Government Social Research
The June Bulletin reviews details details about the Coordination of Research and Analysis Group. The bulletin also includes updates on GSR events, the new GSR Forum, Professional Skills for Government, the new MSc in Policy Analysis and Evaluation, as well as developments on the GSR website.
Sue Duncan
Welcome to the June issue of the GSR bulletin.
We report on a major cross-cutting seminar - for the Coordination of Research and Analysis Group - which works to develop more effective research and analytical support for policy.
Many of you will have heard the acronym PSG, but might not be so sure what it's all about. We're demystifying it for you with some answers about what Professional Skills for Government means for GSR. And that's a cue for our new training opportunity. Since the last bulletin, there has been considerable interest in our new Masters course. I'd encourage all interested to get in touch to avoid disappointment - for anyone who missed it last month, there's information about the MSc in this issue.
PSG will be one of the themes running through the annual GSR conference in London in October. This is GSR's major event of the year, this year organised by your colleagues in the Home Office. It is an ideal opportunity to meet researchers from across our network of 20 departments, agencies and administrations. Nominations for delegates are made via HoPs, so if you haven't heard about it, speak to your HoP.
GSR is also looking outward, and next month I will be talking to university career advisers at an event we're organising in the Cabinet Office about careers in Government Social Research. I am keen that we have a good pool of entrants joining the service, and it doesn't just stop there. In this bulletin, we report on the new GSR Forum, which I have established to ensure more senior researchers have opportunities to develop fully their careers.
Also included in this bulletin are new developments on the GSR website, with the latest vacancies for any of you looking for a move. And a reminder about the host of research databases that we have made available to you through your department's Intranet or library - please make full use of these.
And finally, I'm hoping this bulletin is reaching more of you, as we have been cleaning up our contact database. Please get in touch with james.wright@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk if you would like to receive an email alert when the latest bulletin is published, and you are not already getting one.
Sue Duncan, Chief Government Social Researcher
The Coordination of Research and Analysis Group (CRAG) held a seminar on 10 June which brought together heads of analytical professions with strategy and policy directors from all government departments and the devolved administrations. The event was hosted by GSRU and the Strategy Unit in the Cabinet Office, who together provide the secretariat to CRAG.
The aim of the seminar was to identify priority cross-cutting analytical themes that:
From a shortlist of eight potential themes that had been nominated by departments, participants identified the following four priorities:
Sir Brian Bender, who chairs CRAG, will be reporting the outcome of the seminar to Sir Andrew Turnbull and Permanent Secretaries on 6 July. He will be discussing how initial scoping work might be taken forward so that the key policy and analysis questions within these themes can be defined. The way in which this work is carried forward will be used to learn lessons about a more co-ordinated and strategic approach to analysis and research planning.
More information on CRAG will be published on the GSR website shortly.
The Home Office and HM Revenue and Customs are busy organising this year's GSR Conference. The conference, 'Professional Skills for Government: Competencies to deliver high quality social science research', is taking place in London from the 3-5 October at the Tower Thistle Hotel, which is alongside Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.
The aim of this year's conference is to discuss and examine the importance of high quality social science research in government. It will also consider the role and outcomes of the Professional Skills for Government programme in helping deliver high quality social research. The programme over the three days will be split between a mixture of plenary speakers and also parallel workshop sessions with presentations by GSR members across a range of government departments. The confirmed plenary speakers are: Sir Brian Bender, (DEFRA); Professor Sheila Bird (Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge); Anna Coote (Healthcare Commission); Michael Feuer (National Academy of Sciences, Washington DC); and Marshal Smith (Program Director for the Education Program, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, USA).
The conference can accommodate 250 delegates, with the focus, as in previous years on ensuring that as many delegates as possible take the opportunity to stay at the conference venue. The cost for residential delegates is £740 and £480 for non-residential delegates. There are still spaces left for delegates to attend the conference. If you are interested in attending, in the first instance please contact your Head of Profession, and then contact Jane Becker at the Home Office. Jane will also be happy to provide any further information on the conference (email: Jane.Becker@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or telephone: 0207 035 0414).
GSRU has organised GSR's first event for University careers advisors, to be held next month. The seminar entitled 'A career in Government Social Research' will be held at the Cabinet Office on 4 July. Chief Government Social Researcher Sue Duncan will introduce the seminar, which will provide an opportunity for careers advisors to learn more about how GSR recruits new members. Rebecca Laffineur, Career and Professional Development Advisor in GSRU will be describing what GSR is looking for in potential recruits. Delegates will also be hearing first hand accounts from three social researchers about their experiences and work in different GSR departments. Barbara Doig, Head of Profession at the Scottish Executive, will be promoting the experience of working in GSR in the devolved administrations.
