Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Compensation
Scheme
General Secretary details
negotiations and
settlement
@FDA_union
AUTUMN 2016 @We_are_keystone
Maximising your
career potential
Reports from Women into Leadership, BME into
Leadership and details of skills events for the civil
service in a new European landscape
In this issue
Dont forget you can follow your union on Twitter
@FDA_union @We_are_keystone
Welcome
My Working Week
Paula Houghton teenagers so I feel that I have to show
them the same courtesy and try to
Paula works in the Capability organise my life so I can make our
and Professionalism team in the Wednesday and Friday parade evenings.
Large Business Directorate of This week I am working from home as I
HMRC and is Deputy President of have discussions on office closures,
the Association of Revenue and redundancies and other sensitive
Customs (ARC). matters for my ARC role, which I cannot
discuss in an open plan office. It also
gives me some quiet time to get my
Monday mid-year performance management
I like to start the week with a quiet hour evaluations completed and catch up on
at my desk catching up with everything some emails that I couldnt deal with
on this weeks agenda and checking that yesterday as I was in meetings all day.
I know where I have to be each day, as
my work involves quite a lot of travelling Thursday
and its easy to lose track. This Monday is Back to my HMRC role, where I am
a busy one, with calls to discuss the visiting a capability team in a different
transformation project in HMRC both part of the business. One of my roles is to
location strategy and the changes to the improve knowledge management and
structure of how we do our business a sharing across lines of business. Having
one-to-one with my manager to discuss set up a system in my part of HMRC to
progress on a series of training events I allow everyone to share their specific
am running, a call about a new skills and knowledge. I am presenting
engagement initiative and final planning the idea to other areas to encourage
for a leadership event I am overseeing. I them to do something similar and share
often spend long hours on telephone information outside the artificial silos we
conferences and, when they are find ourselves in.
back-to-back like today, I feel like Ive
barely had time for a cup of tea Friday
in-between! A morning trip to the physio for an ankle
injury that stopped me doing the Great
Tuesday North Run this year and then its back
This week, Tuesday is largely given over into emails and calls about training
to my role as the health and safety lead events starting soon, dealing with last
for ARC, speaking to HMRC and PCS minute changes to presenters and
colleagues on a joint working group to change can have a huge impact on making sure everyone has the same
resolve issues from across the country peoples attitude to their workplace and material to present in different locations.
which cant be dealt with by local their job. A trip to the supermarket on the way
committees. Health and safety is a bit of home for packed lunch materials for a
a passion of mine, I know people Wednesday weekend away gaining shooting
complain about red tape and H&S gone I try to avoid travelling too much on qualifications with my cadets, and Im
mad but its really vital to peoples Wednesdays as outside work I am the done for the week, apart from an
working lives that these things are done Commanding Officer of a Squadron of Air evening of initiative exercises and drill
right and sometimes the smallest Cadets. I expect dedication from 40 practice with those teenagers again!
Revolving Door
Civil service starters, movers and leavers
In the Department for Exiting the as NonExecutive Directors to the Non-Resident Consul General to Macao,
European Union, Sarah Healey has Board of HM Treasury Office of Tax replacing Caroline Wilson.
been appointed as Director General. Simplification. Michael Mire
Sarah moved from the Department for The Cabinet Office appointed Crystal (pictured) has been
Culture Media and Sport, where she Akass as Director of Leadership, appointed as Non-
worked in the same role. Capability and Learning in Civil Service Executive Chair at the
Anil Kashyap has been appointed Learning. Akass moved from the Land Registry Board.
as an external member of the Financial Cabinet Office, where she was Director He will be responsible
Policy Committee (FPC) in HM Treasury. of Human Resources. for ensuring that proper
The Foreign and Commonwealth Andrew Heyn has been appointed by governance practices are followed and
Office has appointed Simon Shercliff the Foreign and Commonwealth Office performance is monitored effectively.
as Ambassador to the Republic of as Consul General to Hong Kong and In the Ministry of Justice, Mark
Yemen. He previously served as Deputy Lucraft is to become Chief Coroner in
High Commissioner in Abuja. the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary from
Nicola Parish October, replacing Peter Thornton.
