Development for All Staff
Substantive and skills-basedIn-house: staff training team; special
sessions and seminars; “teas”; staff meetings; Library/LRS Staffnet
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Ongoing Professional Development for All StaffExternal education programsExternal requirements (e.g., for lawyers)External arrangements such as
secondments and leaves of absenceTraining and development plan
incorporated in performance evaluation process
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Evaluation: Is the Approach to Orientation and Training Working?
Assessment by new employeesInternal review of projectsFeedback from clients
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