How to close a quango: As DHSC prepares to absorb NHS England, we ask the experts
03 Jul Civil Service Reform

How to close a quango: As DHSC prepares to absorb NHS England, we ask the experts

In light of the government’s decision to merge NHS England into DHSC, CSW explores the dos and don’ts of closing a quango – and unpacks some potential issues with the health reform plans
by Tevye Markson
One year on: The perm sec state of play
04 Jul HR
One year on: The perm sec state of play
How effectively is government coordinating efforts to get more people into work through healthcare reform?
01 Jul Health & Social Care
How effectively is government coordinating efforts to get more people into work through healthcare reform?
'A truly co-designed, collaborative effort': How the Evaluation Task Force shook up its annual conference
26 Jun
'A truly co-designed, collaborative effort': How the Evaluation Task Force shook up its annual conference
Do the government's proposals on standards and integrity go far enough?
15 Aug 2023 Politics & Constitution
Do the government's proposals on standards and integrity go far enough?
Improved reporting guidelines are welcome, but more must be done to highlight informal lobbying, argues Rose Whiffen of Transparency International UK
Real pay rises can tackle the public sector workforce crisis
14 Aug 2023 HR
Real pay rises can tackle the public sector workforce crisis
Ministers are being neither honest nor realistic about protecting services when they claim settlements that keep pace with inflation are not an option, writes Joseph Evans
Rupert McNeil: Acoba is a simplistic system ripe for overhaul – my recent experience proves it
11 Aug 2023 Civil Service Reform
Rupert McNeil: Acoba is a simplistic system ripe for overhaul – my recent experience proves it
Without reform, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and its narrow way of operating could act as a serious deterrent for successful outsiders who are considering roles in the senior civil service
Custodians of government's history: A guide to the Knowledge & Information Management profession
10 Aug 2023 Knowledge & Information Management Profession
Custodians of government's history: A guide to the Knowledge & Information Management profession
Continuing the professions series, CSW takes a closer look at Knowledge and Information Management
'That's the thing I want to do': Why the prison service has always been a calling for HMPPS boss Amy Rees
09 Aug 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
'That's the thing I want to do': Why the prison service has always been a calling for HMPPS boss Amy Rees
Amy Rees’s entire career has been focused on delivering positive change for the people who live and work in UK prisons. As part of its Women in Westminster series, CSW's sister title PoliticsHome sat down with the chief executive of HM Prisons and Probation Service to learn more about her journey from prison wing to Whitehall
Speak out: tips from a voice coach on how to project confidence and authority
08 Aug 2023 HR
Speak out: tips from a voice coach on how to project confidence and authority
Top tips to master the art of using your voice to assert authority, overcome gender stereotypes, build credibility and trust, and empower future generations from professional voice coach Cath Baxter
‘Get used to knowing less than everyone else’: Ex-ministers share tips on starting in a new role
07 Aug 2023 Leadership
‘Get used to knowing less than everyone else’: Ex-ministers share tips on starting in a new role
Former Cabinet Office minister also reveals how they were accidentally offered two jobs in a reshuffle
Shaping health security: In conversation with UKHSA's chief scientist
04 Aug 2023 Health & Social Care
Shaping health security: In conversation with UKHSA's chief scientist
The UK Health Security Agency recently published its first ever science strategy, which looks at how to prepare for threats over the next decade. Its chief scientist Isabel Oliver shares the highlights
Director's cut with DCMS job-sharers Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik
03 Aug 2023 Culture
Director's cut with DCMS job-sharers Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, Becky Morrison and Hannah Malik, Director of civil society and youth (job share) at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, explain what it takes to do their job
Eyerolls, avoiding the phone and docs in the bin – how civil service leaders have responded to reform efforts
02 Aug 2023 Civil Service Reform
Eyerolls, avoiding the phone and docs in the bin – how civil service leaders have responded to reform efforts
Former senior government leaders set out barriers to reform in think tank report
Director's cut with FCDO's David Whineray
01 Aug 2023 Foreign Affairs
Director's cut with FCDO's David Whineray
