This snapshot taken on 07/04/2010, shows web content selected for preservation by The National Archives. External links, forms and search boxes may not work in archived websites.
Last updated: 01 April 2010
World-class public services can only be delivered by a workforce that is engaged and motivated, and has the right set of skills.
The Public Service Workforce Reform Team works in partnership with public service employers and trades unions to harness the talents of the workforce, develop strategies to reward, motivate and inspire high performance and engage front-line professionals in innovative and sustainable policy-making.
Our current projects include:
For information on the other projects we have or are working on that do not feature below please go to the WorkForce Matters site.
If you want more information about our work please write to us at workforcematters@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk.
The team has coordinated the production of several reports and publications that set out our plans for public service workforce reform.
The Cabinet Office has published a report of the first five years of the Public Services Forum (PSF). The PSF was formed in 2003 to improve dialogue between government, trade unions and public sevice employers, and it supports and encourages principles of partnership, workforce involvement and public service improvement.
Public Services Forum: the first five years
The Cabinet Office commissioned a study about how to achieve a vision for world class public services where policy making is grounded in front-line evidence and experience. The independent report by the Sunningdale Institute sets out a number of recommendations for how to establish better ways of engaging with those working at the front-line when formulating and developing policies. This is important as it will ensure that Whitehall develops policies that are innovative, effective and relevant.
Independent Sunningdale Institute report [PDF 1.29MB, 40 pages]
The government response to this report sets out how the Cabinet Office and the policy profession will work with partners across government to develop tools and systems that will support departments to seek and make effective use of front line insight in the design and development of policy.
Listening to the front line [PDF]: Response to Sunningdale Institute report
The Learning and Skills Task Group of the Public Services Forum has published a report on learning and skills challenges and priorities in public services:
The recommendations contained in this report were launched on 1 December by Tom Watson, the then PSF Chair and Cabinet Office Parliamentary Secretary, at the Public Sector Skills Conference.
In addition, the Task Group has undertaken a case study of the adult social care sector to test the effectiveness and practicalities of the above policy recommendations. By reality testing the policy recommendations, we hope to improve significantly the quality and practicality of the initiatives that will eventually be introduced across all public services.
The Task Group was co-chaired by Frances O'Grady (TUC Deputy General Secretary) and David Amos (Director of Workforce, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).
The Joint Statement on Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government Contracting was launched by the Cabinet Office on 15 July 2008.
The Joint Statement aims to improve the quality of services delivered under Government contracts by raising the skills of service providers' employees and by helping to ensure fair treatment.
The Joint Statement Review Steering Group undertook a six month review of the implementation of that commitment and their final report and recommendations for increasing awareness and building capability for implementation of the Joint Statement is now available.
Review of the Joint Statement on Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government Contracting [PDF, 539KB]
Drive for Change is a simple, practical tool to help with change management. It aims to improve the delivery of public services through better staff engagement in the design and implementation of service improvements.
Drive for Change is a web-based toolkit for public service employers, trade unions and employees to use together to support closer dialogue and joint working to take forward change, or redesign of, services.
This initiative was developed jointly by the Cabinet Office and TUC and can be accessed through this link: Drive for Change [External website]