Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Seven years on from their introduction, functions still have not developed clear plans to help...
Conclusion
Seven years on from their introduction, functions still have not developed clear plans to help maximise their impact, and lack strategic direction. The Department requires all functions to put in place their own ‘capability blueprint’. Blueprints should include a clear operating model and set out the organisational capacity for each function. They are also an important tool in managing coordination between functions and departments. So far, only the Commercial function has a blueprint, with the HR, Finance and Communications functions currently developing theirs. The Department believes that the Commercial function’s blueprint has made great inroads in improving commercial capability across government. Without clear plans, it is difficult for departments to fully exploit functional expertise. Recommendation: The Cabinet Office and functions should work together urgently to complete capability blueprints. The Cabinet Office should write to us by April 2021 at the latest to confirm that these have been finalised. Specialist Skills in the civil service 7
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 5.2 The Cabinet Office confirms that Heads of Function are committed to formulating, implementing and publishing their own capability blueprints (strategic plans), and recognises that functions will need additional time beyond April 2021 to finalise these. This is driven in part by contextual pressures (for example, the functions focussing their efforts on the COVID-19 response) and, in other respects, the availability of functional workforce data. 5.3 At present, the Commercial function is the most advanced, with a commercial blueprint in place and updated on an annual basis. Equivalent capability plans and strategies are evident elsewhere across the functions and professions, with - for example - Communications, Counter fraud and Security reporting the regular use of these. The Finance function is developing a performance framework to measure progress against the strategic deliverables it set out in its 2019 strategy and will begin reporting in April 2021. The Finance function will also use the performance framework to measure the overall impact of the function and use workforce data collected from departments to develop its capability blueprint in 2021-22. HR has 19 developed substantial elements of its blueprint work, including the HR functional standards and associated assessment framework (in pilot) and the HR career framework, and intends to publish its blueprint during 2021. 5.4 The Cabinet Office will continue to support this process by sharing best practice across government, including through the appropriate governance routes.