To find out more about this event please contact Maria Mistretta in GSRU
tel: 020 7276 1327
email: maria.mistretta@cabinet-office.gsi.gov.uk
GSR Heads of Profession (HOPs) came together for a two day conference in Bath on 21-22 April chaired by Chief Government Social Researcher, Sue Duncan. HOPs were updated on three main work strands:
Sue Duncan and the HOPs discussed a range of existing and future priorities including:
Copies of presentations and the conference note will shortly be available on the GSR website.
Sue Duncan, Chief Government Social Researcher has set up a new group to help experienced members of GSR develop their careers. 33 members joined Sue Duncan for the first meeting of the GSR Forum on 29 April which discussed how the Forum could best operate. The discussion covered:
GSR forum is intended for senior G7/Principal Research Officers, Grade 6s and Grade 5s. Membership is via HoP nomination. If you are interested in finding out more, contact your Head of Profession.
Professional Skills for Government (PSG) is a key part of the reform agenda. It is a major long term change programme designed to ensure that all civil servants have the right mix of skills and expertise to enable their departments or agencies to deliver effective services.
PSG will provide clarity about the skills individuals need to develop and progress in the Civil Service, and access to more consistent opportunities to develop those skills.
From September 2005 PSG will apply to Principal Research Officers and above, with implications for those aspiring to these grades. At this point Principal Research Officers and above will start having conversations with their managers about how they match up to the PSG requirements; and the PSG requirements will start to apply to SCS recruitment and promotions. They will start to apply to PRO and SPRO recruitment and promotion from April 2006. From May 2006, PSG will apply to all grades below Principal Research Officer.
If you want to know more about how PSG is progressing, the latest progress report from Sir Andrew Turnbull will bring you up to date.
Also see the Annex to this Bulletin for some questions and answers on what PSG means for GSR.
Government social researchers are invited to register for a new Masters qualification in Policy Analysis and Evaluation run by GSRU, Cabinet Office and the Institute of Education, University of London.
A modular degree to be completed part-time over two years and beginning in October 2005, the MSc offers a unique opportunity to government social researchers looking to enhance their professional skills and career prospects.
The programme - Students will be required to attend six taught modules, undertake related course work assignments, and to submit a 10,000 word dissertation at the end of their second year.
Compulsory modules cover:
Participants also select two optional modules from:
> Further information about the MSc
A course prospectus will be available shortly and will also be posted on the GSR website. To request a prospectus, please contact Maria Mistretta at email GSRU.Seminars@Cabinet-Office.x.gsi.gov.uk .
For more information, please contact:
Course Director Ricky Taylor in GSRU
tel: 020 7276 1865
email ricky.taylor@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
There's a new page on the GSR website where you can find links to the programmes of social science and economic research managed by government departments and the devolved administrations, and the research reports they produce.
> Gateway to Government Social Research
For anyone planning a move, check out the vacancies page on the GSR website. At the time of writing, there are opportunities for Senior Research Officers (HEO & SEO) in the Scottish Executive and the Department for Work and Pensions, and a grade 7 PRO post in Sheffield with the Department for Education and Skills.
GSRU has successfully negotiated a contract with CSA Illumina for online access to the following key social research databases, available at your desktop for GSR subscribing departments. Search either individual databases or search across all simultaneously.
These databases are being delivered mainly through departmental intranets. This has been organised with your departmental libraries, so if you are unsure how to get access from your PC, contact your librarian. If you have any further queries please contact John Scott Cree in GSRU on 020 7276 2224 or john.scott-cree@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk .
The databases available are:
ASSIA - references for books and journal articles on health, social services, psychology, sociology, economics, politics, race relations and education.
Econlit - references for books and journal articles on economic issues.
ERIC - national information system funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.
NCJRS - abstracts 170,000 criminal justice publications
PAIS - references to international public policy materials
Sociological Abstracts - abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines.
Social Services Abstracts - covers social work, human services, and related areas, including social welfare, social policy, and community development.
Don't forget, access is also available to most GSR staff to:
IBSS (International Bibliography of the Social Sciences) - essential online resource for social science and interdisciplinary research. Note that IBSS are in the process of changing this access, and GSRU will be updating you and your librarians.
For more information about these databases, including training, ask your department's library. There's more information in the May 2005 bulletin. The GSRU lead is John Scott Cree, email: john.scott-cree@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk .
Two new staff have joined us in the Government Social Research Unit in the Cabinet Office this month.
Siobhan Campbell is on loan from the Scottish Executive, where she headed up the Criminal Justice Research team and was project sponsor for their professional development working group on ethics. Prior to that, Siobhan was a principal researcher in the Home Office. Siobhan will be working on a variety of areas for GSRU: the Analysis for Policy project; offering advice and consultancy across government; contributing to the training and continuous professional development GSRU provide; contributing to the development of guidance on all aspects of social research for the GSR community; and working with the wider research community.