(pictured) has been My David Hoare has stood down as
appointed as Executive alternative Chair of Ofsted, with James Kempton
Director for Front being appointed to the role on an
Line Regulation in the career interim basis.
Pension Regulator at the Chris Molloy has been appointed as
Department for Work the first Chief Executive of Medicines
and Pensions. Nicola has worked at the Discovery Catapult in Innovate UK, part
Leila Kelly
Pension Regulator in various roles for of the Department of Business, Energy
eight years. and Industrial Strategy.
Leila is a lawyer at the
Martin Donnelly has been Colm McKenna has been appointed
Department of Business,
appointed as the Permanent Secretary to the Food Standards Agency Board
Energy and Industrial
for the Department for International as board member for Northern Ireland
Strategy. She is based in
Trade (DIT). The role will be held in and Chair of the Northern Ireland Food
London.
a transitional capacity, with an open Advisory Committee.
competition to recruit a long-term As a teenager, I wanted to be a foreign Kevin Cunnington
Permanent Secretary for the DIT due correspondent. Like most of the (pictured) has been
to be announced shortly. Donnelly children in my school, I had never been appointed as the new
was previously the joint Permanent abroad and I was enthralled by Director General of the
Secretary at the Department for programmes like From Our Own Government Digital
Business, Energy and Industrial Correspondent, which opened a Service. Cunnington
Strategy with Alex Chisholm, who will window on life in other parts of the moved from the
now hold the role alone. world. Department for Work and Pensions
In the Cabinet Office, Jane Ramsey I also wanted to write for a living, so where he was Director General for
and Dr Jane Martin have been having the opportunity to travel the Digital Transformation since 2013.
appointed to the Committee on world and write about those In the Department for Culture,
Standards in Public Life following an experiences seemed like my ideal job. Media and Sport, Richard Russell
open competition. At the time, Kate Adie a fellow was promoted to become Chief
John Clarke is to retire as Wearsider - was the BBCs chief news Operating Officer of the Arts Council
Chief Executive of the Nuclear correspondent and seeing a women in of England. Also at the Arts Council
Decommissioning Authority in 2017. that role was an inspiration to me. Francis Runacres, currently Director
Patsy Wilkinson replaced Olly In the end, I achieved one of my other of Investment, has been promoted
Robbins as Second Permanent goals, which was to become a solicitor to the new role of Executive Director,
Secretary in the Home Office. Security (equally glamorous, slightly less Enterprise and Innovation.
expert Wilkinson was former head of foreign travel) but I still harbour an
the Centre for the Protection of National ambition to appear on From Our Own Have you or someone you work
Infrastructure. Correspondent. Perhaps Ill give Kate a with recently joined or left the
Paul Johnson, John Cullinane and call public service? Please let us
Kathleen Russ have been appointed know at psm@fda.org.uk
Compensation Scheme
Selection on merit
BME leadership
September 2016
The Herald and The Scotsman report
the FDAs response to MSPs review of
Scotlands prosecution service.
Lawyers: Crown Office probe
should look at pressures on entire
legal system
THE HERALD
TUC 2016
recorded, ensure that civil servants are
compensated for all the hours they work
TUC Congress: FDA raises issues of and demonstrate how its commitments
can be delivered with the resources
Brexit and wellbeing allocated.
Penman spoke to move the FDAs
The 2016 TUC Congress took place in Brighton in early September. motion on making a success of Brexit,
The FDA spoke on four separate motions during the four-day event. highlighting how the trade union
movement inextricably linked to the EU
The FDA delegation included the FDAs told conference that the FDAs latest for over 40 years, now faces uncertain
President Gareth Hills, Vice President campaign calls on every civil service times.
Fiona Eadie, ARC President Vicky employer to compensate every civil He outlined the unions concern
Johnson and General Secretary Dave servant for every hour worked. about the deafening silence from the
Penman. She called on the Government to Government on whether a single penny
Moving the FDAs motion on wellbeing ensure that the hours of work for of extra resources will be delivered to
on the first day of Congress, Eadie public servants are monitored and support the civil services successful
delivery of Brexit.
