FOR SENIOR In a Whitehall state MANAGERS AND of mind PROFESSIONALS The big culture shift on workplace mental health Paymasters and generals Defence Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove talks to PSM

@FDA_union @We_are_keystone SPRING 2018 After the fall What’s the future for government contracting? Keystone: fully opening up the benefits of FDA membership to HEOs and SEOs.

Help strengthen your union and share information on the benefits, career development and support provided for your HEO or SEO colleagues. Find out more, including how to join, at: wearekeystone.org.uk

PSM_spring2017_finals.indd 2 17/03/2017 14:38 In this issue Don’t forget you can follow your union on Twitter @FDA_union @We_are_keystone

Welcome

Craig Ryan, Editor Twenty years ago, in March 1998, the FDA published the first issue of Public Service Magazine. The cover featured a “scary skeleton” face superimposed on 16 19 a picture of a ghostly figure on a grand staircase, which might just have passed for somewhere in Whitehall. The headline News 4 Features was: “Ghost in the machine: who’s afraid Brexit minister forced to apologise; Sir Interview 16 of digital government?” It was all a bit Paul Jenkins obituary; FDA challenges Ministry of Defence Permanent scary and new in those days. Gove over working hours; FDA President Secretary Stephen Lovegrove talks to PSM marked a big step forward in the joins Guardian public leaders board; PSM. union’s communications. Our mission was Melanie Dawes to speak at FDA threefold: to keep members fully informed; conference; Westminister bullying probe All in the mind 19 promote the FDA’s aims and values; and We look at the deep culture changes encourage debate about the issues that must not duck individual cases. needed to improve mental health and matter to members. The content, format Plus: our round-up of the latest civil and (I hope) our covers have improved in service starters, movers and leavers. wellbeing across Whitehall. 20 years, but the mission remains the same. After the fall 22 Now, as the FDA prepares to celebrate Organising 10 What does the Carillion collapse its centenary next year (see p30), we’re How the FDA’s new fast stream mean for the future of public sector anticipating another leap forward with committee is shaping up after its first the forthcoming launch of our brand- outsourcing? year. new website. The new site looks gorgeous and will allow us to bring you lots more Broken, divisive and coverage of the issues that matter to you, FDA Learn 11 demotivating 25 Neil Rider on award-winning learning much more quickly – as well as online What FDA members think of the Senior work in Scotland and the new civil access to everything in PSM. I can’t wait. Civil Service pay system. service Competency Framework. Published by FDA Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ Meet the FDA 12 Books 26 T: 020 7401 5555 | www.fda.org.uk | [email protected] Sophie Raworth on new thinking about Introducing new Assistant General Acting Editor – Craig Ryan economics. Secretary Amy Leversidge, and Office T: 01453 828888 | [email protected] Richard Askwith’s take on shaking up and Systems Manager Esther Farnese. Staff writers – Tommy Newell, Matt Foster Westminster. T: 020 7401 5588 | [email protected] Plus our selection of the season’s best On your case 12 Design – Chapman Design other reads. T: 01273 236932 | [email protected] How FDA support helped one member to cope with a debilitating health Advertising – Simon Briant Members’ small ads 28 SDB Marketing condition at work. T: 01273 594455 | [email protected] Crossword 29 Printers – Captiv8 UK Ltd Opinion 14 T: 01892 611500 www.captiv8uk.co.uk Robert Hazell on making the most FDA 100 30 All articles © Public Service Magazine 2018 or the author. of Whitehall’s non-execs. Plus Dave Union President Gareth Hills outlines Contents may not be reproduced without permission. Writers’ views are not necessarily those of Public Service Magazine or Penman on civil service pay. plans for the FDA’s centenary in 2019. the FDA. ISSN: 1460-8936

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 3 News

Share your news with us at [email protected]

Impartiality Brexit Minister forced to apologise for undermining civil service

Brexit Minister Steve Baker (pictured) has “cowardly actions” were “beneath the been forced to apologise for undermining office he holds” and risked “seriously the civil service and failing to challenge undermining the Government he is a part unfounded conspiracy theories in the of”. House of Commons. After Grant himself came forward to In what FDA General Secretary Dave challenge the claims and audio of the Penman described as an “extraordinary conversation was made available, Baker scene”, Baker told the Commons on 30 was forced to return to the dispatch box January he did not believe the analysis of to “correct the record”. his own department because he thought Apologising to the House, Baker civil service forecasts are “always conceded that he “should have corrected wrong”. or dismissed” Rees-Mogg’s assertion His comments came after leaked that Treasury officials were fiddling forecasts produced by the Department figures, and stressed that he “has the for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) highest regard for our hardworking civil suggested that the UK’s economy would servants”. be worse off in every scenario after Brexit. Despite Baker’s apology, Rees-Mogg Baker suggested that the document continued to voice his complaints, was “an attempt to undermine our exit that all options other than staying in prompting a sharp rebuke from FDA from the European Union”, describing the customs union were bad, and that General Secretary Dave Penman, who it as “a selective interpretation of a officials intended to use this to influence appeared on BBC’s Newsnight to urge the preliminary analysis”. policy”. MP to “put up or shut up” and produce Penman criticised Baker’s comments, Rees-Mogg’s accusations were based evidence for his claims. claiming that they “not only insult the on a conversation that had supposedly Penman added: “His refusal to dedicated professionals working in his taken place between Baker and Charles apologise to Parliament for repeating an department and across the civil service Grant, director of the Centre for European unfounded rumour [...] followed by his but epitomise the current state of affairs Reform think tank, and Baker agreed reiteration of the claims today, is clear in government”. they were “essentially correct”. evidence that he’s prepared to sacrifice He added: “How can civil servants in In a robust defence of civil service anyone or anything on the altar of his Mr Baker’s department, who are working impartiality, Penman described Baker’s own ideology. harder than ever before, now have failure to challenge Rees-Mogg as Following the FDA’s interventions, a confidence in a minister who stands at “the height of irresponsibility from a number of senior ministers spoke up in the despatch box and openly questions serving minister” and warned that his favour of civil service impartiality, with their professionalism? The real question, Home Secretary Amber Rudd saying however, is how can a minister prepared “How can civil servants in she had “complete confidence” in the to undermine the Government he serves Mr Baker’s department, officials. retain the confidence of the Prime who are working harder Rudd added: “We are envied the world Minister?” than ever before, now have over for the high standards of our civil Just two days later, Baker faced a confidence in a minister who servants, and I would say now more than further backlash after failing to challenge stands at the despatch box ever that we need to make sure that we claims by fellow Conservative MP Jacob and openly questions their attract the best into our civil service to Rees-Mogg that Treasury officials had professionalism?" take on what is an enormous challenge in “deliberately developed a model to show Dave Penman terms of leaving the EU.”

4 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 News

FDA in the news

March

Following a Newsnight investigation into bullying and harassment in Westminster, FDA General Secretary Dave Penman called for “radical reform” to protect staff working in the House of Commons. Downing St 'concern' at MP bullying claims BBC NEWS The following evening, FDA Assistant General Secretary Amy Leversidge Obituary appeared live on BBC Newsnight and argued for the introduction of a “truly independent system” to tackle Remembering Paul Jenkins: harassment and bullying. Penman then published a blog post ‘the best of public service’ on HuffPost UK with a more detailed response, cautioning that, as the media Sir Paul Jenkins – the outspoken former Sir Paul retired from the civil service was focusing on the individuals named Treasury Solicitor and Head of the in 2014, but the child of two public in Newsnight’s investigation, there was Government Legal Department – died servants found it difficult to leave a “real danger” the story could move on on 26 February, aged 63. completely. When taking up what without meaningful reform. Called to the Bar in 1977, Sir Paul would become his final position as If politicians are serious about cracking joined the civil service two years later Master Treasurer at Middle Temple – a down on bullying, here's what needs to and remained for 37 years, rising to professional society for barristers – he be done the role of Treasury Solicitor in 2006. needed a coat of arms with a motto. In HUFFPOST UK He was also a Civil Service Diversity one of his last interviews, he told Civil Penman “cautiously welcomed” the Champion and the first leader of the Service World that he would eschew House of Commons Commission’s Government Legal Department (GLD), the traditional Latin, instead opting for decision to launch an independent and was an undeniably passionate ‘Speak truth unto power’. inquiry but insisted that it must look advocate for both equality and shared Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy into specific allegations against MPs, services. Heywood called Sir Paul’s death after Leader of the Commons Andrea Despite seeing it as personally “pretty “shattering news”, referring to him as Leadsom appeared to rule out the meaningless”, Sir Paul recognised “one of the finest public servants of inquiry dealing with individual cases. the “very powerful signal” sent by his his generation and the warmest, most Westminster bullying claims: House position as a senior gay public servant vivacious of colleagues”. Jenkins’s of Commons approves independent who was voted onto media lists of successor at GLD, Jonathan Jones, investigation into allegations MPs influence. In a 2013 PSM interview, he called Sir Paul a “wise lawyer, proud mistreated staff said: “Being gay is not just for Elton public servant, loyal friend, incorrigible HUFFPOST UK John and Stephen Fry – it’s about gossip, frank and funny tweeter, great Dave Penman then wrote directly to all ordinary people doing ordinary jobs, human being”. Westminster party leaders calling on and that’s why it’s important to me.” FDA General Secretary Dave them to “put aside politics” and publicly Sir Paul was also a long-standing Penman said Sir Paul “represented back an independent inquiry that member of the FDA. In the same the best of public service – a respected investigates individual cases. interview, he told PSM editor Kay professional, a charismatic leader, a Hender: “I’m a huge fan of the FDA, champion for equality and an advocate Westminster bullying: Party leaders I’ve been a member of the FDA since for his union. We know many members urged by civil service union to back 1979 and I’m very proud of the fact I’m a will have fond memories of him and will inquiry into allegations against MPs member of the FDA.” be mourning his untimely passing.” HUFFPOST UK CHRIS HARRIS / THE TIMES / NEWS LICENSING NEWS / TIMES THE / HARRIS CHRIS

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 5 News

Working hours FDA challenges Gove for peddling working hours “myths”

FDA National Officer Steven Littlewood However, Gove refused to confirm has met with Environment Secretary or deny whether the quotes attributed Michael Gove to discuss reports that the to him by the Sunday Times accurately minister had accused civil servants in represented his views on Defra his department of clock-watching. members’ working hours, saying that he The Sunday Times reported that Gove “cannot, of course, comment on Cabinet told Cabinet colleagues that his officials discussions”. “work their 37 hours a week and then Littlewood met with the Environment they go home, even if that is Wednesday Secretary on 22 March and reiterated afternoon”. He also reportedly asked that the comments attributed to him whether civil servants “still work for 12 “painted a picture unrecognisable to hours and get two days off”. FDA members”. In a letter to Gove, Littlewood During the meeting, which requested an urgent meeting and Littlewood described as “positive and highlighted findings from the FDA’s constructive”, he advised Gove that own Working Hours Survey which many FDA members had reported their found that the problem of excess hours appreciation for his leadership in the is in fact endemic across the civil department, which is why they were service. 95% of respondents in Gove’s “so disappointed” with the comments Department for Environment, Food attributed to him. and Rural Affairs (Defra) reported The Environment Secretary reportedly working more than their contracted declared his gratitude to and admiration hours every week, while 90% say for civil servants and the FDA has excessive hours are a problem in the pledged to work with the department department. on solutions to the problem of excessive He also pressed the Environment working hours. Secretary to clarify whether the reported Littlewood added that he will comments were “an accurate record” of “ensure that the agreed attention to his views on working hours at Defra. reasonable workloads for members In his response to Littlewood, Gove "Michael Gove’s comments is now taken forward with the acknowledged the “commitment, on the working hours of department” and called on the dedication, passion and hard work” of civil servants paint a picture department to acknowledge that civil his department’s civil servants and said unrecognisable to FDA servants need “appropriate resources” he takes the issue of excessive working members" to support their work and deliver hours “very seriously indeed”. Steven Littlewood government commitments.

