For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up
18 Nov HR

For every civil servant seen to be mistreated, others will be too scared to speak up

After weeks of bullying allegations against current and ex-ministers, whistleblowing reforms can help restore integrity and accountability in government
by Andrew Pepper-Parsons
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
01 Dec Finance
Will the Autumn Statement’s short-term focus sideline longer-term outcomes for public services?
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
30 Nov Operational Delivery
We should go further and faster in redesigning human-centred public services
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
14 Nov HR
Low pay blights the Fast Stream. Our members have had enough
Opinion: Why the Declaration on Government Reform shows the time for change has come
23 Jun 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Why the Declaration on Government Reform shows the time for change has come
Civil service reform is not a zero sum game where ministers win and civil servants lose, says Martin Wheatley, the research director of the Commission for Smart Government. Now is the time to make positive change for all
Opinion: What the Whitehall-focused Declaration On Government Reform gets wrong
21 Jun 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: What the Whitehall-focused Declaration On Government Reform gets wrong
The government’s plan for civil service reform doesn’t engage with the reality of the devolved UK, says Colin Talbot
Dave Penman: Dom should put up or shut up
17 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Dave Penman: Dom should put up or shut up
The prime minister’s former top adviser fired broadsides across all of Whitehall in his evidence on the government’s coronavirus response. But we got more accusations than facts
Gove’s government reform plan: what it means for the civil service, and what is missing
17 Jun 2021 Civil Service Reform
Gove’s government reform plan: what it means for the civil service, and what is missing
The Declaration on Government Reform sets out plans for civil service reform one year on from Michael Gove’s landmark speech on public service. Bronwen Maddox and Alex Thomas from the Institute for Government take a look at what it means
Colin Talbot: Why we weren't ready for Covid-19
14 Jun 2021
Colin Talbot: Why we weren't ready for Covid-19
Dominic Cummings has claimed there was no plan for a pandemic when coronavirus struck. Was he right?
Games, simulations, and digital twins: the technology transforming the citizen experience Sponsored
09 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Games, simulations, and digital twins: the technology transforming the citizen experience
Data is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services. But what if a shock like the COVID-19 pandemic renders data out of date? Deloitte has been working out not only how to unlock insight from the most recent information, but also how to use this information with cutting-edge technology to fundamentally improve the citizen experience
Andy Cowper: The Treasury’s back – and so is Dom
08 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
Andy Cowper: The Treasury’s back – and so is Dom
The Department of Health and Social Care – and its secretary of state – has had another month in the headlines. But did it just see its future in the school funding row?
Peter Schofield on DWP at 20: A department two decades in the making that rose to the challenge of a lifetime
08 Jun 2021
Peter Schofield on DWP at 20: A department two decades in the making that rose to the challenge of a lifetime
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Department for Work and Pensions. Permanent secretary Peter Schofield reflects on the momentous occasion
‘Hard work doesn’t let Whitehall off the hook on transparency’: Meg Hillier on the civil service’s Covid response
03 Jun 2021 Coronavirus
‘Hard work doesn’t let Whitehall off the hook on transparency’: Meg Hillier on the civil service’s Covid response
Public Accounts Committee chair warns that perm sec churn ‘requires younger civil servants to have the courage to call out ministers’
'The inflection point is here': how Covid is driving digital transformation in health Sponsored
01 Jun 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
"The inflection point is here": how Covid is driving digital transformation in health
It’s been one of the most challenging years for healthcare providers, but Salesforce sees lasting change from accelerated digital transformation
Opinion: The government must change its approach if the new subsidy control system is to be a success
01 Jun 2021 Brexit
Opinion: The government must change its approach if the new subsidy control system is to be a success
The government has an opportunity to design a better system than the EU state aid regime it will replace, but its current approach risks missing the opportunity
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
27 May 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: Covid proves the need for a civil service shake-up
The government’s pandemic response shows that the Whitehall can move at speed. But those lessons must now be learned and fully embedded in government
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
25 May 2021
‘As we re-evaluate statues and debate connections between venerable institutions and the slave trade, racism persists’: has the civil service made progress in addressing inequality?
The murder of George Floyd led to renewed focus on action to tackle racism. One year on, Ayo Awoyungbo shares his personal reflections on the civil service’s efforts
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
24 May 2021 Leadership
Dave Penman: Standards in public strife
The various inquiries dogging the government do not seem to have affected it electorally. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only thing that matters to the PM, Dave Penman writes
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
19 May 2021 Health & Social Care
Andy Cowper: An Act for NHS reform, but an argument over the bill for social care
In his first column for CSW, health policy expert Andy Cowper reviews Simon Stevens’s Whitehall legacy, and considers the changes being wrought by the new round of health reforms the NHS boss authored
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
07 May 2021 Local & Devolved
Opinion: Are we set for a levelling up reboot?
A prominent MP has been appointed as the prime minister’s adviser on levelling up. What does it mean for the next stage of this agenda?
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
06 May 2021 Digital, Data & Technology
Ciaran Martin: Six security tests for the new cyber strategy
The government’s Integrated Review revealed that the government planning to publish a new cyber security strategy. Ciaran Martin, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre, tells us what to look out for in it
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
05 May 2021 Coronavirus
Opinion: Could Covid unlocking help levelling up too?
In this month’s CSW editor’s letter, Richard Johnstone wonders if there’s an opportunity to reset the UK’s economic geography as the country emerges from the pandemic
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
26 Apr 2021 Economy
Opinion: How can policymakers help improve the wellbeing of local communities?
The coronavirus and the stalled European Super League should teach policymakers the same lesson: there is an urgent need to engage local communities in policy and delivery
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
23 Apr 2021 HR
Switching off: time to tackle ‘always on’ work culture
Many civil servants have embraced working from home during the pandemic, but it also means the lines between work and home life have been blurred. The government should set out rules around out of hours engagement – but employers don’t have to wait
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better Exclusive
19 Apr 2021
Julia Lopez: Data is fundamental to government. Let me know your ideas to use it better
The Cabinet Office minister writes for CSW to launch a new Dragons' Den-style competition to transform government data for citizens and society
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
19 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Alex Thomas: Skills and spills in the civil service
The government is keen to boost the skills of civil servants and, even in the midst of the Greensill scandal, Whitehall needs to think about both internal training and bringing in external expertise. Here’s some ideas for reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
14 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Yes, board member: Lord Michael Bichard on making the most of departments' non-execs
Giving departmental boards a stronger role would help government become more effective
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
13 Apr 2021 Civil Service Reform
Opinion: In the office, but out of touch
The prime minister and chancellor have both begun encouraging people back to the workplace after Covid. But government would be much better served learning the flexible working lessons of the pandemic