On Monday, Hills (pictured) spoke
Government misses yet another opportunity to support amotion covering tax relief
on pension contributions. He said:
to help close the tax gap, says HMRC union Tax relief on pension contributions
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has declared that its latest demonstrates to individuals that the
estimated tax gap for the UK is 6.5% of tax due equating Government wants them to save for their
to 36 billion. retirement, and tacitly acknowledges
that the state pension alone isnt enough
Out of HMRCs estimate of the tax gap - Vicky Johnson, President of the to live on. Further generations simply
the difference between the amount of Association of Revenue and Customs cannot afford for working people today
tax due and the amount collected - for (ARC), the FDAs section representing to stop saving for retirement.
2014-15, 9.5bn was attributed to large senior HMRC officials, said that by Supportinga motion on protecting
businesses, with 600m related to large letting ARCs warnings go unheeded, workersand trade union rights in the
business tax avoidance. the Government has missed yet another EU Brexit,on the final day of Congress,
HMRCs Chief Executive Jon opportunity to help close the tax gap. Johnson (pictured) said: Following
Thompson said: If we are to ensure a She added: ARC has been Brexit, we saw some inexcusable
fairer and more effective tax system, consistently stating for many years now behaviour from a small minority of
and more money for public services, we that a perfect storm is being created people which led to the perception that
must keep up the pressure on the tax within HMRC, due to a lack of sufficient EU workers may no longer be welcome to
gap by relentlessly pursuing the small investment coupled with a significant work in the UK.
minority who seek to cheat their taxes and rising pay disparity between senior She urged the TUC to hold the
through evasion, aggressive avoidance HMRC managers and professionals and Government to account We must work
and organised crime. their private sector counterparts. with the Government to provide certainty
and job security.
pressure on the COPFSs budget is match the service David Cameron increased some Special
incompatible with these increased commitments required of Advisers pay by up to 24% in 2015
demands and maintaining the them. Fiona Eadie THE TELEGRAPH, DAILY MAIL, BELFAST
TELEGRAPH, EXPRESS AND STAR
headed by Permanent Secretary Oliver Cameron gave pay rise of 24% to some
Robbins, Dave Penman outlined how Special Advisers before resignation
the civil service now has to carry out its THE GUARDIAN
biggest single job since the Second David Cameron gave huge pay rises to
World War in the UKs exit from the EU, staff in his final months as PM
and not a single word has been spoken METRO
from the Government about resources. The civil service faced a 20% cut in David Cameron increased
Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today resources over the last Parliament, with advisers pay by up to 24%,
programme and to BBC News, Penman a further 20% announced in the last analysis says
said: If you take those resources from Spending Review, he added. A make SKY NEWS
elsewhere within Government do and mend approach wont do - the David Cameron gave pay rise of 24%
spending, it threatens the delivery of Government needs to provide the civil to some Special Advisers before
public services. Thats the reality, you service with the capability and capacity resignation
cant have your cake and eat it. necessary to deliver a successful EU ITV NEWS
Penman stressed that, without more exit. In the Autumn Statement, the ARC President quoted in the Guardian
resources, Brexit will simply mean a Chancellor needs to outline what responding to HMRCs tax avoidance
further cut in public spending - because resources will be provided. consultation document.
departments will have to cut other work Proposal to fine tax avoidance
to deliver the resources that are Read Penmans opinion piece, outlining enablers lacks teeth, campaigners
required to support the new policy what the Government needs to provide say
areas or support the negotiating process for the civil service to successfully THE GUARDIAN
itself. deliver Brexit, on p14.
Resource requirements
More than four months after the And he should know, as the former
UKs historic vote to leave the Treasury Solicitor.
EU, the plans are still less than So whilst some politicians may
clear. Dave Penman outlines think this will be easy, just sellotaping
what the Government will need existing EU law in to the statute books
to provide for the civil service - as Bernard Jenkin chair of the Public
in order to successfully deliver Administration and Constitutional
Brexit. Affairs Committee (PACAC) suggested at
an Institute for Government (IfG) lecture
As the column inches - most informed contributors recognise
grow, speculating about the complexity and difficulty involved in
the unspeculatable in what is effectively unchartered territory.
