Guidance

Senior Civil Service (SCS) Inductions

Supporting senior leaders who are new to their grade, to gain the knowledge and skills needed to lead successfully in the Civil Service.

From:
Government Skills
Published
27 September 2017
Last updated
27 November 2024 — See all updates

The Leadership College for Government’s approach to learning focuses on bringing leaders together from across the Civil Service to share experiences and expertise.

The Leadership College for Government (LCG) currently have three induction programmes for senior Civil Service leaders:

Civil Service Orientation (CSO)

Civil Service Orientation (CSO) supports senior leaders, who are new to the Civil Service, to gain a comprehensive understanding of working in central Government, through online content and events.

CSO is run as a 3-stage programme. This programme is aimed at senior civil servants (SCS) who are new to the Civil Service. It is designed to support participants to begin thinking about the knowledge, skills and networks needed to thrive in their new roles.

The aims of the programme are to:

  • celebrate the new role and welcome participants to the Civil Service
  • provide the participants with a clear understanding of what is expected of them as leaders within the Civil Service
  • create personal networks across the Civil Service
  • introduce the Civil Service corporate leadership frameworks
  • provide support to new SCS to think about their leadership journey
  • provide insights into working with ministers and the private office
  • provide an overview of the financial architecture of the Civil Service

Find availability and sign-up to a Civil Service Orientation.

If you are unable to find an available date to attend, please sign up to the Civil Service Orientation waiting list.

We also recommend that SCS leaders that are new to the Civil Service attend parliamentary workshops which are run by the Parliamentary Capability team:

Working with Parliament for leaders

The Parliamentary Capability Team is based in the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit, and exists to help civil servants better understand how Parliament scrutinises the work of government and how they can effectively support their department’s response to Parliamentary scrutiny.

The team have created three bespoke learning events aimed at SCS:

Leading and Parliament

An introduction to Parliament specifically designed for senior leaders delivered remotely over two weeks in conjunction with the Civil Service Leadership Academy.

Select Committees for Leaders

This will give SCS an understanding of how to effectively manage the work of parliamentary select committees that scrutinize their department’s work. It will cover parliamentary process and culture, supporting ministers with committee appearances, and the internal activities that need to be managed in order to effectively respond to this work.

Accounting Officers Roundtable

This course is designed for newly appointed Accounting Officers or Additional Accounting Officers. It will help you understand your responsibilities for the use of public money, and preparing for appearances before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Parliament. Please register your interest by emailing leadershipcollege@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

If you would like to know more about these courses, please contact parliamentarycapability@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Other useful resources

The Civil Service Code

Deputy Director Induction (DDI)

The Leadership College for Government runs the Deputy Director Induction (DDI) in four stages and is aimed at recently promoted or externally recruited deputy directors.

The induction supports participants to transition into their new roles by providing them with the knowledge, skills and networks they need to be successful; creating a space to meet with peers, build networks, gain essential knowledge and draw from the experience of others in a senior role.

The DDIs are held regionally and ideally we would encourage you to book onto an induction within your region, however this isn’t always possible and if you are happy to travel, you are welcome to book onto an induction in a different region.

The aims of the programme are to:

  • welcome participants to the Senior Civil Service and celebrate their new role
  • provide the participants with a clear understanding of what is expected of them as deputy directors
  • provide essential knowledge to support them as they start their SCS career
  • provide current and relevant insights into the operation of Government
  • create personal networks across the Civil Service
  • provide support to new SCS to think about their leadership journey.

Find availability and sign-up to a DDI

Induction Virtual Launch Induction Day DDI Connect Event
DDI 18N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road Tuesday 14 January 11am - 12 Tuesday 28 January 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 19N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road Tuesday 14 January 2pm - 3pm Wednesday 29 January 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 23N - London, 1 Horse Guards Road Wednesday 15 January 2pm - 3pm Thursday 30 January 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 20N – Leeds, Wellington Place Monday 27 January 11am - 12 Tuesday 4 February 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 21N – Cardiff, Ty William Morgan Tuesday 18 February 11am - 12 Tuesday 4 March 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 25N Bristol - 3 Glass Wharf Tuesday 25 February 2pm – 3pm Tuesday 11 March 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 26N London - 1 Horse Guards Road Tuesday 25 February 11am – 12pm Wednesday 12 March 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 27N London - 26 Whitehall Wednesday 26 February 11am – 12pm Thursday 13 March 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 24N – Liverpool, Radisson Blu Hotel Wednesday 5 March 2pm-3pm Thursday 20 March 9.30 – 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of Policing
DDI 22N – Glasgow, 1 Atlantic Square Tuesday 11 March 2pm - 3pm Tuesday 25 March 9.30am - 5.00pm Thursday 24 April at Ryton College of P

If you are unable to find an available date to attend, please sign up to the DDI waiting list.

If you have any further questions please contact the Leadership College.

Director Induction (DI)

DI is run as a three stage programme. This programme is aimed at directors who have been recently promoted or have completed the Civil Service orientation.

It is designed to support participants to transition into their new roles by providing them with the knowledge, skills and networks they need to be successful.

We are creating a space for participants to meet with peers, build networks, gain essential knowledge and draw from the experience of others in a senior role.

The aims of the programme are to:

  • welcome participants and celebrate their new role
  • provide the participants with a clear understanding of what is expected of them as directors
  • provide essential knowledge to support them in continuing their SCS career
  • provide current and relevant insights into the operation of Government
  • create personal networks across the Civil Service
  • provide support to think about their leadership journey.

Find availability and sign-up to a DI.

If you are unable to find an available date to attend, please sign up to the DI waiting list.

If you have any further questions please contact the Leadership College.

Director General and above

The Civil Service Leadership Group brings together civil servants at the most senior levels — permanent secretaries, directors general, and equivalent roles — to work together on strategic issues and government priorities. The group is regularly invited to calls, webinars, events and visits.

If you are a new, recently promoted, or interim director general and are not receiving notifications about these events, please contact leadershipcollege@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Directors general and permanent secretaries are also included in the public sector offer for chief executive officers (CEOs), where they can build universally applicable skills and deep networks with colleagues across the wider public sector.

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Updates to this page

Published 27 September 2017
Last updated 27 November 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated the section: Deputy Director Induction

  2. Updated the list of events for the Deputy Director Induction

  3. Updated the list of events underneath Deputy Director Induction

  4. Updated the events list for for section: Deputy Director Induction (DDI)

  5. Deleted filled up courses.

  6. Added new deputy director induction dates.

  7. Updated 1 link

  8. Re-designing the layout of all Leadership College pages, minor edits to the information shared (now including content from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/training-for-leaders-in-the-civil-service-and-public-sector).

  9. Information on CSO, DDI and DI has been removed as it will now all sit on the SCS Inductions calendar. Links to this page remain within the page.

  10. You can now sign up for Director and Deputy Director inductions.

  11. New document "Civil Service Orientation Resource Pack" added to the section "Resources on Civil Service Learning".

  12. page refresh, removed "Pairing scheme" paragraph and CS Learning link to Corporate induction website

  13. Events added

  14. Events updated.

  15. Events list updated

  16. New events added

  17. First published.

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