Job vacancy

issues concerning older people in general, excluding public holidays. Civil Service and civil service pensioners in particular. Anyone interested in applying for the Pensioners’ Alliance The organisation is particularly job should request an application pack seeks new General interested in candidates who have from CSPA Deputy Office Manager Marion recently retired from the civil service, who McAuliffe, either by email to marion. Secretary have a good knowledge of public service [email protected], by calling 020 pension schemes and an empathy with, 8688 8418 or in writing to CSPA, 8th The Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance and a willingness to campaign on, the Floor, Grosvenor House, 125 High Street, (CSPA) is advertising for a new General challenges facing older people. Croydon CR0 9XP. Secretary, following the announcement Based at the CSPA headquarters in The closing date for applications is that the incumbent, Mike Duggan, is to Croydon, the position is full-time with a Friday 4 May 2018, with interviews for retire in Autumn 2018. starting annual salary of £49,410, rising shortlisted candidates being held during The CSPA provides bespoke member to £52,690 after one year. There is a paid the week commencing Monday 25 June services and benefits, and campaigns on annual leave allowance of six weeks, 2018.

6 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 News

Leadership FDA President joins Guardian public FDA in leaders board the news FDA President Gareth Hills has been and all public servants, and I hope to appointed to the editorial advisory use this role to shape debates on public February board of the Guardian’s Public Leaders leadership in a way that helps all FDA Network. members, whether on the frontline or The FDA defended the impartiality Each year, the paper’s dedicated closer to Whitehall,” he added. and professionalism of civil servants section for public servants selects a range Following the advisory board’s first after Brexit Minister Steve Baker used of leaders from its target audience to meeting in February, Hills revealed that two separate parliamentary sessions help provide expert insight and guidance “one common theme quickly emerged to criticise government economists on the issues covered. The 2018 board – the real harsh and negative affect that and give credence to an unfounded consists of nine leaders across the austerity measures have had on public accusation of bias among Treasury public sector, including representatives service, on public servants, and on the officials. Baker was eventually forced from central and local government, people we serve”. to apologise in Parliament for his social care, emergency services and the comments. voluntary sector. Brexit minister Steve Baker in civil Hills – a long-serving tax inspector “2018 promises to service row apology at HM Revenue and Customs as well as be another BBC NEWS President of the FDA – said he aims to challenging year Brexit minister forced into apology for provide the Public Leaders Network with for all public maligning civil service “a ‘frontline’ view of public leadership”. services and all THE GUARDIAN “2018 promises to be another public servants" challenging year for all public services Gareth Hills Brexit Minister Steve Baker has apologised for suggesting he'd heard ADC 2018 about a pro-remain plot BUZZFEED Melanie Dawes set to speak at Brexit boss labels his own officials FDA annual conference wrong METRO Members attending this year’s FDA Brexit minister Steve Baker attacks civil Annual Delegate Conference will hear servants over leaked impact paper from one of the civil service’s most senior THE TIMES officials, Melanie Dawes, when they PM will not sack Brexit minister over gather in London on 11 May. civil service ‘conspiracy theory’ row Dawes, Permanent Secretary of the DAILY MAIL Ministry of Housing, Communities and Tory minister Steve Baker says sorry Local Government (MHCLG), has been to parliament over civil servants Brexit confirmed as keynote speaker at the sabotage row conference. POLITICS HOME She also has substantial experience at the centre of government, serving as Key topics set for discussion this Jacob Rees-Mogg doubled down on gender champion for the civil service, year include equal pay, performance the accusations that Treasury officials and sitting on both the Senior Leadership management, workload, harassment and were “fiddling the figures” in Brexit Committee and the Civil Service Board, bullying, and civil service impartiality. forecasts, leading Dave Penman to which is responsible for the strategic Delegates will also have a chance step up his defence of the civil service leadership of the organisation as a to discuss the future development in interviews on Sky News, Channel 4 whole. of the union, find out about pro- News and the BBC News Channel. His Prior to joining the MHCLG, Dawes was fessional development and networking comments also featuring on BBC One’s Director General of the influential Eco- opportunities, and learn about plans to national Weekend News. nomic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat in mark the FDA’s centenary in 2019. This resulted in coverage on BBC Radio the Cabinet Office. She has also worked at 4 and Radio 5 Live as well as significant senior level for HM Revenue and Customs The Annual Delegate Conference coverage on regional BBC radio and spent 15 years in the Treasury. takes place on 10 May at Mary Ward stations, including BBC Radio Wales, The ADC also offers delegates the House, Tavistock Place, London WC1. BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster. chance to debate the key issues facing All FDA members are encouraged civil service leaders and set the priorities to attend as observers. For more of the union for the year ahead. information, email [email protected].

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 7 News

Bullying Westminster bullying probe must not duck past cases, says FDA

The FDA has given cautious backing to a new inquiry into the bullying and harassment of parliamentary staff by MPs – but warned that the probe cannot shy away from investigating individual cases. In the wake of allegations – first aired by BBC Newsnight – that staff in Parliament have been subjected to systemic bullying and abuse, the House of Commons Commission launched a fresh investigation, with the search for an independent figure to lead the inquiry underway as PSM went to press. The Commission, which oversees staff management in Parliament, has asked its non-executive members to find a chair and develop terms of reference for the probe, and the FDA has made it clear that there must be effective redress for staff who have been failed by the existing policies governing MPs’ behaviour in Parliament. FDA General Secretary Dave Penman has written to all of Westminster’s major party leaders – including Prime Minister Theresa May, Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn and the Liberal Democrats’ Vince Cable – calling on them to publicly show their cases from being heard. "The standards of behaviour support for the independent inquiry and “The standards of behaviour shown shown by MPs breach any the need to investigate specific claims. by MPs breach any basic principle of basic principle of conduct in Following a meeting with Clerks conduct in the workplace, and there the workplace" in the House of Commons, Penman must be redress for those staff who have Amy Leversidge told the party leaders that the current been unable to raise concerns due to the complaints and grievance policy – failings of the Respect policy,” she said. known as ‘Respect’ – could no longer Leadsom that the inquiry may not be “The independent inquiry must allow “carry the trust and confidence of staff”, asked to look at individual cases, a staff to raise complaints which can be and called on them to back “an effective position the FDA believes will hinder investigated independently. This is and properly resourced mechanism for its ability to learn effective lessons and also important for future bullying and investigating complaints and, where secure a fair hearing for those affected by harassment cases, because there is often necessary, applying sanctions to MPs”. MPs’ behaviour. the need to demonstrate patterns of This new policy must, the FDA General Responding to a question in the House behaviour – something which cannot be Secretary added, “be fully independent of Commons, Leadsom said: “The inquiry done if MPs decide to start again with a of Parliament and the political parties” into the bullying of House staff… will clean slate.” and “any independent inquiry into not be carrying out investigations into Meanwhile, the civil service has been bullying must consider the individual individual cases. That is exactly why I reviewing its own policies for dealing cases of staff if they wish to bring these expect it to attract the Commission’s full with bullying. FDA members last year forward. There must be redress for those support”. took part in a bullying and harassment staff who have been unable or unwilling But, updating FDA members on the survey, which has informed the union’s to raise complaints because of the union’s position, Assistant General negotiations with the review team led by failings of the Respect policy.” Secretary Amy Leversidge said the DCMS Permanent Secretary Sue Owen. Penman’s letter came amid indications Commons authorities must not take a The review’s findings are expected to be from House of Commons Leader Andrea “year zero” approach that prevents past published shortly.

8 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 News

Revolving Door My alternative career Civil service starters, movers and leavers

Rob Macaire has been recommend pay levels for the police named as Her Majesty’s and the NCA respectively. Chatterji new ambassador to Iran, is Director of Studies in Economics succeeding Nicholas at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and also Hopton as the UK’s a fellow of Sidney Sussex College, man in Tehran. Macaire Cambridge. He has previously carried first joined the Ministry of Defence in out work for the School Teachers 1987, transferring to the Foreign and Review Body, the Welsh Remuneration Commonwealth Office in 1990, where Board and the Independent he focused on the Middle East and Parliamentary Standards Authority counter-terrorism. He is the FCO’s (IPSA). former Director of Consular Services, Baroness Stowell has and moves to the Iran job after a stint been named as the next as Director of Political Risk for oil and chair of the Charity gas multinational BG Group and then Commission, succeeding as a language trainer. The FCO said William Shawcross. in a statement that Hopton would be Stowell has been a Conservative peer transferring to another Diplomatic since 2011, and served as Leader of Paula Houghton Service post. the House of Lords under then-Prime HMRC Training and Elsewhere in the FCO, Minister David Cameron from 2014 Development Manager Frank Baker has to 2016. Prior to her political career, been appointed as HM Stowell was a civil servant, having As a teenager, all I wanted to do was ambassador to Libya. joined the Ministry of Defence in 1986 join HM Armed Forces. After Baker has been with the before transferring to the Downing university, I joined the Royal Navy but FCO since 1981 and was Street Press Office. Her appointment my career was cut short by an previously the UK’s ambassador in as head of the charity regulator has accident – so that would be the Baghdad and, before that, Kuwait City. met with some controversy, with MPs obvious choice for my alternative Baker has spent a significant chunk of on the Digital, Culture, Media & Sport career, wouldn’t it? Well, maybe, but if his career in Washington, having been Committee rejecting her candidacy. I am looking back and can choose posted there on secondment from 1996 Their objections were overruled by anything, perhaps it should be to 1998 before again returning to DC as Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, who something I never did. a political and military counsellor from said Stowell would be “a brilliant chair 2000 to 2007, a period that covered the of the Charity Commission”. I spend a huge proportion of my own second Gulf War. He succeeds Peter Julie Lennard has been named as time working with teenagers these Millett in the Libyan post. interim chief executive of the Driver days. I currently run two Air Cadet Nick Jobling has taken over as and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), squadrons and I love almost every interim Chief Executive of the Met taking over from Oliver Morley, minute of it. The opportunity to offer Office, following the departure of who is moving on to become the experiences to kids who wouldn’t Rob Varley. Jobling steps up from his new CEO of the Pension Protection otherwise get them – climbing, former job as Deputy Chief Executive Fund. Lennard joined the DVLA kayaking, target shooting, camping, and Chief Finance Officer of the in 2014 as the agency’s Director of flying and a whole host of other national weather service. The Met Strategy, Policy and Communications. things – is the most rewarding thing in Office said Jobling’s appointment She has previously worked at the the world. was “pending the appointment of a National Archives and the consumer permanent Chief Executive in due organisation Which?. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a course”. 13-year old’s excitement when they Professor Monojit Chatterji has land after flying their first been appointed for a three-year Have you or someone you loop-the-loop! So, if I could convince term as a member of both the Police work with recently joined somebody to pay me for it, I would be Remuneration Review Body and or left the public service? working in that area. the National Crime Agency Review Please let us know at Body, the independent bodies which [email protected]