relation to our exit from Another one who should know
the European Union, is Sir Simon Fraser. Not only the
littler attention is being former Permanent Under - Secretary Secondly theres our future political and
paid to how the civil at the Foreign and Commonwealth economic relationship with the EU. This
service can be expected to deliver a Office (FCO), but also someone who is not simply about economic issues,
successful Brexit under the current has experience of the EU and trade theres is a lot of co-operation that takes
spending regime. negotiations as Permanent Secretary of place on security and foreign policy. This
In the days that followed the vote, I the Department for Business, Innovation will inevitable take longer than the two-
had an argument with a journalist from a and Skills; Chef du Cabinet for Trade year window over article 50.
very respected broadsheet, over whether Commissioner Peter Mandelson; as Thirdly, he believes that an interim
this would be a jobs bonanza for the well as Director General, Europe and deal will need to be done to bridge the
civil service. What, I asked him, about Globalisation at the FCO. Quite the CV. gap between leaving and completing
the approach from Government over the At another recent IfG lecture, Sir a deal on the long-term relationship
last six years would indicate that this Simon suggested there would be four between the UK and EU. And finally,
will mean any more resource for the civil stages to this process, each with their therell be external trade negotiations
service? He struggled with the concept own complexities. Firstly, theres the with countries outside of the EU. There
that such an enormous task could be negotiations over article 50 including you go then. Easy peasy.
asked of the civil service without an the terms of our separation, much of Of course, the civil service is being
injection of fresh resource. which will be legal and technical issues. asked to deliver all of this following two
Indeed, in the weeks that followed, austerity spending rounds. And it was
politicians and commentators were already 20% smaller than 2010 before
lining up to describe the enormity of the the Chancellor announced a similar
challenge. Of course, the cuts package in November 2015. And if
Just before he exited stage right, David civil service is you just think about that for a minute,
Cameron said it was the most complex even if there was a decision that no more
and important task the British civil being asked to funding would be delivered, would the
service has undertaken in decades. deliver Brexit Government have distributed resources
It was the biggest legal, legislative following two in the same way it did pre-Brexit? Almost
and administrative challenge in peace austerity spending every department will be affected but
time history according to Paul Jenkins. some, such as Defra, BEIS, the Home
rounds.
Office and the FCO to name but a few, The Government needs to find a settled the challenges ahead, with all that this
will face a disproportionate challenge. political objective, then task the civil entails.
Weve been vocal in our complaint service with delivering it. On this, the FDA is trying to do its bit.
that the Government does little to Secondly, capacity. Either fund the In conjunction with Dods and KPMG, the
meaningfully match commitments to Brexit demands or be honest with the union is running an event on The civil
resources. Bad at the best of times, what public and staff that other priorities will service in a new European landscape:
impact will this have on other areas be dropped. You cant have it both ways unlocking future skills held on 21
of spend if suddenly Brexit is the new so have the courage to decide and be November. We hope this will be the first
Ministerial priority and theres not a public about it. of many - and not just in London.
penny of additional resource? Never And finally, capability. The civil With speakers including Oliver
mind another 350m a week for the NHS, service will need new skills, not just for Robbins, the Permanent Secretary at
will Brexit simply mean further public the immediate task ahead, but for the the new Department for Exiting the EU
service cuts as departments prioritise longer term as we take on the swathe of and Rupert McNeil, the civil service
the EU work? Ministers owe a duty to new policy areas from the EU. No knee- Chief People Officer, were helping civil
taxpayers and civil servants to explain jerk reaction and rushing to the private servants understand the new demands
what will give, because something sector for consultants. The civil service that will be made of them and how they
will have to give if the signals from needs to build a skilled workforce for can identify and source development to
the Treasury are right and there is no support this.
revisiting of the spending round. As the enormity of the task ahead
Even the most ardent Remainers starts to unfold, the Government should
recognise that we need to make the best have the confidence to know that the
of the decision to leave. So for that to be Either fund the civil service is more than capable of
the case, then the Government needs to Brexit demands delivering the best outcome possible. But
address some critical issues for the civil or be honest with to do that, the Government also needs to
service. deliver for the civil service.
Firstly, clear political direction. the public and staff
Sort your and the House out. The that other priorities Dave Penman is the FDAs General
constitutional wrangling has to stop. will be dropped. Secretary.
Strategic thinking
The Department of Health delivery is essential.