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, David Whineray, director of global health at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, explains what it takes to do his job
Director's cut with MoJ's James Dowler
31 Jul 2023 Justice & Home Affairs
Director's cut with MoJ's James Dowler
Directors do some of the most interesting and challenging work in the civil service. Here, James Dowler, director for international, rights and constitutional policy at Ministry of Justice, explains what it takes to do his job
Better together: Lessons from a decade of Shared Services
28 Jul 2023 Analysis
Better together: Lessons from a decade of Shared Services
It is 10 years since the government committed to an ambitious shared services strategy. CSW reports on a roundtable that discussed progress and sought to identify challenges ahead
Trains of thought: making the most of training opportunities for managers and their teams
27 Jul 2023 HR
Trains of thought: making the most of training opportunities for managers and their teams
In the first of a two-part series, Tina Seth takes a look at different types of training and how to make the most of them
Heavy Duty: How the Department for Education worked to tackle the HGV driver shortages
26 Jul 2023 Education
Heavy Duty: How the Department for Education worked to tackle the HGV driver shortages
Fiona Mee Alvares, John Wright, and David Bussey explain how DfE's Skills Bootcamp allowed individuals with no, or limited prior experience, as well as qualified HGV drivers to gain additional in-demand HGV qualifications
What is social research and why does it matter? Head of profession Jenny Dibden explains all
25 Jul 2023 Leadership
What is social research and why does it matter? Head of profession Jenny Dibden explains all
In the first of a series of interviews with heads of professions across government, Jenny Dibden talks about collaboration, coordination and the drive to attract new talent to the Government Social Research profession
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Test of the best: The past, present and future of civil service entrance exams
How we decide who joins the civil service has a profound impact on the work of government, argues Andrew Greenway. If there wasn’t a good reason before to think hard about how we assess and predict civil servants' competence, there certainly is now...
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
21 Jul 2023 Analysis
Power to the people: How we can deliver open government
Greater public involvement in shaping, implementing and evaluating policy is a clear goal of open government. Tim Gibson examines how it can be done, as well as its potential to help shape better policy and restore trust in the working of democracy
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
20 Jul 2023 Analysis
Book review: How Westminster Works... and Why It Doesn't by Ian Dunt
This detailed exploration of Whitehall and Westminster offers a peek into the corridors of power and starts a valuable conversation about the need for reform
PACAC to the future – William Wragg interview
18 Jul 2023 Politics & Constitution
PACAC to the future – William Wragg interview
Tevye Markson sits down with the “baby-faced assassin” William Wragg to discuss chairing a select committee, his hopes for the civil service and how it feels to be leaving politics behind
'Good, grown up policymaking': How DLUHC is working to fix 'broken' housing system
18 Jul 2023
'Good, grown up policymaking': How DLUHC is working to fix 'broken' housing system
Emran Mian talks to Beckie Smith about raising standards in social housing, putting “moral pressure” on landlords, and the importance of partnership working
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
18 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
What does a second permanent secretary do and why are there so many of them?
More and more departments are appointing second permanent secretaries. Beckie Smith speaks to civil service leaders and outside experts to find out more
Pay, reform and why People Survey results were 'not bad, actually' – the Alex Chisholm interview
17 Jul 2023 Civil Service Reform
Pay, reform and why People Survey results were 'not bad, actually' – the Alex Chisholm interview
Against a tempestuous backdrop of industrial action and concerns over staff morale, civil service chief operating officer Alex Chisholm tells Tevye Markson how he is working to make government better and civil servants happier
The three ways that Whitehall must improve its approach to devolution
14 Jul 2023 Local & Devolved
The three ways that Whitehall must improve its approach to devolution
The Institute for Government’s Akash Paun, Duncan Henderson and Peter Hourston share their insights on how government can master the art of transferring responsibility to local areas