Culture

Merrick Willis, the outgoing chief executive of the Charity for Civil Servants, tells CSW about his organisation’s work to support struggling officials – and the scepticism that he encounters among Whitehall departments and senior managers

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) should “marginalise” the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) if disputes cannot “be ended by agreement”, recommends a strategy paper on employee and industrial relations leaked yesterday. 

Dame Fiona Caldicott has been appointed as the first national data guardian for health and social care, secretary of state for health Jeremy Hunt will announce today.

Bronwyn Hill explains why she loves going to her rowing club every weekend – and she hasn’t picked a genteel West London group! 

The appointment of women to the boards of public bodies has reached a record high, according to the commissioner for public appointments, Sir David Normington.

It's easier to sidestep 'wicked problems' than to fix them - but stepping sidewalks brings us no closer to our goals

The think tank The Centre for London has called for greater fiscal power and power over services to be transferred from Whitehall to City Hall.

Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People wants to speed things up

Call for power to classify protected characteristics to be devolved to Scotland

Mark Serwotka was re-elected for a fourth term as general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union on 23 October. 

Almost two thirds (65%) of civil servants have suffered from ill health as a result of stress at work, one fifth (19%) of which have taken more than 40 days off within a 12 month period as a result of stress-related ill health, new surveys from the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union reveal. 

The Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF) for disabled people was challenged by the Equality and Human Rights Commission on 22 October. 

The threat of serious and organised crime should be given recognition when discussing national security, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA). 

DWP are now facing an “escalating problem” with housing benefit error from both claimants and officials, according to National Audit Office (NAO).

The government is considering extending the Social Value Act to include goods, works, infrastructure and public assets, under a Cabinet Office review.

Victor Adebowale may be a peer of the realm, but his ideas for public service reform – built on 30 years’ experience in housing and social care – challenge established thinking. Winnie Agbonlahor meets him

After my friend and I stumbled across Studio6 some months ago, I had been proclaiming it as one of London’s best hidden gems. Located a 30-second walk from the river Thames, amongst a nice bunch of other unique-looking restaurants, it offers a bright and inviting interior; a lovely beer garden; a good selection of wine and draft beer; and reasonable prices. After that discovery, my friend returned several times and spoke enthusiastically about the food.

Former Cabinet Office perm sec Ian Watmore explains why the Olympics worked so well – and how officials avoided pitfalls such as political meddling and hasty deadlines

More than half of permanent secretaries attended Oxbridge, compared to less than 1% of the public as a whole, according to a report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission which criticises the lack of diversity among the people running the country.

Just a month after Dominic Jermey started his new job as chief executive of UK Trade and Investment, he spoke to Winnie Agbonlahor. 

FCO historian Richard Smith explains his department’s response to the Great War

Journalist and historian Peter Hennessy meets former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine to discuss his life in politics – and his views of the civil service.

Sue Owen explains why she loves the ’pool – and why the Everton Ground holds a special meaning for her.

CSW reviews Colesseo