HR

With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...

Public sector union leader re-elected for another five years as general secretary

Latest workforce data from the Office for National Statistics shows civil service shrank by 1.4% in Q3

KPMG and Hay Group win first two lots as Cabinet Office makes changes to the way departments buy training courses

Permanent secretary announces she is to step down from her role after 25 years in the civil service

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

Home Affairs Select Committee issues scathing report on errors in police funding overhaul – as department promises to learn lessons

Furious online reaction to Spending Review blog prompts response by cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood and civil service chief executive John Manzoni – with the pair emphasising areas where civil service is more flexible than the private sector

Vince Cable, Chris Huhne, Andrew Mitchell, Caroline Spelman and more provide the Institute for Government with their views on their officials, the Whitehall machine, and dealing with the centre of government

Civil service's anti-whistleblower culture is changing, says chief executive John Manzoni, as he promises new data on concerns raised by staff – and faces tough questioning from MPs on extending public interest protections to private providers

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

Report by former deputy governor of the Bank of England says 90% of ONS staff were “unwilling to move” out of London, leading to a “loss of knowledge and experience”

National Audit Office survey finds concern among government's digital leaders over their ability to recruit and retain staff – but there's support for many Cabinet Office intiatives to sharpen tech skills

Amid reports chancellor looking to cut voluntary civil service redundancy payouts by a further six months – a move first floated in 2010 – unions warn of "war by the government against its own staff"

New 'specialist' payscale to help recruitment, staff cuts at the Cabinet Office, Single Departmental Plans, the future of civil service reform, details on a brand new leadership academy – as the civil service chief executive and minister for the Cabinet Office face MPs, CSW tries to keep up...

PCS union accuses driver agency of "petty-minded response" to staff who took earlier strike action

Former Ministry of Justice permanent secretary says technology-enabled flexible working can help disabled civil servants progress in their careers, even in an era of prolonged cut-backs

Fiscal watchdog predicts 0.1m drop in public sector workforce by 2020, but says pay restraint will reduce need for cuts

Defence committee takes evidence on the Strategic Defence and Security Review – with decision to axe 30% of MoD's civilian staff coming under fire from academics

Civilian MoD workforce reportedly in line for staffing reductions as David Cameron prepares to unveil Strategic Defence and Security Review

Gardner will be the first woman to take on the role overseeing government legislation

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

Exclusive: Business department's top official Martin Donnelly tells CSW he will have "failed" if diversity agenda falls by the wayside – and sheds light on what the BIS 2020 review means for the organisation's regional presence

Civil service People Survey results show engagement steady, but fewer civil servants believe they have the right tools to do their job