(DH) has started work on a Then theres the big one: pay restraint
comprehensive workforce has marginalised pay as a policy lever
strategy for the NHS. Jon Restell to support changes in productivity and
outlines why Managers in service delivery. The system must push
Partnership the FDAs joint back on pay restraint or, at the very least,
venture with Unison that prepare for it to end.
represents healthcare managers And what should go into the strategy?
- has been arguing loudly for this Heres the unions latest shopping list
for at least three years. in no particular order:
Strong, pragmatic
and honest
General Secretary Dave Penman outlines the FDAs negotiations and ultimate
settlement around the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
I
ts now nine months since Governments position, its appetite for when an interim offer was made, which
the Government first agreement, the prospect of a successful required agreement in principle to
published its proposals to legal challenge and of course, members unlock further negotiation. The FDA,
make significant changes to views. These were considered early together with Prospect, GMB, Unison
the public sector redundancy in the process by our negotiators and and the Defence Police Federation,
arrangements. Executive Committee to help determine agreed to further talks and we started
At that time, few thought our approach to the negotiations. the whole negotiating process again. We
that a deal was possible. The A negotiation only works if an had to ensure that the promise of further
Governments initial proposals meant agreement is both possible and valuable. movement for an agreement in principle
most civil servants facing redundancy That was far from clear when the Cabinet became reality in the final offer. This time
would have received a maximum of 12 Office first published its proposals in however, the process was interrupted by
months pay, early payment of pension February. Regardless of the history political turmoil post-referendum and a
would have been eliminated and the and sense of betrayal, the proposals new Minister who needed updating and
Protocols for avoiding redundancy, were a long way from anything close to persuading on the final deal.
which have served to regulate how So was it worth it? The deal not only
the civil service manages workforce Employers, or in sees the maximum award increase to
reduction, all but torn up. 18 months from the original 12, but
Now that the ballot is over I wanted
this case the early payment of pension is protected
to explain firstly how we approached Government, need to and improved through a flexibility to
these negotiations and secondly, how a value reaching an maximise the value of payment up to the
settlement was ultimately reached. agreement; thats 95k cap. In addition, weve retained the
From the outset, we have made clear what gives us Protocol for avoiding redundancy, which
that these proposals were neither now also covers the SCS for the first time.
necessary nor justified, coming as they
influence. Deals like this are never easy.
did just six years after we last concluded acceptable. At that stage, the outcome of Regardless of how proud I am of our
a deal with the Government. the public consultation on the proposals negotiating team and what I know weve
Our first approach was to test the looked to be thousands of responses achieved, ultimately members face the
Governments resolve and explore disagreeing with the Government, only prospect of another cut to their terms
whether we could persuade it to for it to plough ahead regardless. and conditions. And so, despite the
think again. In this case, it was clear So we worked hard at convincing understandable anger at being picked on
that the approach carried significant officials - and two separate Ministers again, members also understood that a
political weight behind it as part of a - that not only was a deal possible, it deal was preferable.
public sector-wide approach to cutting was preferable. Ultimately, thats what And thats important, not just in
redundancy terms. This formed part unlocks movement in negotiations. If relation to these changes, but for the
of a series of policies, including the an employer is convinced that a deal next negotiation and the one after
introduction of the 95k cap on exit isnt possible, why should it make any that. Employers, or in this case the
payments. Its the worst kind of dog concessions? We sought to avoid that at Government, need to value reaching
whistle politics, lazily painting public all costs. an agreement; thats what gives
servants as fat cats. Once convinced of the preference of us influence. As a union, we have
However unjustified or objectionable a deal, our job was to move Ministers repeatedly shown that we are unafraid to
we found the Governments approach, and officials as far as possible through challenge employers, but also unafraid
our job is to influence the outcome on evidence, argument, persuasion, to reach agreement. Our approach is
behalf of you, our members. So, we had dogmatic research, pedantry and the determined by what delivers the best
to develop a strategy based on many occasional threat. outcome for members, nothing else:
issues, including any weaknesses in the We got some movement by June strong, pragmatic and honest.
Maximising
potential
Kay Hender reports from the London and Leeds Women into Leadership events
and explains more about the career-enhancing events that the union offers.