James Wright joins GSRU from a temporary contract at the Department of Trade and Industry. He has worked there since graduating from the University of Kent last summer with a degree in Multimedia Technology and Design. James will be filling the long-awaited role of GSRU Support Officer, in particular helping to manage the delivery of the GSR professional development course programme. He will also be putting his multiple technical skills to use in supporting management of the GSRU office and key work streams including GSR communication and recruitment.
And lastly, we bid a fond farewell to Correna Callender, who is leaving GSRU on 24 June to join the Home Office's Identity Cards Programme as Stakeholder Manager. Since joining the team in September 2003, Correna has worked on the GSR communication strategy, which has included the development of the GSR website, GSR logo and research into How GSR Communicates. She has also led work on the GSR recruitment marketing strategy, raising the profile of GSR in key social science universities. She steered the work of the cross-departmental GSR Communication Committee . Correna has thoroughly enjoyed her time in GSR, and will find it very difficult to stop giving everyone she meets a GSR pen(!)
GSRU has been working for some time on what PSG means for Government Social Researchers. Working from the very latest information available we have answered some important questions below:
From September 2005 it will apply to Principal Research Officers and above, with implications for those aspiring to these grades. At this point Principal Research Officers and above will start having conversations with their managers about how they match up to the PSG requirements; and the PSG requirements will start to apply to SCS recruitment and promotions. They will start to apply to PRO and SPRO recruitment and promotion from April 2006.
From May 2006 PSG will apply to all grades below Principal Research Officer.
People will need to be able to demonstrate skills and expertise in four areas:
PSG helps deliver the Improving Leadership Capacity (ILC) vision agreed by Permanent Secretaries in 2003. This is unchanged and lies at the heart of PSG. Individuals need to demonstrate that they:
The four core skills that will be mandatory for everyone at Grade 7 and equivalent grades are:
In addition, those in or aspiring to the SCS will need to demonstrate skills in Communications and Marketing and Strategic Thinking .
Ian Magee (Chief Executive, Operations, DCA) and Sir Brian Bender (Permanent Secretary, DEFRA) have developed new professional requirements for Operational Delivery and Policy Delivery staff respectively. They are being refined at the moment but broadly are as follows:
As the majority of social researchers work in a policy delivery environment, we have ensured that the new GSR Competency Framework takes account fully of these new skill requirements. Our framework has been endorsed by Sir Brian Bender.
The GSR Competency Framework also covers many of the requirements in the operational delivery framework. For social researchers working in this environment, the emphasis should be on understanding the specific needs of the customers and other stakeholders, and how social research may assist in the delivery of effective services.
This broader experience could be within the Service or in other sectors. This requirement is not mandatory for staff at Grade 7 (or equivalent), but will be a core requirement for all SCS posts. Broader experience can be gained in a number of ways - most obviously by doing a job in another professional area outside the chosen career grouping, but this won't be possible in each and every case. It might also be obtained through broadening the work done in an existing post, working part-time on a project in another area and assisted by coaching, shadowing and twinning. We are awaiting further guidance and examples of how they might work in practice.
Everything! The GSR Competency Framework means that for the first time all social researchers have a clear definition of the competencies required both to do their current job and to progress. There is considerable overlap between the GSR framework and the four dimensions of PSG. The guidance accompanying the GSR Competency Framework explains how the two dovetail. We expect to launch the GSR Competency Framework alongside the next update on PSG - expected in the summer.
By September 2005, there will be in place guidance on how to assess whether someone has the required PSG skills and GSR competencies. We are working on a simple accreditation method that will recognise existing learning of staff who have already attained the minimum standards set out in the PSG requirements and the GSR Competency Framework. We will also be producing guidance on what evidence will be needed and the types of development opportunities that will help people develop their skills.
You have time to develop them. If you are looking to move jobs to Principal Research Officer or above, you need to be aware that the PSG requirements will apply to all SCS appointments from September 2005 and from April 2006 for PRO and SPRO. But your department has the flexibility to appoint individuals who don't quite meet all the requirements straight away, provided that they demonstrate the aptitude to develop all the skills required within two years. The GSR recruitment protocols currently in development will support this approach.
The National School for Government will be offering training in the core skills from September 2005. GSRU will be mapping professional expertise training provision against the GSR Competency Framework and exploring the scope for greater coordination in promoting professional standards, access to high-quality training, and coordination of development postings.
The launch of a PSG web tool and the new GSR Competency Framework, enabling individuals to identify the skills and competencies they need for their job/profession and grade - expected July 2005.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact rebecca.laffineur@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk