Capability Reviews: Progress and Next Steps - The Civil Service

CSCG is also working more effectively with the National School of Government tocommission the design, development and delivery of a range of consultancy andtraining products aimed at increasing the leadership capability and capacity in the SCS.Progress against leadership issues raised by the Capability Reviews includes:• the development of the Top 200 Civil Servants (permanent secretaries anddirectors general) as a community, which has been a key success in increasingthe commitment to a more collaborative and engaged form of leadership. The Top200 now meet regularly to address key issues of importance to the Civil Service;• a stronger emphasis on talent management and succession planning indepartments and at the centre, with departments reporting regularly to the SeniorLeadership Committee and being challenged on their plans;• new capability and expertise within CSCG in the area of change leadership, witha specific remit to support departments in their change programmes;• embedding the leadership framework into performance management for SeniorCivil Servants, so that each of them is assessed on their leadership capability; and• a new ‘base camp’ induction event for all new Senior Civil Servants, to make themfully aware of their corporate responsibilities.Case study: Developing leaders‘SCS Base Camp is a new corporate leadership programme developed in directresponse to the findings of the Capability Reviews. There are approximately 500new entrants to the SCS each year and, for the first time, civil servants recentlyappointed or promoted to the SCS will have an opportunity to examine what theCivil Service does, the job of leadership and the role of Senior Civil Servants incorporate leadership.A key element of the programme is to give new Senior Civil Servants a betterunderstanding of the leadership framework, and how it relates to their role. It alsofocuses on some of the main challenges the Civil Service faces and theimportance of corporate leadership to overcoming these.The Cabinet Office and the National School of Government launched theprogramme in October 2007. Sir Jon Shortridge (Permanent Secretary – WelshAssembly Government) hosted and was supported by many high-calibre publicand private sector speakers. Ninety-one participants from 23 departmentsattended; a third were women and 2 per cent were ethnic minority staff.Feedback was extremely positive, with 96 per cent of participants reporting thatthe event met its aims well or very well and 89 per cent reporting that theirpersonal learning goals were well or very well met. The consistent theme in thefeedback was the quality of the speakers and facilitators. Participants reallyvalued the opportunity to hear today’s leaders talk openly and honestly aboutwhat they have learnt, how they approach leadership and the expectations theyhave of the ‘next generation’ of leaders.32 COMMON CAPABILITY GAPS: PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS