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WHO ARE WE?
The Public Service Commission was established in 2006 by the Secretary of State to
"make recommendations to government on the guiding principles and steps necessary to safeguard the interests of staff and to ensure their smooth transfer to new organisations established as a consequence of government decisions on the Review of Public Administration, taking into account statutory obligations, including those arising from section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1988".
PEOPLE MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
Speech by Mr Sid McDowell, CBE, Chairman of the Public Service Commission to the LGSC/SOLACE Conference in the Lough Erne Golf Resort, Enniskillen – 9 December, 2009
"...the thing people really value is ‘face to face’ communication."
"...there is now in place a vital and necessary set of assurances governing the way our people are to be treated before transfer, at the point of transfer, and post-transfer."
For the speech in full, see PEOPLE MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
LATEST NEWS
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM
Movement on Local Government Reform
It has been agreed that there are to be eleven councils with eleven "Shadow" Councils to be elected by June 2014. The eleven councils proper would meet around the beginning of April 2015.
It is envisaged that the process would be undertaken in three phases;
- Legislation
- Implementation and
- Transfer of Functions
Commissioners are to meet with officials from the Local Government Policy Division DOE in April to discuss the likely outworking of the proposed reform..
EDUCATION
ESA to be established by April 2013
On 17 November, the Executive published the Draft Programme for Government 2011-2015 outlining their commitment to establishing the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) by April 2013.
The Education Minister, John O'Dowd welcomed this announcement and stated that his department had begun work on the legislation to establish ESA and he hoped to introduce a Bill to the Assembly in the near future. The Executive has agreed that the legislation will be passed by July 2012 and ESA will be in operation by 1 April 2013.
Commissioners are to seek an early meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education to discuss their concerns around future possible location of services and likely transfer implications for staff, in particular under the proposal for "shared services".
RPA COMPLIANCE QUESTIONNAIRE
The report on the self-assessment compliance questionnaire is now available.
"All responding organisations were asked how their organisation had found the Guiding Principles and Associated Recommendations, regardless of whether their sector had fully completed the RPA exercise.
- 88% (23 of 26) found them relevant;
-81% (21 of 26) found them useful; and
62% (16 of 26) found them comprehensive...."
It was completed both by staff from organisations which had already gone through the RPA process and those who have yet to go through it. Overall the results are a positive affirmation that the Guiding Principles occupy a key role within the RPA process.
For the report in full, see RPA Compliance Questionnaire
COMPENDIUM OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES
compendium_of_guiding_principles.pdf
If you require clarification on any of the content, you should contact your respective HR or local Trade Union representative.
MANAGING PEOPLE THROUGH MAJOR TRANSITIONS
The Improvement and Development Agency for local government (DeA) and the Public Sector People Manager's Association have published a paper entitled 'Managing people through major transitions' which captures the HR learning from the 2009 local government reorganisations.
"Just as people lie at the heart of local government service delivery, people also lie at the heart of successful change. Winning the hearts and minds of staff to the change process is a vital building block of successful restructuring. Equally important are robust data and systems covering staff numbers, costs, performance, contractual status and other information needed for the achievement of smooth and effective reorganisation. Finally, there have to be effective mechanisms for the recruitment, transfer or exit of staff as well as consultation and negotiation with trade unions. "
For the paper in full, see MANAGING PEOPLE THROUGH MAJOR TRANSITIONS