Understanding the UK Civil Service

Time 2020-10-17 03:03:07

Web Name: Understanding the UK Civil Service

WebSite: http://www.civilservant.org.uk

ID:84528

Keywords:

the,Understanding,UK,

Description:

This website provides a thorough introduction to the duties, responsibilities and working practices of Whitehall officials. It also contains detailed information about civil service numbers, pay, pensions etc. as well as a detailed history of civil service reform and a great deal of advice for new recruits. Other sections focus on specific subjects such as Women Civil Servants, Special Advisers and Ministerial Directions. Scroll down this page to access all areas of the site. There is also a comprehensive online library. And you might like to use this search facility:- This part of the website provides essential factual information about the UK Civil Service accessed through the links below. Whilst reading these web pages, please bear in mind that the UK Civil Service is much more narrowly defined than in most other countries. Only 1.3% of all employees (8% of public sector employees) are civil servants. Civil servants work within a constitutional framework known as the Westminster Model which requires them to be politically impartial whilst being principally accountable only to Ministers within the current government. They also work within a wide range of ethical and other constraints which are taken very seriously by both senior staff and the wider public. This includes an ethical code which requires officials to be honest, impartial, challenging and collaborative. One of their key skills, therefore, is to achieve their objectives whilst observing both the letter and the spirit of their various obligations. This section of the website goes into more detail, and provides practical advice and explanation.  This part of the website summarises what every Whitehall official needs to know. Once you have assimilated this material, I recommend that you then read Christopher Jary's Working with Ministers ‌which covers similar ground in more depth. Societies fail if their governments are ineffective, and governments are ineffective if their civil servants are ineffective. The modern civil service is undoubtedly much more efficient than its predecessors, but the quality of policy making, and support for Ministers, is generally reckoned to be patchy. There has been no serious review of the fundamental relationship between Parliament, Ministers and civil servants for over 100 years. These web pages explore these issues in great depth. Further information About this website, and Contact information, is here. There is an extensive on-line reference library here. The same page also lists books written by civil servants describing their work. The Institute for Government website has lots more detail and analysis. My blog is here and a link to my Twitter feed is in the footer below. The third edition of How to be a Civil Servant was published in 2016. Click on the image on the left and enter the code CIVILSERVANTUK to buy the book for only £9.99 - £3 off the recommended price. Follow @ukcivilservant Spotted something wrong? Please do drop me an email if you spot anything that is out-of-date, or any other errors, typos or faulty links.

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A thorough introduction to the duties & working practices of Whitehall officials. Plus information about civil service numbers etc., and civil service reform

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