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 9 Organising Better representation for FDA Fast Stream members

The FDA’s Fast Stream section the Department for International Trade, questions that matter to our members. committee was set up last and will be hosting an annual general If you are a Fast Streamer wanting year to boost representation meeting in April – this will be an ideal to get more involved with the FDA, or for Fast Stream members. opportunity to meet and connect with would just like more information about Damon Fairley looks back on a other Fast Streamers, and we encourage the Fast Steam section or our events, successful first year and sets all Fast Stream members to attend. please contact National Officer Steven out the committee’s priorities Although our reach has improved over Littlewood ([email protected]) for for the year ahead. the past year, there is still much work to further details. do and we are keen to ensure every Fast Just under a year ago, the FDA Fast Stream FDA member feels supported, Damon Fairley is Convenor of the FDA Stream section committee was represented and involved in their union. Fast Stream section committee. established to provide an enhanced We have also taken a closer look at representative structure for Fast Stream how our rep structure works, and intend FDA members. As the recognised trade to introduce some changes to improve union for Fast Streamers, the FDA members’ access to our reps. We will has always provided a strong voice continue to work closely with the civil for these grades and has achieved service Fast Stream team – enhancing much, not least the mid-scheme pay our already good working relationship uplift for centrally-managed Fast – to raise and resolve the concerns and Impact Streamers. By setting up the section Award committee, the FDA has been able to involve more members in their union Nominations are open for 2018 and provide grassroots representation the FDA’s new ‘Impact Award’ to the civil service Fast Stream team, which manages the scheme across The FDA is launching a new ‘Impact Award’ to celebrate the successes and hard work of government. branches and reps across the union, and the impact they have on FDA members. In its first year, the Fast Stream The award will be presented for the first time at this year’s Annual Delegate Conference, section committee has been effective taking place on Thursday 10 May at Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Place, London WC1. at representing members through a Nominations can be made for individual members or for branches in the following areas: period of change within the Fast Stream. Among other things, we’ve played an Campaigning: where a local campaign Recruitment: for significant recruitment active role in ensuring the move from has successfully engaged members and/or of new members, reversing a declining HMRC to the Cabinet Office had a largely brought about a win for the FDA membership, or recruiting members positive impact on Fast Streamers, from unengaged areas or in challenging Engagement: for increasing members’ with an increase in starting pay for circumstances centrally managed Fast Streamers to involvement in the FDA, achieving high £28,000 and a more generous annual levels of participation in branch structures Casework: where a significant win has leave allowance. We’ve also been busy or surveys, or regular successful events been achieved – in a difficult case or one that has resulted in wider change within representing individual Fast Streamers Branch development: introducing the department in ongoing issues including disputes new forms of communication, recruiting over end of posting reviews and members to the branch committee, Negotiation: where a win has been securing reasonable adjustments for increasing branch activity levels achieved for members collectively through members with disabilities. negotiations with the employer A key focus for the committee over the coming months will be continuing to Nominations should detail the issue facing members, the work undertaken by the raise the profile of the FDA amongst Fast member or branch, the outcome and the impact it has had on members and/or the FDA Streamers. This year, we have organised as a whole. Nominations close on 23 April 2018 and should be sent to FDA Organiser a networking and Q&A event with Alan Bailey at [email protected]. Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary at

10 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Learning new skills opens up opportunities for everyone

Neil Rider applauds one FDA member’s contribution to lifelong learning, and explains how a better civil service competency framework could boost career flexibility.

I’m delighted to start this column by congratulating longstanding FDA member Lisa McGuinness on winning a prestigious award for helping members develop their careers and build their skills. Lisa has played a pivotal role in developing the FDA’s presence in Scotland – especially in the period into their own departments by making since the independence referendum, Lisa’s work on learning highly specific and pretty inconsistent after which she recognised the need for and development has requirements for job candidates. That’s a much more bespoke approach for our had a real impact, both on bad for our members, as it constrains members north of the border. people’s careers and on their their horizons, but it’s also bad for A serving HM Revenue and participation in the union public services because it limits the Customs (HMRC) official, Lisa is also a movement. sharing of valuable expertise and fresh committed trade unionist. She’s been a perspectives across government. member of the Association of Revenue union leadership, and Lisa played That’s why it was encouraging to and Customs (the section representing an essential role in helping the FDA get a preview of the new Competency FDA members in HMRC) since 2006. to deliver two major Women Into Framework at Civil Service Live. She took a leading role in ARC’s equal Leadership conferences. A big thanks The planned new system appears to pay claim for women members, as to Lisa from all of us at the FDA and strike a much better balance between well as actively campaigning for Keystone - and if you’d like to get experience, ability, behaviours and civil servants to work their proper involved in helping to deliver our the technical and professional skills hours. But it’s Lisa’s work on the courses, or know of an employer who required in a job. But, as ever, the devil FDA’s professional development and might be interested, do drop me a line! will be in the detail. As the Cabinet learning services that caught the eye Office consults with unions on its of the Scottish Trades Union Council, Competency refresh plans, the FDA and Keystone will keep who’ve just handed her the Helen FDA and Keystone members often making the case for a competency Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning. tell me that one of the things they system that removes barriers to Lisa’s leading role in learning and want most in their career is flexibility. success, and allows qualified people development has been her biggest They want to be able to take the skills to apply for jobs across the civil service contribution and greatest passion in they’ve developed and seek out new – regardless of the department they her union work. Her work has had a opportunities in other civil service happen to work for. If you have any real impact, both on people’s careers departments, or in the NHS and thoughts on what you’d like to see, and on their participation in the the wider public sector. We’ve long please get in touch with me on neil@ union movement. Of the 15 women believed that governments of all stripes fda.org.uk. who engaged in the first leadership need to do more to support this. The course in Scotland in 2016, 13 went existing competency system is too Neil Rider is head of FDA Learn and on to become actively involved in fragmented, and is locking people Keyskills.

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 11 Meet the FDA

Two people working for the FDA tell us something about themselves and what they do for members.

and Policy Officer at the Police sensible, pragmatic and really focused Amy Leversidge Superintendents’ Association of England on members.” Since starting work in and Wales, where she dug into the detail January, she says she has been struck by Assistant General Secretary as austerity started to hit the middle the real sense of “camaraderie” among ranks of police forces across the country. the staff. Her biggest moment so far has, Working in a call centre to fund her After two years, she joined the Royal she says, been her appearance on BBC's studies for a Master’s in sociology College of Midwives, where she worked Newsnight where she made the case for proved a real eye-opener for Amy as an Employment Relations Adviser for major reform in the oversight of MPs’ Leversidge, the FDA’s new Assistant six and a half years. Her work at the RCM behaviour towards House of Commons General Secretary. “It really was awful included organising the first industrial staff. the way staff were treated,” she recalls. action by midwives in the RCM’s 134-year The Assistant General Secretary heaps “Decisions were made about you with history, in a dispute over NHS pay. praise on the FDA’s “absolutely brilliant” no consultation, and there was no trade Amy, a keen runner and theatre-goer, reps in Parliament, who she says have union recognition. One of the things that was on honeymoon with her husband “really been in touch with the members people would say all the time was: ‘If we Stuart when she heard she’d got the and know what members want us to had a trade union, they wouldn’t be able FDA job. “I've always admired the FDA do”. Amy is leading the FDA’s push for a to treat us like this.’” and thought: ‘That is the union that I’d fully independent inquiry into bullying Amy’s colleagues soon marked her really like to work for’,” she says. “It’s in the Commons, which will investigate out as someone they could turn to got an interesting membership, it’s individual complaints. for support. “Although there was no “MPs need to give a reason why they recognition, staff could bring a mate in The FDA has an can’t be held to account for this,” she if they were in trouble,” she explains. interesting says. “I think this is bigger than the “People would ask me to go in and membership, it’s expenses scandal, in terms of the impact represent them – so I ended up acting as it’s had on people… It’s for MPs to have a kind of rep!” sensible, pragmatic that courage to give up their power and After leaving the call centre, Amy and really focused on do the right thing.” started working in 2009 as a Research members Matt Foster

Esther Farnese employer – and there’s a reason for me ‘I saw your boss on the TV!’, which that,” Esther says. never used to happen.” She credits the FDA’s supportive Esther is also excited about the Office and Systems Manager culture as a big reason for the development of Keystone and the longevity of her career with the completion of the FDA’s new head Esther started union. Initially working in accounts office building, which she believes will at the FDA after and membership, Esther admits that provide a lot of new opportunities for a diverse career she “didn’t know too much about IT” the union. that included at first, but was given the chance to Away from the office, being a stints with develop new skills through training grandmother is the “biggest part” of an insurance courses and working directly with the Esther’s life. But when she’s not taking company, an union’s IT consultants – all of which care of grandchildren, it’s common to advertising lead to her current job as the FDA’s find Esther with a book in one hand agency, a travel Office and Systems Manager. (or both). “I’ve always got two books agency and oil multinational Shell. According to Esther, a lot’s changed on the go,” she says. “I’m a big fan That was 20 years ago and Esther at the FDA over the last 20 years. “Of of science-fiction but my favourite is now one of the longest serving course, the membership has increased author is George Orwell by a mile. members of FDA staff. “Before starting and I think we’ve definitely raised Nothing’s ever topped him for me and with the FDA, I’d wanted to work for a our profile. We get a lot more publicity his books are still as relevant today as trade union for ages, and this is now than we used to and we respond they were in the 1930s.” the longest I’ve ever stayed with an much faster. People will often say to Tommy Newell

12 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 On your case

Support when you really need it If you’re suffering from a chronic health condition, the last thing you need is your job making things worse. One FDA member tells Tommy Newell how the union became her “only refuge” at a troubling time and helped get her working life back on track.

