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1 | Page The Policy, Skills & Knowledge Framework: Strengths self-assessment There must be a clear focus on designing policies that can be implemented in practice, drawing on a wider range of views and expertise. At the same time, policy makers must have the skills and tools they need to do their jobs.Civil Service Reform Plan, 2012

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Page 1: The Policy, Skills & Knowledge Framework: Strengths … · The Policy, Skills & Knowledge Framework: Strengths ... Understand the legal context and legislative framework in which

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The Policy, Skills & Knowledge Framework: Strengths self-assessment

‘There must be a clear focus on designing policies that can be implemented in

practice, drawing on a wider range of views and expertise. At the same time, policy makers must have the skills and

tools they need to do their jobs.’

Civil Service Reform Plan, 2012

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Introduction

Policy work is about delivering changes in the real world. It

relies on contributions from colleagues in other disciplines,

including those on the front line; the civil service working as

one team to achieve better policy outcomes.

We know that better outcomes are achieved when policy is

developed collaboratively across the wider civil service and

with the private and voluntary sectors. It is essential for us to

adopt more innovative and joined-up approaches if we are to

deliver significant change.

To support these ways of working, the Policy Profession in the

Civil Service aims to enhance the capability of all those

developing and delivering policy. The Policy Skills and

Knowledge Framework sets clear standards against which

policy professionals can measure their performance and plan

their development.

The Policy Skills and Knowledge Framework is built around

the principle that successful policy depends on:

the development and use of a sound evidence base;

understanding and managing the political context; and

planning from the outset for how the policy will be delivered.

The policy maker must bring together these three elements to

deliver a successful outcome.

There are four areas of activity where these three elements of

successful policy apply. Do keep in mind that they don't

necessarily happen discreetly, or in a specific order, and

engagement with experts and those who will implement the policy

happens throughout:

• Understanding the context - Do you know what you’re

trying to achieve and why?

• Developing the options - Are you coming up with the best

possible options?

• Getting to a decision - Can you get decisions made and

supported?

• Making it happen - Can you make the change happen?

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Policy Skills & Knowledge Framework: self assessment

The Civil Service Competency Framework sets out the generic behavioural competences needed in the civil service. Alongside the

Civil Service Competency Framework, the Policy Skills & Knowledge Framework sets out the professional policy skills and

knowledge you will need.

Four skill areas:

There are four areas of competence in the Policy Skills &

Knowledge Framework. They directly relate to the description

of successful policy above. They are:

1. Bring together evidence, politics and delivery to

support ministers

2. Evidence: Developing and using a sound evidence

base

3. Politics: Understanding and managing the political

context

4. Delivery: Planning from the outset for how the policy

will be delivered

Levels of policy skills and knowledge

The levels of policy skills are: Developing, Effective and

Strong. Your level of professional policy skills and knowledge

is determined against the framework as a whole – you are

developing, effective or strong.

Developing

Those who are developing policy skills, regardless of their grade, will work on a small part of a relatively uncontroversial or relatively straightforward policy or, where they have transferred to a policy role from another discipline, will be developing the skill-set in their role.

Effective

The Framework sets out the skills in which an effective Policy Professional at Grade 7 would be proficient, in order to provide a point of reference. Not every role or policy will require a policy professional to do all of these things all of the time. An effective Policy Professional is often confident across many of the skills and knowledge areas and strong in one or two areas.

Strong

Those who are strong in these skills, regardless of their grade, will have led high profile, controversial or complex policies alongside ministers. They have experience, and are confident in, the full breadth of policy skills and knowledge. They share their experience with others, contributing to the body of knowledge and development of the profession.

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How to use the Strengths Self-assessment

1. Assess your skill and knowledge level against each of the four areas of competence a. In each skill area there is a high-level assessment and an optional detailed assessment of your skills and knowledge. The

detailed assessment provides specific examples of what the high level skill and knowledge is or how it might be demonstrated.

b. For each skill assess whether you are Developing, Effective or Strong in that area; mark the appropriate level.

2. Make an assessment of your overall level of professional policy skills and knowledge.

3. Summarise your strengths and areas for development; decide which skills to focus on for now and complete the development

reflection for two skills, page 8-9. Next steps 4. You may want to complete the 360 feedback tool for the generic behavioural competencies in the Civil Service Competence

Framework. Policy roles are most likely to require the following competencies: a. Seeing the big picture; b. Making effective decisions; c. Leading & Communicating; and d. Collaborating & Partnering.

5. Development activity – use the civil service learning site to decide on suitable activities for areas you want to develop the skills

and knowledge.

