Every September, a group of excited - and slightly apprehensive - civil servants meet for the first time at the Front Line Managers’ Academy. Four days later they emerge as confident leaders-in-waiting, keen to deliver a project that will help transform the Civil Service.
I took part in the Academy to improve my leadership and management skills, because I wanted to be promoted. Right from the start, I challenged myself and found my confidence increasing – and I was proud of the result.
Team Quattro have said goodbye to their 12-month project – and now they want you to carry on their good work raising funds for older citizens.
Building capability is one of the key aims of Civil Service Local. As part of our ongoing look back at our first five years, Steering Group member Steve Field tells us how empowering people to be the best they can be is at the heart of what we do.
As I leave the Civil Service and begin my retirement, I would like to share with you some of my experiences as a member of the Civil Service Local NW Steering Group. The activities I’ve seen and taken part in have inspired me and left a lasting impression.
This is the first in a series of blogs where we’ll be following a cross-government group of middle managers called Team Quattro, who are focusing on helping citizens in our community who find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. We start by looking at their recent visit to an Age UK day centre in Manchester.
Through my involvement with several Civil Service Local projects, I’ve learned how cross-government working can lead to sharing good practice and discovered the importance of engaging with people at all levels. I’ve benefitted from my experiences, and so has my employer, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I arrived at the Academy. I hadn’t been that keen to go, but my HEO told me it would be good for me and said I should apply. I’m so glad I had that push.
I'd been stuck in a rut and felt that I needed something to boost my enthusiasm, so when I saw the invitation to apply for the Civil Service Local North West Academy, I jumped at the chance. I thought that spending 4 days at the Academy would be a break from the stress of my normal civil service life, and it might help to refresh my motivation. Little did I know what would happen when I broke out of my bubble.
As civil servants we often view the role of the Civil Service through the lens of experience. We know that what we do improves the lives of our citizens - but do they know that? We teamed up with journalism students from Liverpool City College so they can cover events on our behalf while adding to their portfolio of work. These aspiring young journalists have a keen eye and a different perspective. Do they see what we see? Student Liam Bulloch had his first brush with civil servants when he attended the North West Academy.
Steering group memeber Carla Prendergast, North West Area Manager for the Child Maintenance Group shares her thoughts on her first year of involvement with Civil Service Local and her recent visit to Manchester to meet John Manzoni, our new Chief Executive Officer for the Civil Service.
Are you a civil servant in the north west of England? Would you like an opportunity to exchange skills, knowledge and expertise with others and increase your flexibility? Our Exchange to Change programme may be the way for you.
Day 4: Mother of 10 Elaine Vance is well used to time management. She put this skill to good use at the North West Academy by keeping a daily diary of the event from a delegate’s point of view.
Day 3: Mother of 10 Elaine Vance is well used to time management. She put this skill to good use at the North West Academy by keeping a daily diary of the event from a delegate’s point of view.
We’ve got a small number of places left on this year’s Civil Service Local North West Academy (30 September to 3 October) - read what Graham (pictured) has to say and apply by 24 Sept via your Line Manager.