Despite priding herself on her mental the member’s requests for reasonable resilience and her conscientious work adjustments being accepted, including ethic, one FDA member found herself working on an 80% workload and being struggling after being diagnosed with a taken off the overnight rota. chronic condition that caused her severe Another recommendation was for a pain and discomfort. temporary move to a different job until Following her diagnosis, she found her her health improved. However, when the condition was having an impact on her employer claimed this would be difficult work and personal wellbeing: “The effect to achieve, the member was happy to on me of both the medication and the accept a permanent move as an pain was fatigue. I wasn’t particularly alternative. clear headed at the time and also it With the support of the union, she affected my resilience, particularly my settled into a new role that was more ability to deal with stress.” suited to her, and allowed greater The role she was working in could be flexibility to manage her condition and high-pressured and required her to look after her health. Since the potentially work outside of normal work- reasonable adjustments were put in ing hours, with some overnight working. to get both her health and working life place the member has noticed a marked A specialist consultant had advised that back on track. The main way of improvement in her productivity, even doing this would exacerbate her health achieving this was through a formal earning a bonus in the first couple of condition and wrote a letter to this request for an occupational health (OH) months following the move. effect. Unfortunately, her line-manager assessment, which Jane then helped the Although clearly frustrated that didn’t offer any support or make any member to navigate. adjustments weren’t made sooner, her reasonable adjustments to help the “In my state of not being entirely clear health is now improving as a result of the member manage her work. headed or particularly resilient, having move and she is happy in her new job: “I can’t describe the stress that put on somebody that understood those “My pain days get less and less but I do me,” she recalls. “I don’t usually suffer procedures and was able to talk me have periods where it’s bad, and my new from stress but I didn’t have the through them and show me where it employer is really good with it. It’s just resilience to deal with this.” was going was fantastic,” the member completely different, I feel valued and did Going through this stressful time, the explains. “She really helped me identify not feel valued on my old team at all. member described FDA National Officer the best way of putting the right words “Jane made me be able to stand up for Jane Cockram as her “only port of refuge”. down to explain my situation, and also myself at a time when I really couldn’t. I “She actually understood the condition what questions I needed answering to needed somebody’s help until I was I was going through and the effects of get the reasonable adjustments I better enough to be able to cope. both that and the drugs. In one sense I needed.” “She was a godsend. I don’t use that think she helped me keep my sanity The OH assessment resulted in all of word lightly, and I really do mean that.” because I was speaking to somebody that understood and recognised the On Your Case gives FDA and Keystone members the chance to share problem. I wasn’t getting that anywhere else.” their experiences of problems at work and talk about how the union As well as offering a compassionate can help to resolve them. If you’d like to share your story, drop us a line ear, Jane supported the member to win at [email protected]. If requested, anonymity is guaranteed. the reasonable adjustments she needed

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 13 Opinion Got an opinion? Let’s hear it at [email protected]

Whitehall needs critical friends, not silent partners

A new study finds Whitehall non- execs are enjoying increasingly productive relationships with civil servants, but many feel frustrated by their limited role and a lack of engagement with ministers, writes Robert Hazell.

The Constitution Unit has just completed Most NEDs say they make their greatest new projects. Typical of NEDs’ responses the first major study of non-executive contribution outside the board. This was this terse comment: “Most helpful = board members in Whitehall (commonly includes coaching and mentoring, support of the Perm Sec. Absent = input of known as non-executive directors, or advising on major projects and testing the SoS”. NEDs). Our research, carried out by delivery chains. They feel that senior NEDs easily find affinity with four former senior civil servants, found officials greatly value their advice and Permanent Secretaries, with shared that non-executives are high calibre, expertise, their mentoring role and interests in leadership, management committed people, whose expertise is willingness to take on extra tasks. One and delivery. But the key relationship greatly valued by the civil service. But said: “the most valuable role I play is as a is between the lead NED and ministers, NEDs find the role frustrating, and feel sounding board for senior civil servants”. whose trust and respect they need to they could be much more effective if the But NEDs expressed less satisfaction gain. This takes time, and is not helped system only allowed. with the central part of their role, as by recent high ministerial turnover as a Non-executives were first introduced board members. Few Whitehall boards result of the reshuffles after the 2015 and in the early 1990s, but received a strong are said to be working well, and NEDs 2017 elections – and another in January boost in 2010, when Cabinet Office say ministers fail to understand their 2018, which saw five new Secretaries of minister Francis Maude announced that purpose, dislike challenge, and find it State. departmental boards would include at hard to set priorities – especially if that The single departmental plan (SDP) least four NEDs, largely drawn from the involves dropping things to make way for is the vehicle for ensuring realistic commercial private sector. There are now planning is matched to resources. around 80 NEDs in 20 departments. Framing and managing SDPs should They are high-calibre people, mainly oblige ministers to decide which from business but also other professional Non execs say projects to shed or downgrade. NEDs backgrounds, and usually very senior in ministers fail to are closely involved, but there is still their own fields. They are not in it for the understand their some reluctance to challenge ministers’ money, or to build a CV; their motivation purpose, dislike wish to do everything, and point out the is one of public service. They contribute a consequential risks of overstretch. NEDs lot more time than they signed up for: on challenge and find it could have a greater role, alongside average 45 days a year. hard to prioritise Permanent Secretaries’ duties as

14 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Opinion accounting officers, to seek ministerial directions before proceeding with Civil servants won’t settle for being programmes which are not feasible or offer poor value for money. stuck at the back of the queue Out study found that NEDs are full of admiration for civil servants, and their strongest criticism is reserved With the pay cap choose your favourite public servants. for ministers. But some NEDs felt finally being lifted, Jeremy Hunt made much of his special civil servants could be bolder with the FDA will be pleading for the NHS – but what about ministers. One commented: “I thought pressing ministers his civil servants in the Department of the Permanent Secretary should tell the to ensure civil Health, without whom the NHS could Secretary of State that this course ought servants don’t not function? not to be followed. It is surprising there get left behind, Delivering justice for victims of are not many more Accounting Officer says General Secretary Dave crime requires prosecutors as much as minutes requesting directions.” NEDs Penman. bobbies on the beat, and schools and feel Permanent Secretaries could also be roads can only be built if HMRC collect firmer with new Secretaries of State in Ministers have been true to their word – tax and pursue evaders. The future of explaining the role of the departmental not a phrase you hear often – and lifted our economy will depend on the Brexit board, and ensuring rigorous annual the public sector pay cap. deal currently being negotiated by civil evaluation of board performance. In the NHS, unions (including MiP) servants, and our ability to fund that Many NEDs would like to be more are consulting members on an offer precious NHS will rely on trade deals involved more in policy making. “There’s that will see rises of around 6.5% yet to be negotiated – again by civil absolutely no point in having wonderful over three years, plus restructuring of servants. policies that can’t be executed, and some pay bands and, of course, pay Frontline or back office, civil service, there’s no point in executing daft progression – long gone from most civil teaching, local government or NHS – policies,” one said. Formally, NEDs are service pay systems. Local government public services can only be delivered meant to advise only on implementation; employers have offered around 5.6% by the cooperation and dedication but civil servants will often find them over two years, with significantly of a plethora of inter-related public willing partners in policy making if they higher rises for the lowest-paid. In servants. Ministers in each department, are willing to involve them. Scotland, meanwhile, the Government and collectively as government, need A familiar refrain in our interviews was has published its pay policy, which to ensure that the civil service isn’t at that the role of NEDs is too vague and will see most public servants receiving the end of a queue this summer when it needs clarifying. But when we probed 2-3% depending on their salary level, comes to lifting the pay cap. this, and asked whether clarification though the highest paid will get lower This will be a crucial year for civil means codification, we found no wish for increases. service pay. Expectations are running NEDs to have more formal powers. They In each sector, union members will high, given the offers elsewhere and prefer soft power to hard power. have to decide whether, after nearly a sweeping statements from ministers. If The only powers available to NEDs decade of pay restraint, this amounts the Treasury shows some flexibility in are those of persuasion and publicity. to enough of a shift to merit accepting, its remit guidance – the document that Because of the crucial need to build but it does represent progress from sets out pay policy for the coming year, relationships of trust with ministers and an arbitrary cap that caused real pain which is expected to be published later senior officials, they have understandably across the public sector. Our online pay this month – then departments must been reluctant to go public. Their central calculator (FDAFairPay.co.uk) will give show that they are determined to jump concern is overload, now exacerbated you an idea of how far your pay has through the many hoops that will be by Brexit. But as Whitehall confronts fallen behind in real terms. required to secure additional funding. the immense challenges of Brexit, non- We will soon learn how the Treasury We are already pressing civil executives may need to come out of the plans to implement the lifting of the service employers on this point and closet. They do the civil service and cap for the civil service and, of course, negotiations have already begun in themselves no favours if they remain too we eagerly await the recommendations some departments. As ever, the FDA silent for too long. from the Senior Salaries Review Body will be a strong, pragmatic negotiator for the SCS. on behalf of members; never afraid Robert Hazell is the founder of the We have raised directly with the to recommend agreement if it’s in our Constitution Unit at UCL, where he Cabinet Office minister our concerns members’ interest, but equally unafraid is Professor of Government and the that, too often, the civil service has to challenge if we feel there is more Constitution, and worked for the been the poor relation in public sector to be had. Whatever this summer’s Home Office from 1975 to 1989. Read pay terms. Ministers and the Treasury negotiations bring, it will be one of the the Constitution Unit’s report Critical can exert more direct control on pay toughest for the union in years. Our Friends? The role of Non-Executives in the civil service than elsewhere commitment, as ever, is to be honest on Whitehall Boards at: bit.ly/critical- in the public sector. Our message to with you and deliver the best outcome friends. Government is that you cannot pick and possible.

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 15 OpinionInterview

Going in with our eyes open

Defence Permanent Secretary Stephen Lovegrove is the man with the tricky job of delivering the government’s expansive defence commitments on the tight budget set by the Treasury. Difficult choices lie ahead, he tells Matt Ross in our exclusive interview.