Organised and run by the Permanent Secretaries Leslie Evans Women into Leadership
FDA and Dods since 2009, (Scottish Government) and Claire in London
the Women into Leadership Moriarty (Defra), Head of Campaigns
events are aimed at helping 21 September 2016
and Engagement at the Foreign and
women to reach their career Commonwealth Office Ruth Shaw, and Speakers from a variety of backgrounds
potential through workshops, Head of Communications at the National outlined how they reached their
F
networking, and advice and tips Offender Management Service Lisa leadership roles at the annual London
from speakers in senior roles. Appleyard. event, including Scottish Government
ollowing a successful All of the conferences featured a Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans
event in Edinburgh selection of breakout sessions for (pictured, right), Head of Campaigns
in May, September delegates to choose from, focusing on and Engagement at the Foreign and
saw two further a broad range of subjects including Commonwealth Office Ruth Shaw and
conferences take embracing technology, public speaking, Gender Equality Director at Business in
place; the annual how to improve networking skills and the Community Kathryn Nawrockyi.
London event and, knowing your worth. The newly-appointed Permanent
for the first time, FDA and Keystone stands were present Secretary of the Department for
Women into Leadership was held in at each event, where delegates could International Trade, Martin Donnelly
Leeds. A record 600 delegates attended learn more about the support, career (shown above), also shared how the
in London, while the inaugural Leeds development and other benefits that the Business department he recently
event had 150 participants. union offers. headed learned to achieve gender
The conferences were chaired Additionally, each event was live- parity.
by FDA Vice President Fiona Eadie tweeted from the unions @FDA_Union Evans spoke about how she doesnt
(pictured above), with delegates and @we_are_Keystone accounts, using buy it that senior women have not
hearing from speakers including the hashtag #WiL16 encountered sexism and outlined the
importance of challenging things you Women into Leadership about the nudge and push needed to get
dont agree with, adding, What you in Leeds people to see what they can do.
permit, you promote. Roney advised those attending the
27 September 2016
She added that developing a conference to be true to yourself and
thick skin without, I hope, becoming Delegates at the inaugural Leeds event have confidence in your ability to affect
insensitive and finding ways to the first to be held outside of a UK change as a leader.
build physical and mental resilience capital city heard from speakers Journalist Minter (shown above,
had helped her to reach Permanent including the Defra Permanent Secretary centre), who set up the Guardians
Secretary level. Clare Moriarty, Wakefield Council Chief Women in Leadership section, shared
Donnelly told delegates that Executive Joanne Roney and journalist the words of a wise colleague: when in
leadership is about teamwork, which and womens advocate, Harriet Minter. doubt, proceed until apprehended.
requires trust, which requires openness The day also included a panel
about who you are. discussion on recognising and For information about the Women
Outlining the importance of self- promoting female leaders from into Leadership events, visit www.
belief, Shaw shared how she feels: Its outside of London, featuring Head womenintoleadership.co.uk
not who you are that holds you back, its of the Home Office Wales Team and
who you think you are. departmental Womens Network Chair
Nawrockyi showed the tired images Joanne Hopkins, DWP HR Director for
used in the media to illustrate women Operations Lorraine Jainudeen, and
at work, which often focused on young Head of the Network Support Office
white women frequently in very high at the Valuation Office Agency, Sarah
heels. She said female senior leaders Hinchcliffe.
should be prepared to be a thorn in Moriarty told delegates that being
peoples side. a leader isnt a niche skill, most of it is
19
Interview
Your FDA
Your Executive
Committee
Our structure
Public Service Magazine introduces each member of the
FDAs Executive Committee, explains their roles and
FDA MEMBERS
profiles two of its newest members.
