Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Departmental data is not good enough to support functions’ development of comprehensive workforce plans.
Recommendation
Departmental data is not good enough to support functions’ development of comprehensive workforce plans. The Cabinet Office acknowledges it does not have the data it needs across all functions to accurately assess what skills the civil service has and where these should be deployed to maximise impact. Departments each have their own systems for collecting data on their staff, and as a result departmental workforce data quality and content vary. Some functions have undertaken their own data collection exercises with departments to get around the problem of workforce data quality. Dealing with dynamic challenges such as EU Exit and covid-19 has forced the Cabinet Office to improve its workforce planning and improve the quality of data available to functions. This exercise would see even greater improvement if the Cabinet Office had access to more granular workforce data. Recommendation: The Cabinet Office should set out how it will work with departments to make sure workforce data is collected at the right level, to better address skills gaps and shortages.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: May 2021 4.2 As set out in the response to recommendation 1, the Cabinet Office is already taking steps to improve the annual workforce projections exercise which will provide further information on key skills gaps and confirm how departments intend to address them. 4.3 Government functions (Finance, HR and Commercial) are working together to ensure that data standards are aligned and consistent for end-to-end processes that span multiple functions - the alignment of finance and workforce data will support more accurate and responsive business planning, and support more evidence-based decision making through enhanced insight. 4,4 Civil Service Human Resources is currently working with Government Business Services to improve the consistency and transparency of workforce data through process convergence, design and common data definitions starting with joiners, movers and leavers in line with the Shared Services Strategy for Government. 4.5 The Cabinet Office is also working to collect more effective functional data through the ACSES. Regular engagement is taking place between the Cabinet Office and departments to improve the quality of their ACSES returns for 2021.