16 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Interview

tephen Lovegrove’s Stephen Lovegrove: the from the Nat Sec Review was a step career path makes him a backwards.” rarity among permanent making of Whitehall’s Lovegrove, though, says firmly that secretaries: a former defence chief “the defence review cannot be separated consultant and investment from a wider national security strategy; banker, he entered the civil 1989: Graduates from Corpus Christi that would be crazy, and we would never dream of doing it”. The new Defence serviceS in his late 30s via the Shareholder College, Oxford, with a first class Executive – which managed government- degree in English Modernisation Programme (DMP), owned businesses. And his 2013 he argues, was required because the promotion to Permanent Secretary at the 1990: Joins Hydra Associates, a NSCR showed that “defence needed then-Department for Energy and Climate strategic media consultancy to spend some more time thinking Change was equally unusual: he got the through some issues around capability 1995: Joins Deutsche Bank, becoming job after PM David Cameron vetoed the and sustainability which had arisen, head of the European Media Team recruitment panel’s chosen candidate, peculiarly in the defence area, because of economist and climate change expert 2004: Joins the Shareholder the changes we’ve seen in the last couple David Kennedy. Executive, which managed the of years.” Cameron explained that DECC’s civil government’s shareholdings in What Lovegrove is saying – very service chief, above all, would need companies diplomatically – is that the MoD couldn’t “commercial experience and the ability square its budgets, the savings currently 2007: Becomes Chief Executive of the to do deals”; his focus would be delivery, falling out of its efficiency programmes, Shareholder Executive not policymaking. In an interview at the and the military capabilities required of time he took charge, Lovegrove told me 2008: Appointed to the Organising it. The DMP is, he explains, designed to he was glad the main planks of DECC Committee for London Olympics and create “a clear-eyed assessment of the policy were already decided: “It means Paralympics threat; a clear-eyed assessment of the we can concentrate on implementation,” capabilities we need to meet that threat; 2013: he said. Appointed Permanent and a clear-eyed assessment of how we Five years on – and nearly two years Secretary at the Department of need to go about affording them – and if into his stint as Permanent Secretary Energy and Climate Change there are difficult choices that need to be at the Ministry of Defence – it appears 2016: Becomes Permanent Secretary made, I’m sure we will make them.” that, as so often in government, things at the Ministry of Defence There is quite a lot of preparatory didn’t quite work out as planned. “My work to do, Lovegrove adds, “before we assessment that all the policy had get to the stage where we think that the been done when I arrived and that it government, most notably the National budget and the [required] capabilities are was all about execution was probably Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, an exact match.” As well as its defence a bit optimistic,” he says now with a the Foreign Office, DfID, the [intelligence] priorities and its efficiency programmes, wry smile. “There was a lot of policy agencies and the Home Office. Our policy he says, the MoD must rethink its development there, and the Secretary of role is avowedly pan-governmental.” “operating model” and “make sure State changed – so it was not a policy-free After years of growing integration that we’re in the best possible and most zone by any stretch of the imagination!” in defence and security policymaking, productive partnership with the industry Indeed, in policymaking terms the job defence secretary Gavin Williamson’s that supports us.” proved something of a baptism of fire. announcement in January that he’d This suggests the need for further “Some of the public policy things we be rethinking the MoD’s aspects of the changes at Defence Equipment and were doing were about as complicated National Security Capability Review Support, the MoD’s procurement agency, as you could possibly imagine,” he (NSCR) sparked concerns – with former which in 2014 won greater autonomy recalls. “If I’m honest, in some ways national security adviser Peter Ricketts and the right to sidestep civil service they were too complicated. The Green tweeting that “separating out Defence pay controls. But these reforms have Deal was a case in point: it was an overly already helped curtail the military’s complicated instrument for a perfectly Even a large rise tendency to regularly alter contracts good end, but it didn’t work and we had and specifications – producing “tens of to close it down.” in the wage bill millions of pounds of savings through The stakes are, of course, higher still is dwarfed by a small better controls,” says Lovegrove. And at the MoD, where policymaking has a DE&S is now “moving on from some of different slant and several additional fall in Defence the consultancy relationships, which layers of complexity. In defence, Equipment and are quite expensive, and hiring people Lovegrove explains, policymaking in so that they’re a durable and enduring focuses on building capabilities to give Support spending. It’s resource rather than a bought-in service.” “the nation the military wherewithal to got to be worthwhile Using its pay freedoms, he adds, DE&S do what it wants to do.” And the wider “has a model where people and teams policy framework is “very consciously for the taxpayer to do are genuinely rewarded for hard work; created in conjunction with other parts of that.” and the corollary of that is that they’re

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 17 Interview

quite brisk about changing things when its work without relying on other bits of they need to, in a way that possibly the the civil service; and it has a lot to learn rest of the civil service finds a bit more from other bits of the civil service,” he difficult”. argues. “So I don’t see that there is any So does DE&S’s experience point to downside to trying to make the MoD the need to pay higher salaries when the more open.” civil service must compete with business The ministry has much to teach as to hire in specialist skills? “There is a well as to learn, he adds, citing its skills good case, yes,” he replies. “Its wage in emergency management, planning, bill is a tiny fraction of the money that export promotion and international goes through DE&S every year; even a engagement. “So it’s a two-way street – large rise in the wage bill is dwarfed by a but I do think that the very distinctive small fall in DE&S spending. It’s got to be culture of defence could open itself up worthwhile for the taxpayer to do that.” a bit more to influences, not just from For many MoD civil servants, though, Whitehall but actually to wider society the prospect is not of pay rises but of as well,” he says. “We want to lower the seeing their jobs outsourced: in 2015 drawbridge a bit.” the government pledged to cut their The MoD will, however, always retain numbers by 17,000, or 30%. Tasked a unique world view – for it has a unique with saving £310m annually on the I think we‘ve job to do. And like his predecessor, civilian paybill by 2020, Lovegrove says been guilty of Jon Thompson, Lovegrove has clearly that outsourcing is not a “universal immersed himself in the ministry’s panacea”, but argues that “we need to squeezing learning out culture. On his office walls a pop-art be really thoughtful about which jobs of people’s work plan. Tiger tank seems to burst out of its need to be done by defence personnel picture frame, whilst his bookcase and where we could get a better service, We need to insist that carries a roll of toilet paper printed with and possibly provide better careers for people take time out of Vladimir Putin’s face. “A present from people, if jobs were in the private sector”. Ukraine,” he comments, deadpan. To deliver such huge changes, their professional lives As Lovegrove gets stuck into the Lovegrove will have to strengthen for it.” Defence Modernisation Programme, the ministry’s ability to deliver working to balance the government’s reform programmes: at 31%, its 2017 vaunting military ambitions with the Civil Service People Survey score for in Shrivenham, near Swindon, where Treasury’s tight grip on the purse strings, ‘leadership and managing change’ is the MoD’s Defence Academy is also he’ll need to call on all the commitment, some 16 points below the average for based. This is not, says Lovegrove, a loyalty and expertise of his civilian and all Whitehall departments. Meanwhile resurrection of the National School of military staff. He will also need political its ‘learning and development’ score Government – closed by the coalition cover from his Defence Secretary – has sunk from eight points ahead of the government in 2012 – but it does reflect and here, perhaps, his hand may be average in 2009 to three points behind in a need for residential training to provide strengthened by Gavin Williamson’s 2017 – an embarrassing statistic, given “a really intense focus over a couple ambitions and connections. Lovegrove’s role as chair of the Civil of days in order to get the value out of So one last question: might the MoD’s Service Learning and Leadership Board. [courses], which is why we decided it bid for a sustainable budget be aided by “It’s one of the areas that people are was important that there was a place the fact that the Defence Secretary is on a rightly dissatisfied with,” he concedes. where people could stay.” set of manoeuvres of his own? Lovegrove “I think we’ve been guilty of squeezing One of the Academy’s work strands does not, of course, answer directly. learning out of people’s work plan. We focuses on the lessons of Chilcot – “The Secretary of State is very clear that need to insist that people take time out of and, asked how he hopes such training defence in the UK needs to be prioritised their professional lives for it.” can help shift the culture of the MoD, and modernised,” he replies. “Defence is This dynamic has weakened learning Lovegrove replies that “we don’t have a not something we can take for granted. for senior officials as well as more junior particularly optimised culture for giving The first duty of any government is to ones, he believes: “It’s something that challenge. There are moments when keep its citizens safe, and a lot of the we’ve allowed to become less prominent it’s really important that ministers and responsibility for that falls to defence. over the years, and we need to start senior officials are exposed to the full There are threats in the world, and building that up again,” he says. “We range of options.” defence is here to try and make sure need to invest in the leadership skills of He also wants to break down some that we can deal with them – so I think a our most senior people, and we haven’t of the long-standing barriers between higher profile national debate about this done as much of that as we should have”. the MoD and other departments. The is no bad thing.” I think that’s a ‘yes’. Here, there is firm progress to report: in ministry “is part of the civil service; it September the Civil Service Leadership can’t do its work except in service of Matt Ross is a journalist and Academy opened a permanent base other bits of the civil service; it can’t do communications adviser to the FDA.

18 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 MentalOpinion health

Last year’s Stevenson-Farmer report set out an ambitious agenda for improving mental health and wellbeing in the civil service. Craig Ryan explores the deep culture changes needed to make sure all civil servants can thrive at work. All in the mind

n January 1974, at the height of the civil service and became chairman of today’s civil service couldn’t be greater. the three-day week crisis, the Midland Bank. Government Chief People Officer Rupert head of the civil service, Sir Armstrong’s breakdown was hushed McNeil has spoken openly about his William Armstrong, suffered up and the lessons ignored. Although problems with anxiety and encouraged a stress-induced mental colleagues later said the warning signs colleagues to do the same. Departments breakdown. According to several had been there for years, Armstrong have health and wellbeing champions, accounts,I Armstrong was found naked received no support and never talked and have rolled out a plethora of mental on the floor of the Downing Street about his mental health problems. The health initiatives in recent years, waiting room, chain smoking and raving impact of severe stress and overworking including mental health first aider about the end of the world. The following on his ability to advise the Prime Minister training, expanded employee assistance morning, he convened a meeting of his at a crucial juncture in Britain’s history programmes and networks where staff Permanent Secretary colleagues and was never considered. And the effect on get together to talk about workplace harangued them about preparing for Armstrong’s own health – he died just problems and the impact on their mental Armageddon. Armstrong was admitted a few years later – was perhaps greater wellbeing. to hospital but was back at work within than he knew. When Lord Dennis Stevenson and a few weeks. Three months later, he left On the surface, the contrast with MIND chief executive Paul Farmer

PublicPublic Service Service MagazineMagazine SpringSpring 2018 19 Mental health

published their independent review recommendations [of the report] is so of workplace mental health, Thriving Stevenson-Farmer: key important,” says McGuinness. at Work, in October last year, the recommendations for Work across Whitehall is being led government not only accepted all the by Jonathan Jones, the Head of the recommendations as an employer, but the civil service Government Legal Service, who is also designated the civil service as an ‘early the civil service health and wellbeing adopter’ of the mental health standards Permanent secretaries and agency champion, with support from the Civil laid down in the report (see box). It chief executives to have performance Service Employment Policy (CSEP) unit was, and was intended to be, a clear objectives relating to employee in the Cabinet Office and wellbeing signal that the civil service is now taking mental health champions in each department. mental health seriously. Commitments to mental health Jones tells PSM that he has “identified But it still has a lot to get serious standards to be written into Single strategic priorities to change the culture about. The Stevenson-Farmer report says Departmental Plans towards health and wellbeing in the civil the scale of the mental health challenge service… These include emphasising in Britain’s workplaces is “greater than Routine monitoring of employee visible leadership, enabling honest and we thought”, and the civil service is mental health open conversations about mental health, and encouraging an all-round healthy no exception. According to MIND’s Enhanced mental health training for lifestyle.” Workplace Wellbeing Index, public staff at all grades, especially for line Work is already underway in 18 sector workers experience poorer mental managers health than those in the private sector, departments to benchmark existing with one in six describing their mental Employers to identify staff at higher programmes against the standards set health as “poor” and 53% saying they risk of stress or trauma and develop a in Thriving at Work. The report identified regularly feel anxious at work. Research national framework of support areas of existing good practice and by Deloitte’s puts the cost of mental those where collective improvement was Tailored in-house mental health health problems to the government at needed, Jones explains, “including how support with signposting to clinical around £1,500 per civil servant every we communicate our offer on mental support year – again, higher than the average for health to employees; how we continue to private sector employees. Encourage open conversations build line manager skill and confidence; Duncan (not his real name) is a senior about mental health and the support and how we consistently support people manager with a large civil service agency available to staff with mental health conditions within the who has suffered from stress-induced recruitment process.” Read the Stevenson-Farmer anxiety and depression for several years. The newly rebranded Ministry of report, Thriving at Work, at: Two years ago, he was signed off sick Housing, Communities and Local bit.ly/stevenson-farmer. after visiting his GP. “I realised quite Government (MHCLG) is widely suddenly that I couldn’t cope, but the recognised in Whitehall for being ahead problems had been building up for a of the curve on supporting workforce long time,” he says. “My workload was mental health. “When I joined the ridiculous – but so was everyone else’s. department in 2016, what really struck There’s this enormous pressure to be me was the openness within the [health busy and to be just about coping, so I just and wellbeing] network, but also more tried to deal with it. But I wasn’t sleeping broadly to talking about mental health properly, I was drinking a lot and things issues,” says Jillian Kay, the ministry’s were starting to fall apart at home.” health and wellbeing champion. Although Duncan’s manager was “not “There were events going on where unsympathetic”, Duncan didn’t feel people were sharing their own lived confident discussing his mental health. experiences quite comfortably and “I felt I couldn’t cross that threshold, openly, and similarly people sharing admit I had a real problem. You don’t their own experiences online,” she want to open up that whole can of of the report. She cites long working recalls. “So I sensed that in terms of worms – with capability reviews and hours, regular inspections, lack of breaking the stigma it’s certainly a place assessments by [occupational health]. interaction with colleagues, and cuts to where lots of people felt safe to share I was worried about my [performance budgets and staffing as factors that can their stories, which felt like a really review], my reputation, I was worried put pressure on the mental health of all positive thing.” about being made redundant – public sector workers. In 2015, the department introduced everything really.” “The onus should be on employers to mental health first aid training and a “Working in the civil service is support their staff through the difficult mental health ambassador listening demanding,” says Faye McGuinness, times, so they can come to work at and support service. MHCLG now has head of workplace wellbeing at MIND, their best, and in turn get the best 150 trained mental health first aiders who works with the civil service outcomes for the people they represent and a thriving health and wellbeing leadership on implementing the findings – which is why implementing the staff network. Last year, it was chosen