Fast Stream,
HEOs, Grade
SEOs, Fast 6,
Stream, Grade
Grade 7 & SCS
6, Grade 7 and SCS
The Executive Committee (EC) is the members that elected them and extends
FDAs governing body. Its overarching to the running of the union both strate-
role is to ensure the delivery of policy gically and financially: they are there to
voted for at each Annual Delegate Con- represent the membership as a whole. SECTIONS
ference, but the majority of the ECs work EC members can also get involved in
Includes: Administrators,
Includes: Administrators,
is employer-facing, responding to public the work of FDA sub-committees, on
sector-wide issues driven by the Govern- matters such as organising, equality and
Lawyers,
Economists Statisticians,
and Accountants,
ment of the day. diversity and more recently, overseeing Economists, CPS, ARC, Culture,
Lawyers, Statisticians, DSA,
Each Committee member is elected by the unions property purchase and reno- MiP, NI, School Inspectors,
CPS, ARC, Culture, MiP, NI,
their constituency and carries out a two- vation. Accountants
School Inspectors, Devolved
year tenure, after which they can put Wales, Fast Stream, Keystone.
themselves forward for re-election if they The diagram (right) illustrates how
wish. However, their role goes beyond the union is structured from the top
simply representing the single group of down.
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Sub committees
committees include:
include:
Two members from our newest section, Keystone, Sub
Equality, Organising, Learning,
tell us a little about themselves and how they see Equality, Organising, Campaign,
Pensions, Campaigns
Property.
their role on the EC.
H
ello, Im Richard
Heaton I believe
youre here for
me. Ive become
used to spending
time sat in grand
waiting rooms
before being quietly ushered in to meet
my interviewees elsewhere, so Heatons
informality is disarming. He also briefly
considers being interviewed one-to-one,
which would be unique in interviews Ive
carried out, before calling in a lone press
officer who sits silently alongside him.
Justice served
Heaton became Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
Permanent Secretary in the summer
of 2015. It seemed a natural fit for him,
having held legal positions in seven
different Government departments since
beginning his civil service career in the
early nineties.
When asked about his successes so far
at MoJ, the softly-spoken Heaton (as he
predicted, I needed full volume to make a few quite large departments and just resource to help deliver Brexit, Heaton
out all he said) is keen to state that it run it better. feels for the MoJ thats not a particular
would be quite immodest to be trading concern. So for example, we had a
in terms of great personal achievements Resources and demands team of people who were going to be
after a year. Of the things I think weve Following the tumultuous period since supporting the UK presidency [of the
done really well we, not me Im very the UK voted to leave the EU in June, how EU in 2017] and thats now not going
pleased weve got a strong grip on our does Heaton feel the MoJ will cope with to happen, so those people are very
finances, Im pleased that our major Brexits additional demands? Were not naturally diverted. I dont think were
contracts are in a better place than they in the league of departments like BEIS saying weve got a huge branch of new
were a year ago And Im pleased that or Defra, where everything you do has to work for which were not resourced,
we have actually started the process of be recalibrated. However, quite a lot of we have just created two or three policy
reforming our courts and tribunals. the legal infrastructure on jurisdiction priorities that we have to take on board.
FDA members in MoJ have questioned and enforcement is based on European As well as resourcing issues, all civil
whether its headquarters will rules, so theres a lot of quite difficult, servants have felt the reduction of
remain in central London, following technical, important work that we need their civil service package following
announcements that other departments to get right. But probably the biggest ongoing cuts since 2010. Heaton admits
are moving into the same location, but area is ensuring that the UK legal sector that weve been through a sustained
Heaton confirms that its probable remains prominent in the world and that period of low or no wage inflation, a pay
that well be sharing the building but this jurisdiction remains the place where freeze followed by 1% [pay increase],
the nameplate is still ours on the doors. people choose to have their disputes and weve seen increases like increased
Theres a fairly consistent Government resolved. pension contribution and the raising
Whitehall estate strategy where you While the FDA has voiced concerns of the pension age. All those things
concentrate core Whitehall functions into over the lack of additional civil service cumulatively were difficult and remain
difficult, so I dont want to pretend that failures too strong a word, but most of they are improving. The latest figures Ive
they arent. us are in the business of finding creative got, which would be March 2016, 4.1%
On the other hand, public service solutions to problems rather than saying grows to 4.4%.