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Skill area 1: Bring together

Skill Area Level Not yet developed

Developing Effective Strong

Bring together evidence, politics and delivery to support Ministers in achieving outcomes for government

Advise ministers, honestly, impartially and objectively, on the options that will work to help ministers make informed choices

Consider and balance all three elements – evidence, politics and delivery - at whatever stage the policy is at

Bring together often discordant information, manage the constraints of a given area and produce the ‘best available’ option

Overall

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Skill Area 2: Evidence

Skill Area Level Not yet developed [NY]

Developing [D]

Effective [E]

Strong [S]

Evidence

Developing and using a sound evidence base.

Investigate, assess and advise on the political and practical implications of government policy using evidence and ideas from a wide range of sources to meet required outcomes.

Compile, assimilate, distil, interpret and present a strong evidence base from a wide range of types of evidence and opinions to form a sound and compelling base to inform coherent policy making

Understand and apply approaches, techniques and tools that draw on a wide range of inputs and improve the quality and pace of the analysis stage of policy making where it is appropriate

Overall

Optional detailed skill checklist for evidence

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Compile, assimilate, distil, interpret and present a strong evidence base from a wide range of types of evidence and opinions to form a sound and compelling base to inform coherent policy making

Establish and bring together relevant facts, figures, ideas, analysis and research

Quickly develop and apply sector and subject knowledge, including the history of the area, to understand the problem and develop a robust evidence base

Use evidence from lessons learned, evaluations, academic and other research, parallel initiatives, other sectors and internationally

Recognise and engage the right internal and external expertise and understands their contribution

Understand the legal context and legislative framework in which they operate

Establish systems to incorporate evidence from accountability processes, the media and interested parties

Understand the limitations of evidence sources and plan to mitigate gaps

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Present compellingly, effectively and concisely orally and in writing

Overall

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Understand and apply approaches, techniques and tools that draw on a wide range of inputs and improve the quality and pace of the analysis stage of policy making where it is appropriate

Draw on a wide range of inputs from the earliest stages of a policy cycle

Understand the digital tools available to broaden the conversation

Understand user centric approaches (where appropriate) to define problem and consider innovative solutions

Understand and appreciate diversity in data

Monitor ongoing validity of policy priorities in light of new evidence and ensure policies are evaluated after an appropriate time

Familiar with and use policy processes i.e. risk analysis, cost-benefit analysis, business cases and impact assessment principles, processes and their implications, policy appraisal (Green Book, including ROAMEF policy appraisal and evaluation cycle, and Magenta Book)

Overall

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Skill Area 3: Politics

Skill Area Level Not yet developed [NY]

Developing [D]

Effective [E]

Strong [S]

Politics

Understanding and managing the political context. Monitor developments in the political context and give timely, honest, objective and impartial advice and recommendations to respond to the changing context in which ministers operate.

Understand political influences and government context

Enable effective public administration

Understand and apply knowledge of the Civil Service, public sector and constitutional context

Aware of, and familiar with, current policy context and government aims*

Overall

Optional detailed skill checklist for politics

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Understand political influences and government context

Build collaborative, trusting and professional relationships with ministers, understand of the source of ministers’ interest and allow for appropriate challenge

Translate ministerial vision into a clear outcome, and develop a clear and shared understanding of what the problem is and what success looks like; test mutual understanding of the problem and goal

Respond to change in relationship with ministers at different stages of policy development; balancing the political view with other considerations i.e. evidence and delivery

Describe key arguments clearly both orally and in writing, predicting potential challenge and criticism

Understand where issues sit within the priorities of government as a whole, considering impact on and implications for other policies, programmes and other government objectives

Manage policy conflicts effectively, identifying and making links across government

Overall

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Skill Area Level NY D E S

Enable effective public administration.

Support effective cross-government decision-making

Provide relevant and reliable advice and evidence to support ministers in making, explaining, defending and implementing decisions at whatever stage the policy is at

Support ministers’ engagement with parliament and enable public accountability in their area

Represent government policy effectively under close public and parliamentary scrutiny

Ensure compliance with clearance processes, manages responses to political accountability and government control procedures and takes legal considerations into account

Deliver Westminster legislation and effective EU influencing and negotiating

Overall

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Understand and apply knowledge of the Civil Service, public sector and constitutional context.

The role of minister and civil servant and its implications in practice

Government Budgetary cycle and public sector funding arrangements and models and their implications for government policy

Parliamentary, legislative and election cycles and their implications

HMT, Cabinet Office, No10 and Cabinet Committee decision making process and procedures

EU, International, devolved and local government constitutional arrangements and their implications

Overall

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Aware of, and familiar with, current policy context and government aims*

Growth, reduce costs, tackle debts, prioritise spend, seek better deals

Open public services, big society, localism through distribution of power

Transparency, data and accountability

Behavioural Insights – finding intelligent ways to encourage, support and enable people to make better choices for themselves

Actively shaping EU policy

Overall

*key areas list agreed by Policy Profession Board and reviewed regularly.

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Skill Area 4: Delivery

Skill Area Level Not yet developed

Developing [D]

Effective [E]

Strong [S]

Delivery

Planning from the outset for how the policy will be delivered. Develop sound policy, fast, in a public and political arena, and convert this policy into robust deliverable plans at whatever stage the policy is at, using creativity and confidence.

Investigate and advise on practical aspects of policy options throughout the life of the policy

Convert policy into robust delivery plans, and implement and maintain policy collaboratively and accountably

Familiar with and use strong systematic approaches to understand how policies will work, and are working, in practice

Consider a full range of delivery models to achieve the outcome

Overall

Optional detailed skill checklist for delivery

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Investigate and advise on practical aspects of policy options throughout the life of the policy.

Advice includes full consideration of do-ability, feasibility, practicality and affordability

Policy is designed and monitored to bring about the desired outcomes

Policy options are innovative, sustainable, affordable, commercially aware and offer value for money

Policy options have their short and long term impacts assessed for the impact of potential future events and are able to respond to change

Systematically identify issues that could affect implementation and addressing them/steps to mitigate gaps or weaknesses throughout the life of the policy

Impacts, benefits, risks and adverse feedback are communicated when appropriate with communication that is compelling and engaging, timely & relevant, with robust arguments and clarity about the implications for policy in practice

Overall

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Skill Area Level NY D E S

Convert policy into robust delivery plans, and implement and maintain policy collaboratively and accountably.

Monitor the performance of policy using accurate, timely and relevant, quantitative and qualitative assessments including incorporating feedback from the delivery chain

Work with delivery partners to resolve problems effectively, identify common efficiencies, and advise ministers on the changes that result

Maintain political legitimacy, and mandate, throughout the life of the policy, working across government to co-ordinate progress towards shared objectives

Overall

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Familiar with and use strong systematic approaches to understand how policies will work, and are working, in practice.

Familiar with behavioural insight, customer insight and working with the frontline and delivery system to inform policy development including assessing the impacts on customers and frontline

Build in, and use, policy evaluation right from the start, including Randomised Controlled Trials and other early feedback mechanisms, to develop an understanding of what works and adapt the approach

Ensures that lessons learnt, including about what works, become part of the evidence base

Overall

Skill Area Level NY D E S

Consider a full range of delivery models to achieve the outcome.

Familiar with a wide range of delivery models including the system stewardship role of government

Undertake system analysis including the potential and limitations of existing systems, building in and managing accountability whilst leaving maximum room for discretion

Overall

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Overall policy skills and knowledge level

Skill Area / Level Not yet developed

Developing Effective Strong

Bring together evidence, politics and delivery to support Ministers in achieving outcomes for government

Evidence - Developing and using a sound evidence base

Politics - Understanding and managing the political context

Delivery - Planning from the outset for how the policy will be delivered

Overall

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Summarise your strengths and areas for development: Decide your focus

1. Summarise your overall assessment of your skills

2. Prioritise your strengths and area of focus

Identify 3-4 areas of strength, 3-4 areas where skill is effective and 3-4 where skill is still developing

Developing How important is it to you in your job now?

Effective How important to you in your job now?

Strong How important to you in your job now?

Overall assessment

Developing Effective Strong

Which level do I believe represents my consistent performance?

What level do my peers consistently observe?

What level does my line manager consistently observe?

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Choose 2 areas of policy skills & knowledge you would like to focus on at this stage – for each complete this development

reflection:

Skill & Knowledge Area 1: Skill & Knowledge Area 2:

What do I do well? What do I do well?

What aspects do I want to develop?

What aspects do I want to develop?

In what way is this area important to my development as a policy official? How will this help my personal development?

In what way is this area important to my development as a policy official? How will this help my personal development?

Who are my role models for this competency?

Who are my role models for this competency?

Development objective & activity:

Development objective & activity:

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REVIEW DATE: REVIEW – how have I improved this skill & knowledge area?

REVIEW DATE: REVIEW – how have I improved this skill & knowledge area?

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Do you have any thoughts or feedback on how this resource could be improved?

All ideas are welcome, please contact the Policy Profession Support Unit