20 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Mental health to design and deliver the mental health We all have good employee mental health is one way awareness workshop at Civil Service they can do this… Showing staff that Live. and bad mental employee mental health is a key priority, Kay emphasises that engaging senior health at different and one that they are willing to be managers is crucial to shifting the times according to measured against, is a step towards workplace culture towards improving creating a positive culture where… staff mental health. “I was a bit surprised to what we’re feel able to talk about their mental health see members of the SCS on the mental experiencing. It’s problems.” health first aid training when I joined, This would certainly be an but actually we’ve now trained 12 SCS important to make unprecedented step, with big potential members,” she says. “More than 40 first sure it isn’t a niche to drive meaningful change. But how aiders have gone on to become mental it will be implemented across the civil health ambassadors, and they provide agenda" service remains to be seen. “We don’t yet a listening and advice service to people have any other examples of this being who need it, including line managers One of the persistent themes in the done before,” admits McGuinness. who want to support their staff.” The Stevenson-Farmer report is the need Since returning to work, Duncan says ministry also runs specialised wellbeing for employers to move away from the he has benefited from some adjustments workshops for senior leaders, including traditional ‘performance management’ to his workload and from taking part in some facilitated by FDA national officer approach, where mental health a staff wellbeing network. “Colleagues Jane Cockram. problems – if they were discussed at all have been much more supportive than I Staff resilience and good mental – were tackled as issues of individual expected and [management] have been health is very much a live issue for Kay as capability. This lead to a ‘culture of willing to make some changes, which a manager. In her ‘day job’, she leads for silence’, where employees kept quiet have definitely helped me,” he says. But the department on Grenfell recovery and about mental health problems for fear of he still fears his career has suffered and resilience. “Some of our teams have been demotion, reprimand – or worse. doesn’t feel confident about pursuing working with Kensington and Chelsea Instead, says McGuinness, employers promotion opportunities in the near Council on support for all those affected need “to create a culture where staff future. “I still feel there’s this bit of a by the fire. So I’ve get a set of staff who’ve feel able to talk openly about stress and stigma hanging over me,” he adds. had to be quite resilient over the last mental health, and know that if they Duncan still doubts many of his year,” she says. do, they’ll be be met with support and colleagues would be willing to discuss “It really brings home the point that understanding rather than stigma and mental health problems openly we’re trying to get across in the civil discrimination.” with senior managers. “Maybe more service: that we all have good and This also means managers taking managers are willing to have that kind bad mental health at different times some responsibility for the mental of [supportive] conversation now, but I depending on what we’re experiencing. wellbeing of their staff, something that is don’t think it’s enough to change the way An important part of this is making sure reflected in one of the Stevenson-Farmer people feel,” he says. that mental health isn’t a kind of niche report’s most striking recommendations: Whitehall has come a long way since agenda; it’s something that’s relevant to that civil service leaders should have the Sir Robert Armstrong was reduced to everyone – and it became really relevant mental wellbeing of their staff enshrined rolling around on the Downing Street to all of us over the last year.” in their performance objectives. floor, and mental health problems are At the same time, the civil service “It’s important that Permanent being discussed in a way that would needs to identify and meet the needs Secretaries and Chief Executives lead have been unthinkable a generation of staff who are at a higher risk of by example, and consider how they can ago. MIND’s Faye McGuinness, who developing mental health problems be held accountable for the wellbeing of has monthly meetings with civil service because of the nature of their work; these their staff,” says McGuinness. “Having leaders to monitor progress, says: “We may include “mainstream” civil servants performance objectives relating to know there is a long way to go, and that like Jillian Kay’s MHCLG staff, as well change doesn’t happen overnight. But as more obvious candidates like people it’s positive that Government – and in working for the security services or the Maybe more turn, civil service employers – have National Crime Agency. accepted all the recommendations “Departments are being supported managers are from the review and see the value in centrally to identify teams where there willing to have implementing them.” may be a higher risk of stress and For Duncan, the big challenge is trauma, [and] to in turn identify tools supportive ending the culture of silence around and best practice to help all departments conversations now, mental health, and that takes time: “In address these issues,” explains Jonathan the end, it’s not about what support Jones. “Because the support may vary but not enough to programmes there are, but whether according to the types of work, it’s right change how people people have trust and confidence to use that departments lead this work as them. I don’t think we’re quite there yet,” they’re closer to the detail.” feel." he says.

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 21 Outsourcing

The collapse of construction giant Carillion has thrown into question the UK government’s long-held attachment to outsourcing public services. Is cost-cutting to blame, or do ministers need to rethink Whitehall’s whole relationship with the private sector? Matt Foster investigates. AFTER THE FALL

he hastily-scrawled graffiti critics of public sector outsourcing, and the government’s “Strategic Suppliers”, on the building site fence led to renewed questions about how the with a designated Cabinet Office official said it all: ‘Carillion. Bust’. government manages its contractual tasked with monitoring the firm’s At the start of this year, relationship with private firms. performance. 43,000 employees awoke The firm was one of the biggest to the devastating news suppliers to the UK public sector, Warning signs thatT the construction giant had gone responsible for 450 government contracts MPs demanded to know why key warning into liquidation, putting at risk their covering everything from maintaining signs – increasingly late payments to livelihoods and raising major questions accommodation for members of the suppliers, a major profit warning in about how and why their employer had armed services to constructing key parts July 2017 – were missed by government, been allowed to fail so spectacularly. of the High Speed 2 rail link. Carillion which continued to award contracts to Workers on the company's construction provided catering for schools, looked Carillion almost to the end. Ministers sites reported being sent home that same after hospital buildings for more than a have fast-tracked the Official Receiver’s day and, as PSM went to press, more than dozen NHS trusts, and managed prisons own probe into the causes of Carillion’s 1,400 former Carillion employees had for the Ministry of Justice. It was deemed failure. And opposition leader Jeremy been laid off. so important that it was named as one of Corbyn has called for an end to what he Already the blame game has started, called the public sector “outsourcing and those arguing for an overhaul of racket”. So what is the state of play in Britain's corporate governance laws the UK outsourcing market – and where have a new case study to point to. When These are the should officials turn their gaze as they try it collapsed, Carillion had one of the people negotiating to learn from Carillion’s demise? largest pension deficits of any FTSE 350 massive, multi-billion Professor Colin Talbot of Cambridge company, and was mired in debt – owing pound contracts. It’s like University has long studied civil service around £2bn to its suppliers alone. fielding Ronaldo against procurement practices and has advised But beyond the personally traumatic a player from Stroud.” organisations bidding for public sector tales of lost jobs, unpaid bills and contracts. He tells PSM that, while pensions at risk, Carillion’s collapse has Kerry Hallard, Global Sourcing officials may have feared the worst for strengthened the hand of long-standing Association Carillion, the sheer size of such firms

22 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Outsourcing

which she says place heavy burdens on smaller suppliers. While her industry was overwhelmingly opposed to Brexit, she suggests the prospect of a procurement shake-up after the UK’s departure may be a “silver lining” for smaller players in the industry.

Austerity procurement Hallard also argues that years of “austerity procurement”, with an excessive focus on driving down costs rather than long-term thinking about the quality of services, means that Whitehall is all too often “shopping as opposed to entering into a collaborative arrangement that focuses on the end goal”. She calls for a more “grown up” conversation between public and private sector, and says civil servants and ministers “need to accept that the service provider needs to – and must – make a profit from the work that they do. If not, why would they be in it?” But are civil servants not right to be cautious following the string of high- profile outsourcing failures in recent years – such as the bungled security arrangements at the 2012 Olympics and last year’s early termination of the East Coast mainline rail franchise, to name but two? Hallard accepts that some parts means public intervention can be highly smaller firms for bidding for contracts. of the industry need to change their risky. Firms like Carillion are “publicly “Clearly that favours organisations behaviour, but says the public sector listed companies who are heavily reliant that have expert teams that are used to needs to ditch “an ingrained mentality” on borrowing to keep them going,” he bidding day in, day out and for whom which refuses “to accept the way that the says. “If you do anything that makes it that’s the only thing that they do,” he private sector works”. clear they’re in trouble, you’re likely to tells PSM. “I think there is over-compliance and trigger exactly the sort of problem you’re That’s a view echoed by Kerry Hallard, a massive fear factor all the time about trying to avoid”. chief executive of the Global Sourcing getting things wrong. That happens in Talbot does believe that ministers’ Association, which represents specialist the private sector as well as in the public tendency to see outsourcing as the suppliers in areas such as IT and digital. sector. But more than anything, I think solution to a whole series of public policy She warns that the sheer time and energy there is just a tribal sort of mentality of challenges – often for purely ideological involved in bidding for public sector ‘I’m the customer, therefore I’m always reasons – has resulted in a marketplace contracts means the industry is “entering right. You’re the service provider and dominated by big players who have into a fairly monopolistic position with you’ve just got to do it’. That’s not moved far beyond their original areas of the really big players”. She points the what a collaborative, forward-thinking expertise. “Their core skill has become finger at EU public procurement rules, partnership should look like.” bidding for contracts with government, not doing whatever it is they were Skilling up in Whitehall supposed to be doing,” he says. “You end Senior officials have robustly defended up with Carillion – basically a building Their core skill has the Cabinet Office’s relationship with company – doing things like serving become bidding for Carillion, claiming that the civil service school meals.” contracts with has never been as well-placed as it is now Nick Davies keeps a close eye on the government, not doing to weather such a storm. government’s handling of commercial Civil service chief executive John contracts as associate director of the whatever it is they were Manzoni has pointed out that many of Institute for Government think tank. He supposed to be doing” Carillion’s contracts were run as joint warns that the bidding process, which Prof Colin Talbot ventures at government insistence, can run to “thousands of pages”, deters meaning that fellow suppliers could

