Lecture 14 - Government and Civil Service

Question 1

What does Parliament consist of?

Answer 1

• the House of Commons and the House of Lords
• role is to oversee what the government is doing, debate issues, and pass laws
• it is separate to the government

Question 2

What ares of the government can civil servants work in?

Answer 2

• Ministerial Government Departments = led by cabinet ministers + decide on policy within their respective areas
• Non-ministerial Departments = led by senior civil servants + have a regulatory function
• Executive Agencies = part of government departments which implement the policies decided upon

Question 3

What are non-departmental bodies?

Answer 3

• independent organisations that are directly accountable to ministers and who deliver specific functions on behalf of certain departments
• people working in such departments are public servants rather than civil servants because these are independent organisations

Question 4

Civil service jobs?

Answer 4

• civil servants are politically impartial
• they help to deliver government policies
• there are many different roles available
• they are accountable to the public

Question 5

Role of a civil service administrator/ officer?

Answer 5

• involve’s taking on service delivery and/or administrative support responsibilities
• nature of the position can of course vary significantly depending upon the department they are based within

Question 6

Responsibilities of a civil service administrator?

Answer 6

• handle enquiries promptly and efficiently
• follow up enquiries with service users and handle complaints
• ensure information is shared with relevant stakeholders
• carry out research
• manage an operational case load
• maintain and input information into databases
• undertake a range of general administrative tasks

Question 7

Salary of a civil service administrator?

Answer 7

• entry level = £22,440
• higher level = £25,300 to £33,000
• senior = £70,000

Question 8

Working hours of a civil service administrator?

Answer 8

• regular office working hours

Question 9

Skills needed to be a civil service administrator?

Answer 9

• organisational and administrative skills
• excellent oral and written communication skills
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well in a team
• attention to detail
• a flexible approach to work
• numeracy skills
• general IT skills

Question 10

What is the role of a civil service project support officer?

Answer 10

• help and support project and portfolio managers into delivering projects on time
• important skills = curiosity, time management, communication

Question 11

What is the role of a commercial lead (government role)?

Answer 11

• HQ role
• includes contracting, recruitment + evaluations
• important skills = being able to work with others, listening to others, reading and comprehension, analytic skills

Question 12

Role of a government social research officer?

Answer 12

• supports the development, implementation, review and evaluation of government policy
• involves conducting research to investigate the attitudes or experiences of the population with respect to specific issues, and the findings can then be used to inform decisions about public policy

Question 13

Responsibilities of a government social research officer?

Answer 13

• work on a range of research projects
• draft research specifications
• agree the terms of reference for research
• ensure that research is conducted within a set time frame to meet policy requirements
• ensure quality control of research
• provide information and analysis on a policy issue and its development
• respond to external and internal research enquiries
• explain complex ideas and findings in a way that can be easily understood
• keep up to date with developments in policy and social issues

Question 14

Salary of a government social research officer?

Answer 14

£45,000 to £55,000 can be achieved after four to five years in the role

Question 15

Working hours of a government social research officer?

Answer 15

full time is from 9am-5:30

Question 16

Skills needed to be a government social research officer?

Answer 16

• strong research and numerical skills
• knowledge and experience of using statistical theory and techniques
• a high level of knowledge in the use of database software and specialist packages,
• strong communication and interpersonal skills
• a high level of motivation and initiative

Question 17

Internships?

Answer 17

• there are a couple of diversity internships available within the Civil Service, focused on recruiting ethnic minority students
• this includes the Summer Diversity Internship Programme for penultimate year undergraduates, which is a paid placement lasting 6-9 weeks

Question 18

Graduate schemes?

Answer 18

• The Civil Service Fast Stream is a graduate scheme for those interested in pursuing a management career
• Typically the scheme provides successful applicants with the opportunity to get on-the-job experience, alongside mentoring and career path advice

Question 19

What is the role of local government?

Answer 19

• includes county, district, borough and city councils, as well as local authorities and National Parks
• they are responsible for the provision of vital services in a specified geographical region

Question 20

Local government officer responsibilities?

Answer 20

• help in the formulation, planning and monitoring of policies and procedures
• coordinate the implementation of council decisions
• provide support and guidance to the elected workforce
• manage and evaluate projects
• prepare and manage contracts
• organise and collect data for external inspections
• develop and promote a policy and performance framework

Question 21

Salary of a local government officer?

Answer 21

• typical starting salaries is around £17,500 to £20,000
• with experience, salaries can reach £22,000 to £38,000

Question 22

Working hours of a local government officer?

Answer 22

34-35 hours a week

Question 23

Skills needed to be a local government officer?

Answer 23

• excellent written and spoken communication skills
• customer service skills
• organisation and planning skills
• negotiation skills
• analytical skills
• general administration and IT skills
• the ability to work well as part of a team
• commitment to local government

Question 24

Training?

Answer 24

• The National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) is a graduate scheme for those wanting to work in a leadership role in local government
• Those on the programme conduct placements with a host local authority and complete a national training programme