and working in Government remains a Cant do that. He wants to see the civil service being
fantastically interesting thing to do Heatons dealings with Kids Company really careful not to fill all of the plum
Yes, its sometimes a difficult operating caused him to appear before a Select jobs with taps on the shoulder and
environment, and yes, the remuneration Committee, whose treatment of civil who-you-know promotions. As Race
is not what one would like, but I dont servants is a frequent bone of contention Champion Im beating the drum for what
think the civil service package has been amongst FDA members. Heaton is we have done because I think weve
deteriorated to the extent that were not of the opinion that Minsters or civil done a lot but Im also challenging
able to recruit talent. There are some servants occasionally finding Select colleagues to do more and think twice
specialist areas where were competing Committees uncomfortable is frankly before they slip into ways of doing
against really high-paying sectors like neither here nor there when compared business which can conceal unconscious
digital and commercial. Were recruiting with the importance of the work that the bias.
people in senior levels who are taking Committees do. If their job makes me Heaton freely admits to problems with
pay cuts because this is an interesting feel uncomfortable in order to hold me to the current performance management
place, either to have a career or to spend a account, then fine. systems: In most annual cuts of the
chapter of your career. data that Ive seen you tend to see
This is a common answer from disproportionate amounts of BME
Permanent Secretaries; that the work is and disabled colleagues in the bottom
interesting and people are willing to take performance box and unless theres
pay cuts to work in the civil service. Of some explanation to the contrary, you
course, this restricts access only to those have to assume that theres some sort of
who can afford to take a pay cut. Heaton unconscious bias going on. It may be in
feels that its always difficult getting the process itself, or it may have much
the best people in, its a war for talent deeper roots than that.
as Jeremy Heywood puts it, but its not Some departments are very good at
incapable of doing so. making sure that moderation groups are
I dont think we mixed and alive to unconscious bias.
Ministerial direction and should be Some have been very good at training
Select Committees seeking out more line managers in how to have an effective
In his previous Cabinet Office Permanent ministerial end-of-year conversation, which doesnt
Secretary role, Heaton requested slip into the easy way of closing the
ministerial direction during 2015
directions as a sign conversation down and is quite often a
regarding a grant for the Kids Company of civil service way in which some colleagues are treated
charity; according to the Institute for virility. unfairly. I think in the civil service were
Government, it was one of six requested probably going to trial something a bit
that year, out of total of just thirty two He considers approach to be key: Ive different for the year thats just started
this century. always found that if you go into a Select I dont think any of us can be content
Heaton reveals in one sense youve Committee hearing thinking Look, Im on this until weve seen this apparent
failed if you need to have a public not going to play for time and stonewall discrepancy ironed out.
direction, because it means either you the Committee rapidly realises that thats Interestingly, the Southwark-dwelling
havent persuaded the Minster or youve your frame of mind. Its when you try and Heaton uses the Thames to help with
been unable to find a proper lawful way construct a wall of obfuscation they get his work-life balance: The river for me
of carrying out the Ministers wishes really hacked off. I think a trap we fall is quite symbolic; when I cross it I like
within managing public money, and into sometimes is knowing that we cant to do different things on either side.
thats often a disappointment rather than answer a question in quite the terms its Historically, the City and Westminster
a triumph. I dont think we should be been asked, because that takes us into a were places where serious people did
seeking out more directions as a sign of policy or political field. Were a bit slow matters of state and finance. The river
the virility of the civil service. sometimes to just say Look, thats an was always the line between that world
But if he considers that asking for interesting question, but you have to and Shakespeares London of theatres,
direction is failing, might that in itself direct that to Ministers. bearbaiting, cockfighting, prostitutes,
put civil servants off asking for them? prisons and debtors. For me, Southwark
No. I think most of my colleagues would BME representation still has that difference, which I kind of
be perfectly happy to seek direction if With March 2015 Cabinet Office figures value. The serious stuff is on the north
that was the right thing to do. Its just showing just 4.1% of civil servants in bank and the underbelly of life is on the
that its a bit of a last resort if Im honest, senior roles had a BME background, south bank.
and youd look to sort things out without Heaton admits there is work to do in his
creating this public forum in which the Race Champion role. The figures are not Kay Hender is Editor of Public Service
disagreement is open for all to see. Maybe climbing enormously or dramatically but Magazine.
Books
Worth Dying For: the power
and politics of flags
by Tim Marshall
Elliott and Thompson, 266pp, 16.99
By Siddartha Mukherjee
Scribner Book Company, 592pp, 16.00
Public
PublicService
ServiceMagazine
MagazineAutumn
Winter 2016 29
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