Civil Service Human Resources Function
The role of the Civil Service Human Resources function, the services and standards for which it is responsible, and the ways in which it builds professional skills in the Civil Service.
The Civil Service HR Function, Civil Service Human Resources (CSHR) is made up of over 3,500 colleagues across government. HR teams provide a source of expertise on people, policies, processes and recruitment campaigns. We support the government workforce and help departments and professions to build a modern, effective Civil Service.
Centrally, the HR function manages expert services and offers guidance in areas including pay and reward, talent management, employment policies, strategic workforce planning, and learning and development. The head of function is the Chief People Officer, Rupert McNeil.
Our Role
Our ambition is to transform the Civil Service’s future workforce. This starts with delivering an effective HR service and getting basic people processes right.
We work to the priorities in the Workforce Plan, ensuring that our teams can respond to the government’s current and future challenges. We aim to attract and retain talented people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and to develop great leaders. We seek to build career paths that develop breadth of experience and depth of expertise. And we help to establish cost-effective and flexible reward structures for civil servants.
We want the Civil Service to become the most inclusive employer in the UK.
Civil Service Talent
Civil Service Talent is a central government expert service specialising in cross-government talent management, with a particular focus on building a high-calibre, diverse and inclusive Senior Civil Service (SCS). There are four sub-departments that fall within the remit of Civil Service Talent: Permanent Secretary HR and Director General Resourcing, Accelerated Development Programmes, Executive Recruitment, and Diversity and Inclusion strategy.
Executive Recruitment
Executive Recruitment is part of the Cabinet Office Civil Service Talent team, and is a central government expert service specialising in the attraction, search, selection and recruitment of Senior Civil Servants. The team is regularly commissioned by departments and other government organisations to deliver end-to-end recruitment for some of society’s most important leadership and specialist positions, including Deputy Director, Director and Director General posts.
Career opportunities and professional development
Civil servants can access the HR Profession website on Civil Service Learning. It offers a wide range of learning opportunities, plus information on Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) accreditation and professional networking.
For HR vacancies in the Civil Service, please visit Civil Service Jobs
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the HR Fast Stream is a demanding 3-year programme. Fast Streamers undertake 18-month placements in 2 different departments and areas of HR to prepare for senior management roles. HR Fast Stream applicants do not require previous HR experience. Visit Fast Stream or the Facebook page or Twitter account
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HR accelerated development schemes are centrally run to develop staff with the potential and aspiration to progress to higher grades. The schemes focus on leadership development and the role of HR in building organisational effectiveness. Participants complete cross-government projects to build networks and skills, and increase their understanding of challenges that other Civil Service departments are facing
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
We encourage all HR professionals to achieve professional membership of CIPD. Many departments offer staff working in HR the option to complete CIPD qualifications or the Experience Assessment. The latter involves demonstrating existing skills to gain professional accreditation.
Contact
For further queries about the HR Profession please speak to CSHR@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
HR standards in the Civil Service
A number of HR-related standards apply to all civil servants:
- the Civil Service Commission oversee the management code, which outlines civil servants’ terms and conditions of service for government departments and agencies
- the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles explain that selection for appointment to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. They also describe the responsibilities of departments and agencies in meeting this requirement, and set out when appointments can be made as exceptions to this requirement
- the Civil Service Compensation Scheme sets out the level of compensation departments can pay their staff if they leave under voluntary or compulsory redundancy
- the Civil Service Pension Scheme (Cabinet Office introduced a new pension scheme, alpha, in April 2015. This new scheme is set out in separate legislation - in the Public Service (Civil Service And Others) Pension Scheme regulations)
- the Employer Pension Guide tells you what you, as an employer, need to know about Civil Service pension arrangements, and your responsibilities in delivering the arrangements to your staff
- Civil Service settlement agreements, special severance payments and confidentiality clauses