About the Civil Service
Capability Reviews
The Capability Review Programme
The Capability Review Programme is part of the wider Civil Service reform agenda. It will lead to a Civil Service which is better at delivering public services. The aims of the reviews are to:
- improve the capability of the Civil Service to meet today’s delivery objectives and be ready for the challenges of tomorrow;
- assure the public and ministers that the Civil Service leadership is equipped to develop and deliver departmental strategies; and
- help departments act on long term key development areas and therefore provide assurance on future delivery.
The reviews provide an assessment of capability for departments, identify key areas for improvement and set out key actions.
Latest news
Government Departments On Track to Meet Challenges of the Future
The Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell has announced the publication of the first 3 Capability Reviews: Progress and Next Steps reports for the Home Office (HO), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
These new reviews have taken place 2 years on after the three departments' original Capability Reviews and the reports and the accompanying press notice set out the good progress these departments are making.
- Department for Children, Schools and Families: Progress and next steps
[PDF 487KB, 15 pages] - Department for Work and Pensions: Progress and next steps [PDF 513KB, 16 pages]
- Home Office: Progress and next steps [PDF 442KB, 15 pages]