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 23 Outsourcing

step in to ensure continuity of service. Ministers also moved quickly to put Carillion into the hands of the Official Receiver, with an instruction to keep vital services running – a “quite a deliberate act”, Manzoni says, which followed extensive contingency planning. Manzoni insists officials went to great lengths to limit the risk to taxpayers. “This is certainly not an example of too big to fail,” he told MPs earlier this year. “This company has failed and its shareholders and lenders have been wiped out to the tune of billions of pounds. That’s genuine failure… What we’re doing is paying for services that the public sector is going to receive.” Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood meanwhile denied claims that the civil service had failed to learn the lessons of previous contracting failures – in particular the 2013 scandal which saw firms overcharge the Ministry of Justice for the electronic tagging of offenders. He said the government had “absolutely being consulted,” he says. prioritised” building its commercial This is certainly For her part, Kerry Hallard argues capability in recent years, “bringing in not an example that Whitehall’s commercial function more people from outside” and “having of too big to fail” will continue to face an uphill struggle much more of a grip at the centre”. because of the “disparity of pay” between The Cabinet Secretary added: “No Civil Service CEO John Manzoni the public and private sector. “These are doubt [the collapse of Carillion] is a bad the people negotiating massive, multi- outcome for the country, but the work a backward step, aimed at cutting costs billion pound contracts,” she says. “It’s that we have done in the commercial rather than improving procurement. like fielding Ronaldo against a player profession, trying to understand across “Under the last Conservative from Stroud. Can you have the same 450 public sector contracts what will government, before New Labour came in, matching skillset when the private sector happen in this worst-case scenario, is they spent ages decentralising functions, is paying somebody £500,000 and the work that ten years ago the commercial including commercial management,” public sector has somebody on £90,000 function in the civil service would not he says. “The argument there was ‘stick or £100,000 a year?” have been capable of doing. It would not to the knitting’ – that the way to get high Talbot agrees: “You need people who have known where to start, frankly.” performing public sector organisations intimately understand the business But other observers say there is still was to have ones which were very that they’re buying for – and you need scope for Whitehall to sharpen its specialist and functional in a particular to pay people to do that. Purchasing commercial acumen, and they raise area, ones which developed a high managers in the private sector are quite questions about whether the civil service degree of skill and knowledge about their well remunerated. That’s why quite a lot is attracting the people it needs to hold its own business. And therefore they were of public servants go over to the private own in negotiating with suppliers. the best people to be buying stuff, rather sector when they get those skills.” Cambridge University’s Colin Talbot than having a one-size-fits all, generic Unpicking the causes and policy says commercial skills in government purchasing facility across government.” implications of Carillion’s collapse will remain too generic, focusing on training The Institute for Government’s Nick be no easy task, but it has given the people to design repetitive bidding Davies acknowledges that central opponents of outsourcing a powerful processes rather than encouraging them government has become “a much more argument for radical change. The onus to become real experts in the services intelligent client than it once was”, but he is now on ministers to explain how they are buying. “One week they could too believes that individual departments outsourcing can work better for the be doing something on purchasing a must give more seats at the top table to public – and how they will invest in the new motorway, and the next purchasing commercial experts. “Most people at people they ask to fight for taxpayers’ catering facilities for the prison service the top of departments tend to be policy interests whenever the government signs or something,” he explains. Talbot professionals rather than commercial on the dotted line. also believes that the recent trend of professionals, and there’s a question of centralising commercial expertise in the when in the policy and decision-making Matt Foster is Communications Officer at Government Commercial Organisation is process those commercial experts are the FDA and a PSM staff writer.

24 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 OpinionSCS Pay “ Broken, divisive and demotivating”

The latest FDA survey of members in the senior civil service gives a decisive thumbs-down to the pay system. Tommy Newell looks at the results and explains how they shaped the union’s evidence to the pay review body.

nly 4% of senior civil five years ago,” explains one member. The Government’s own proposals service (SCS) members “Erosion from pension contributions, include shorter pay ranges to believe the current higher tax, little or no consolidated be determined by profession; a reward framework is fit increase in pay and a far longer and commitment that the bulk of SCS 1 for purpose and more costlier commute, have led to me looking staff will earn a minimum of £70,000 than two-thirds have outside the civil service for jobs.” by 2020-21; and further restrictions on Oseriously considered leaving the civil Another member comments: “The pay rises for promoted or transferring service in the last year, according to current pay and reward system is broken, SCS staff. The government also wants the findings of the latest FDA survey, divisive and demotivating. Pay is poor to restrict awards for people above the conducted in December and January. and my frustrations have increased to proposed new pay ranges or those not Only 8% of the 457 respondents are the point I have successfully found a role classed as “high performers”. satisfied with overall pay arrangements, outside.” FDA Assistant General Secretary with pay progression highlighted as a The higher salaries often offered Naomi Cooke branded the particular bugbear: 92% of respondents to external applicants were also a Government’s proposals an act of say they are not satisfied with the pace at major cause of disillusionment among “political cowardice” which offered which they are progressing through their respondents. “I’m getting really fed only “vague long-term commitments” pay band. up with being taken for granted,” instead of meaningful reform. While One member explained: “The lack one member explains, “and I see acknowledging there were “some of pay rises is depressing enough, after external advertisement after external positive moves on flexibility with non- almost a decade, but the lack of ANY advertisement for jobs at my grade consolidated awards”, it was “too little progression rubs salt in the wound.” offering a salary level which will never in terms or reform, and too meagre in The survey findings suggest lack be a reality for me… Why wouldn’t I terms of funding,” Cooke said. of progression is leading to other leave?” She added: “Far from an evidence- problems in the pay system, with 36% The survey highlights the widespread led workforce pay strategy, slavish of respondents saying they are paid less view that pay prospects are better adherence to a rigid cost envelope than people they are managing on a outside the civil service, with 92% of reflects the exact same approach lower grade, and only 14% seeing a clear respondents saying they believe they adopted for most of the last decade. The link between their performance and their are paid less than people doing similar fact that not one more penny has been pay. jobs in the private sector. Yet, of those of allocated means the 1% pay cap has those who want to leave the civil service, been scrapped in name only, and our Looking elsewhere only 40% say that they wanted a private members will once again fail to see a 68% of respondents have seriously sector job. meaningful rise in their pay. considered leaving the civil service in “This grudging approach speaks the last 12 months and 24% say they Over to the review body volumes as to the lack of urgency and the want to leave as soon as possible; many The FDA used the survey to prepare its lack of regard the Government has for its members cite frustration with pay as a joint submission – with civil service own staff.” key factor. union Prospect – to the Senior Salary “Despite being promoted into the SCS Review body (SSRB) in January. It makes and getting a top box [marking] in four the case for “fundamental reform to the The FDA will keep members fully of the last five years I now earn less per SCS pay framework” and a real-terms informed about the SSRB’s report, which hour worked in real terms than I did pay increase for all members of the SCS. we expect to be published in June.

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 25 Books Our look at the latest books on work, politics and public service

Doughnut Economics: Seven mainstream economists call “external Ways to Think Like a 21st shocks” – environmental degradation, Century Economist financial crises, social unrest and technological change, for example – are By Kate Raworth actually inherent to the system. What Random House Business paperback, 384pp, £9.99 happens if perpetual economic growth is no longer necessary or even desirable – Oxford academic Kate or, more uncomfortably still, necessary Raworth’s Doughnut but no longer possible? Economics, now out in Such thinking has been gaining ground paperback, caused quite for some years, through the work of a stir when it was first dissident economists like Steve Keen, Ha published last year, with Joon Chang and the late Elinor Ostrom, Guardian eco-warrior George Monbiot and in response to the global student comparing it, somewhat fancifully, to movement Rethinking Economics. The Keynes’s General Theory. That seems discipline must also join other sciences like a misreading of the book’s purpose, in embracing “systems thinking”, as revealed by its subtitle: Raworth Raworth says, and “stop searching for the isn’t offering a theory or a model, but economy’s elusive control levers and start a well-grounded appeal for us to think stewarding it as an ever-evolving complex differently about economics. system.” Economists, she suggests, need Raworth’s ‘doughnut’ attempts to a metaphorical career change: “discard describe, in a simple picture, a goal the engineer’s hard hat and spanner, for economics; the discipline’s lack of and pick up some gardening gloves and purpose, she argues, has allowed “the secateurs instead”. economic nest [to be] hijacked by the As well as diverse system thinkers and cuckoo goal of GDP growth”. The inner scientists, Raworth draws heavily on the ring of Raworth’s doughnut (there’s no work of the greatest economic dissident jam, today or tomorrow), “the social of all, John Maynard Keynes himself. foundation”, represents the basics we When we finally get to grips with all need to lead fulfilling lives – enough food, this, Raworth feels sure Keynes will be good education, decent healthcare and “waiting to greet us, ready to get to work housing, political participation and so on figuring out the economics – and the on – while the outer ring represents the Economists, Raworth philosophy and politics too – of the art limits of what the planetary ecosystem suggests, need a of living in a distributive, regenerative, can bear. The aim of economics is to get metaphorical career change: growth-agnostic Doughnut Economy”. us into what Raworth calls the “safe and “discard the engineer’s hard How we get there will be up to us – just space” between them – and to keep hat and spanner, and pick up “we are all economists now”, Raworth us there. some gardening gloves and says. Despite the “very real possibility” To do this, Raworth argues we’ll need to secateurs instead of complete breakdown, she believes “design” an economy – she uses the word “there are enough people who still see pointedly – which works in harmony with the alternative, the glass-half-full future, the natural and social world in which it is Along the way, Raworth says we will and are intent on bringing it about”. embedded. And that work of design has to have to discard “an economic mindset With Trump in the White House and so recognise that much important economic rooted in the textbooks of 1950, which in much of the new economy in the hands activity takes place outside of the market, turn are rooted in the theories of 1850”. of powerful oligarchs, it’s hard to share in the household, the government What if demand curves don’t always Raworth’s optimism. But then again, we and the “commons” – the sphere of slope down? Suppose our complex owe it ourselves to try. sharing, voluntary work and community and ever-changing economy is never co-operation. at equilibrium. Imagine that what Reviewed by Craig Ryan

26 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 Books

People Power: Remaking Parliament for the Populist Age by Richard Askwith Biteback, 128pp, £10.00

