Some of you will have read today’s article in the Independent claiming there will be a “Civil Service sell-off”. The first point to make is that there are no plans to transfer 75,000 civil servants into new organisations and we have no firm targets for services and employees spinning out of the public sector. …
My name is Sir Bob Kerslake and I am Head of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government.
I hope that you find this blog useful in giving you an insight into my world and the things that I get involved in and I welcome your feedback.
You can also follow me on Twitter @sirbobkerslake
Since starting as Head of the Civil Service last January, I have been to 21 operational sites around the country; from prisons to HMRC call centres, from job centres to airports. I’m always struck by the dedication and tenacity of the people I meet. All of them are delivering essential public services, often in challenging …
It goes without saying that we live in a changing world and that the Civil Service cannot afford to stand still when faced with rising public expectations and spending reductions. So we have to change to meet these big challenges that all economies are facing. Which is why today’s launch of the Capabilities Plan is …
Effective learning and development is critical to the success of the Civil Service Reform Plan. We need a stronger, more unified Civil Service equipped to deal with the challenges of the modern world. One year ago we launched Civil Service Learning (CSL) to provide the tools to deliver this. CSL has made great progress in its first …
I thought it would be helpful for staff if I laid out the implications of yesterday’s Budget for the Civil Service. Each department will be communicating in more detail soon, so I would recommend checking your intranets in the coming days. There have been important announcements about Pay and the Personal Allowance and support for childcare …
The Civil Service Reform Plan isn’t a report sitting on a desk somewhere in Whitehall. It’s a series of practical, meaningful changes that are transforming the Civil Service for the better – right here, right now. So I was particularly pleased to see two more measures announced last week which will affect most civil …
One of the real joys and privileges of my job is that I get to see civil servants in action the length and breadth of the country. I get through a great deal of paperwork every day but none of it gives me the depth of insight I can get from a visit – so …
When I look at an issue, from housing to people management to planning, my ‘maths brain’ kicks in. Though it has been a while since I studied maths at university, the analytical way I consider a problem has remained with me. The rigour of scientific subjects is highly valuable in the Civil Service when, …
They say a week is a long time in politics, but I have to say the last year has flown by. I find it hard to believe that a year ago I was starting out in my role as Head of the Civil Service. It was an exciting, but daunting, task I faced. Here I …
Many of you will have seen that the Civil Service has been extensively covered in the press during the past two weeks. The Times, the Independent and the Telegraph have all dedicated column inches to discussing how we operate as an organisation and commentators from all sides of the debate have given their thoughts …