Leadership

Reaching an agreement on thorny issues like redundancy pay is never easy – but it’s always better than the alternative

Making a success of Brexit does not mean UK should ditch its reputation as a "free, tolerant, outward facing society", says former Foreign Office permanent secretary

A new resource from the Centre for Public Impact rates the effectiveness of policy initiatives from around the world. Mark Smulian reports

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues on Dods People

Director general for defence and intelligence Sarah MacIntosh to take up posting next year

As well as leading the Ministry of Justice through a time of immense challenge and change, Richard Heaton is also busy trying to break down the barriers holding back black and minority ethnic civil servants. He tells Suzannah Brecknell why he’s optimistic about the future. Photos: Paul Heartfield

Constitutional expert and Whitehall historian Lord Hennessy says work must begin now for an official history of the UK’s exit from the European Union

BME officials "need to be part of the decision-making process", says Civil Service Race Forum chair Rob Neil, as he warns that meritocracy remains a "dream" for too many staff

Cabinet secretary seeks to take on claims that the civil service was biased in the EU referendum campaign and under-prepared in the aftermath of the vote

Iraq inquiry chair tells MPs that senior officials must "insist on their right to be heard and to record what their advice is" if they are to learn the lessons of the Iraq invasion

Exclusive: David Cameron’s policy guru and former Cabinet Office minister warns agains "jargon-ridden, non-sensical, useless, distracting management speak" and argues for better treatment of civil servants to compensate for pay restraints

With the new government focused on Brexit, Theresa May and Philip Hammond have not voiced their support for making government digital – but the potential for savings is huge

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues on Dods People

 Exit of chief technology officer marks latest in a series of departures from Government Digital Service over the last three months

UKEF chief Louis Taylor tells CSW he has struck deal with Treasury to end "very inefficient use of money" through contractors

National Audit Office finds “no evidence" chief social worker influenced decision to award contracts to consultancy she used to hold shares in — but raises concern over the way the department sought to manage conflicts of interest

Career diplomat David Frost returning to Whitehall to become foreign secretary's Spad

Steve O'Neil went from being a civil servant in the Department for Education to helping the Liberal Democrats draw up their 2015 manifesto as the party's deputy head of policy. He tells CSW what he learned on the journey – and why he believes good policymaking requires both public consent and rigorous planning

National Audit Office says GDS now getting on better with Defra after subsidies fiasco – but announces wider probe into effectiveness of the central digital team

Find out which civil servants and departmental teams are in the running for an award

Financial services director moves upwards in the Treasury, and faces in-tray set to be dominated by the UK's decision to quit the European Union

Acoba suggests "senior, independent, board-level oversight" could help ensure compliance with rules governing post-Whitehall careers of former officials and ministers

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues on Dods People

Public Accounts Committee urges Cabinet Office to boost departments’ oversight of quangos – and share accountability good practice more widely