Government functional standard GovS 001: government functions
This functional standard sets expectations for the direction and management of functions across government, including management of functional standards.
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This functional standard sets expectations for the direction and management of functions across government, including management of functional standards, in order to:
- drive high performance and achieve excellent outcomes for the citizen
- ensure consistent and improving collaborative practices and culture across government organisations
This functional standard is part of a suite of management standards that promotes consistent and coherent ways of working - see GOV.UK - Government Functional Standards.
This functional standard and its associated guidance provide a stable basis for improving the way functions are managed across government, with flexibility for each function on how the standard is met. If you are looking for direction and guidance about a specific type of functional work, such as project delivery or commercial, please use the relevant functional standard - see GOV.UK - Government Functional Standards.
GovS 001: government functions provides direction and guidance for:
- permanent secretaries, directors general and chief executive officers of arm’s length bodies, to ensure an environment exists within their organisations which promotes effective partnership working with functions
- senior leaders and board members within organisations
- senior leaders accountable for managing a function across government and within organisations
- the functional standards design authority, and owners and managers of individual functional standards
- those involved in developing, managing, delivering and promoting aspects of a function’s work
If you are involved in creating or managing functional documentation, please help people to comply with functional standards by following the Guide to governance and management frameworks (PDF, 533KB). The guide helps you provide more targeted, coherent and consistent information for anyone doing functional work, and simplify and reduce the volume of requirements and guidance that people are expected to follow.
If you manage a functional standard, please refer to the Handbook for standard managers (pdf, 423 KB).
For general guidance on functional standards, refer to the Guide to functional standards.
For more guidance on continuous improvement, refer to the Guide to continuous improvement against functional standards
If you have comments or feedback about this functional standard or its associated guidance, please email standards@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Last updated 15 April 2024 + show all updates
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Added the documents: Government function governance and management frameworks Continuous improvement: assessment against standards Functional Standards writing style guide Quality criteria for reviewing a functional standard Checklist: undertaking a major or periodic review of functional standards
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Version 2 of GovS 001 replaces version 1 and has the same purpose, scope and intent. Changes relate to general enhancements derived from feedback from use, lessons learned, and alignment with other functional standards. Version 2: reflects the mandate from Managing Public Money; clarifies governance and assurance arrangements; updates some roles and accountabilities; adds new requirements about functional leadership; adds additional advice, for example about re-charging for functional advice and services; and emphasises that functional standards should be met proportionately and appropriately in organisations, to suit the scale and complexity of the functional work being done.
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Addition of associated guidance for GovS 001, Government functions: the Guide to governance and management frameworks and the Handbook for standard managers.
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Added Guide to continuous improvement against functional standards
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First published.