Richard Askwith’s punchy between the public’s expectations doesn’t make them any less true. So, too, polemic opens with a and the performance of Parliament. with his observation that there has been depiction of Westminster He discusses at some length how the no effective attempt to realign the way – the building and, by our increasing access to information Parliament works with this new reality. extension, the whole and misinformation impacts on the Askwith’s most eye-catching proposal institution – as redolent political system. While limited access is that the House of Lords should be of decay, decrepitude and despair. He to information might not have exactly replaced by a randomly-selected People’s writes: “Even the MPs look worn out, made MPs’ lives blissful in the past, it Chamber. The approach he suggests going through the motions of ill-attended did enable them to assume that their is: “Everyone eligible to vote is also debates as listlessly as zoo animals. It is policy decisions were unlikely to be eligible for selection by lot to serve… for hard to believe that these pasty, fretful, challenged by those outside the charmed a fixed term of, say, four years. Service is well-tailored creatures… belong to the Westminster circle. compulsory, well-paid and prestigious. same species as the multi-coloured… At times, Askwith’s comments on the The People’s Peers can wear ermine and, restlessly modern crowds outside”. The impact of social media on politics feel if they want, use titles.” whole impression is rather more Poe like statements of the obvious, but that This is, by Askwith’s own admission, than Pugin, but this is perhaps to be blue sky thinking. However, overall expected of a volume in a series entitled the book offers a timely exploration of ‘Provocations’, which also includes works It’s hard to believe MPs an issue which needs to be tackled if entitled The Myth of Meritocracy and The belong to the same democracy is to keep pace with the times. War on the Young. species as the multi-coloured, Askwith’s target is the mismatch modern crowds outside Reviewed by Anne Grikitis

Off the shelf Reviews by Matt Foster and Tommy Newell

The War on Fall Out: A Year of Political The End of British Party the Young Mayhem Politics? by John Sutherland by Tim Shipman by Roger Awan-Scully

Biteback, 144pp, £10 Harper Collins, 592pp, £9.99 (paperback) Biteback, 192pp, £12.99

Switching sides after his Following All Out War, his Leaving aside the oft- last provocation, The War 2016 warts-and-all guide discussed question of On The Old, which lamented to the Brexit referendum, what went wrong for the shockingly poor dementia the Sunday Times political Tories in 2017, Awan-Scully care and a smouldering supremo Tim Shipman probes the increasingly social care crisis, 79-year has pulled it off again, disconnected nature of old Sutherland casts his “rheumy eye” bridging the gap from David Cameron’s politics across the UK’s four nations – at intergenerational conflict from the resignation to the fallout from Theresa never more apparent than during last side of the young. Sutherland is witty May’s disastrous snap election. As year’s general election. Voters and and often outraged as he outlines before, it’s tightly focused on the parties in Northern Ireland have long the financial crisis now plaguing a Westminster bubble, with some choice recognised the separation between generation: student debt “scalpelled anecdotes about May’s leather trousers, local politics and the politics of mainland from the pay packet before the recipient David Davis and Boris Johnson’s spat Britain, and Awan-Scully offers a robust even sees it”, the “one-in-a-million over a grace-and-favour country pile, argument that a “different kind of lottery ticket” of home ownership, and and a hearty dose of four-letter words nationalism” is now fuelling the divide the shift towards a low-wage, insecure too choice for PSM (largely attributed between England, Scotland and Wales. gig economy. Avoiding sneering to May’s now-departed special adviser Arguing that the House of Commons condescension about millennials “glued Fiona Hill). Even if some of the juicy ‘increasingly resembles the European to their phones”, Sutherland argues conversations recounted word-for-word Parliament’ may verge on hyperbole, that, if the older generation has not seem suspiciously one-sided, Shipman but Awan-Scully offers an interesting explicitly drawn up policy to suck is enviably well-sourced, and future but ominous view of how the national wealth from the young, it has certainly historians will no doubt pore over this question in British politics could shape sat back and been happy to benefit from first draft as they try to work out how the future of a much less ‘United’ it. we got ourselves in this mess. Kingdom.

Public Service Magazine Spring 2018 27 Small ads

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How to book an ad To book your free advert in the next issue of Public Service Magazine, email [email protected] with your text of up to 50 words by Friday 15 June 2018. Put “PSM classifieds” as the subject, include your membership number and we’ll take care of the rest. Please remember to rebook your ad for each issue.

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28 Public Service Magazine Spring 2018

Crossword

Cosy Reading by Schadenfreude Win and learn! There will be a prize of a Cosy Reading by 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 free FDA Learn/Keyskills Schadenfreude course or workshop, worth 9 10 around £150, for the first The first two lines of a 11 12 correct entry drawn after poem (19 words) are to the closing date. Find out appear in the clockwise more about the courses on perimeter starting at cell 17 and continuing 13 14 15 16 offer at: www.fda.org.uk/ horizontally from cell 19 professionaldevelopment/ to 21 inclusive. Solvers 17 18 FDA_Workshops.aspx or must highlight the three 19 20 21 www.wearekeystone. clued entries which can org.uk/keyskills-courses. be arranged to form 22 Solution in next issue. the poet's full name (18 letters in total). 23 24 25 26 Solution and winner Tinmen? 27 28 29 byTinmen? Schadenfreude by Schadenfreude

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 L A M O N T R O B E S O N 8 A A E L O A E A 9 10 30 31 32 R I C E R C A T A J O R A M V L V W D R P E 11 12 A G E L E S S H E A L E Y 33 13 O C O O N W 14 15 16 17 H E D G E N E G L E C T E R O L N S O 18 19 20 21 22 W O B B L E R S S T R E W N 23 E A H C I T G 24 25 26 C L A R K E H A M M O N D 27 The first two lines of a poem (19 words) are to appear in the clockwise perimeterA F startingA I atI cellA 17U O 28 29 and continuing horizontally from cell 19 to 21 inclusive. Solvers must highlightB theR O threeW N M E T A T A R S I I U G S A O D N clued entries which can be arranged to form the poet's full name (18 letters in30 total). 31 B A R B E R L A R D I N G The thematic items (in bold italics) are the last and present twelve Chancellors of the Exchequer. ACROSS DOWN OSBORNE, MAJOR and DARLING are clued as anagrams (highlighted). ACROSS The thematic items (in bold 9 Wicket east of the old wood (3) 1 Somewhat undue yearly reversal in 9 Wicket east of the old wood (3) italics) are the last and present 10 Georgia's pursuing a military commander (3) Victoria (3) 10 Georgia's pursuing a military commander (3) twelve Chancellors of the 11 Antelope are seen in two US cities (5) 2 Expected data we distributed around India (7) 11 Antelope are seen in two US cities (5) Exchequer. OSBORNE, MAJOR 12 Orsino's lover stirred into breach of trust (9) 3 Porter turned up with new style (4) 12 Orsino's lover stirred into breach of trust (9) and DARLING are clued as 13 Animosity worried Henry at the front (4) 4 Young rodent always allowed outside (7) 13 Animosity worried Henry at the front (4) anagrams (highlighted). 5 An old king I see suffering from an emotional 15 Engineers filling the empty15 box perhapsEngineers (4) filling the empty box perhaps (4) disorder (8) Winner:Dr. Mike Steward, 16 Any awful very loud worthless16 GlaswegianAny awful very loud worthless Glaswegian (5) (5) 6 Cultivated LA bed containing water that can HMRC (retired). 17 Kentish town husbandbe drawn leaves off for (9) what reason? End of life! (3) 17 Kentish town husband leaves22 for whatVery old large heraldic pair of wings (3) reason? End of life! (3) 7 Gunners drink before a spicy Indian dish (5) 23 Hardy character touring now rugged heart of Finland devoid of urbanHow areas to(8) enter 22 Very old large heraldic pair of wings (3) 8 I work south of Spain (3) 26 Mollusc for eating before start of December (6) Crossword entries should be 23 Hardy character touring now rugged heart of 14 English philosopher's short affirmative 27 Easing, once more experiencing taking ecstasy (9) sent by 1 June 2018 to: Public Finland devoid of urban areas (8) answer (3) 29 Lily not working on set (5) Service Magazine crossword, 26 Mollusc for eating before start of December 18 Uncomfortably hot state of agitation at work 30 Italian friars in the middle of half rations (5) FDA, Elizabeth House, 39 York (6) in south Gabon (10) 31 Capital prince invested in collapsed Peru lawsuit (9, hyphenated) Road, London SE1 7NQ or by 27 Easing, once more experiencing taking 20 Exercise too much for all to see before email (with ‘PSM crossword’ as ecstasy (9) 33 Regularly fickle presidentshower (3) (9) the subject) to [email protected] 29 Lily not working on set (5) 21 Stunned king with overdose (3) Please provide an email address 30 Italian friars in the middle of half rations (5) 24 Foolish person carrying a black jumper (7) so we can tell the winner how 31 Capital prince invested in collapsed Peru 25 Incentives strangely limit us (7) to claim their prize. lawsuit (9, hyphenated) 28 Window above newspaper chief was wide 33 Regularly fickle president (3) open (5) 29 Advance secures river navigation system (5) 32 It includes the ultimate in black WI music (3)

PublicPublic Service Service MagazineMagazine SpringSpring 2018 29 2019: Celebrating 100 years of the FDA FDA President Gareth Hills outlines plans for the FDA’s centenary celebrations next year, and asks for your help in bringing the story of the union’s first 100 years to life.

e all love a celebration – birth- days, religious festivals, New WYear, anniversaries, the list is long and diverse. And next year the FDA has its own special anniversary to celebrate – 2019 marks our centenary as a union. The history of our first hundred years is rich with events, people and stories that we can all be rightly proud of. Last summer, the FDA’s Executive Committee agreed that a working group should be established to commence planning for our centenary. It’s a small group, but one that’s lucky to benefit from the many talents and vast experience of past President and current FDA Trustee, Sue Jarvis. I’m sure We want to tell the FDA’s stories of the unsung heroes of the FDA, many of you will know Sue and will story through its key of local activity that has made a real recognise how fortunate we are to have people – the founding difference, and the campaigns that have her involved. members, the first woman to inspired you. Tell us about what the union The group has already started planning lead the union, and the people has done to help you, and what you’ve events and activities to mark the who took part in the strikes in done to help the union and your fellow centenary. We want to celebrate the FDA’s the late 1970s members. It would be great to hear lots of contribution to the working lives of its success stories, but I’d also love to hear members and the union’s achievements development of the union. Ideally, we about the characters you’ve met through during its 100-year existence. want to tell the FDA’s story through the the union – we’re looking for humorous as We’ll be looking at the ways the FDA has stories of key people in the union’s history, well as serious stories! promoted the interests of senior staff in such as four founding members, the first We will be announcing the centenary the civil service and given them a voice. women to lead the FDA, those who took plans later in the year, including details of We want to highlight how the FDA speaks part in industrial action in the late 70’s, the events that will be taking place and up for civil servants, who cannot publicly and many others. More work needs to be how we will make sure that the defend themselves, and keeps making the done on this and on identifying other celebrations are representative of the case for the impartiality and professional- significant individuals and events in our diversity of our membership across the ism of people in public service. We also history. The group has already identified a nations and regions of the UK. Our want to showcase how the FDA’s number of key people who, we believe, planned celebrations will be made all the distinctive voice has influenced and will be able to assist us in our work. better by having your authentic stories. I’d helped to promote wider trade union The history of the FDA is the collective encourage you all to put your thinking interests and values. history of all our members, past and caps on and get in touch with us. Initial activity is focused on researching present, so we would love to hear from FDA history and identifying the people you and get your help in bringing the You can share your story by emailing us who have contributed significantly to the union’s story to life. Let us have your at [email protected].

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