Guidance

Senior Civil Service: performance management

These documents provide guidance on managing performance in the Senior Civil Service (SCS).

• From: Civil Service
• Published: 2 April 2012
• Last updated: 19 May 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 19 May 2026

     Added the documents: Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2026 to 2027 performance year) Supplementary Guidance: Annual Performance Reviews Replaced the document: SCS Performance Agreement Form Removed the document: Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2024 to 2025 performance year)

  2. 6 February 2025

     Added the documents: Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2025 to 2026 performance year) SCS Performance Agreement Form

  3. 10 October 2024

     Replaced the file 'Managing poor performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service' with the latest version. Added a HTML version of the file: Managing poor performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service

  4. 27 March 2024

     Added the document: Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2024 to 2025 performance year)

  5. 6 March 2023

     Managing poor performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service document updated

  6. 3 August 2022

     Updated with: Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2023 to 2024 performance year)

  7. 5 April 2022

     Updated the Performance Management Arrangements and the Performance Agreement Form to reflect changes for the 2022 to 2023 performance year.

  8. 18 March 2021

     Updated to include 'Performance Management Arrangements for the Senior Civil Service (April 2021)'

  9. 1 June 2020

     2 documents have been updated: Performance Management Arrangements for the Senior Civil Service (April 2020) and Managing Poor Performance Policy Procedures for the Senior Civil Service (April 2020).

  10. 9 May 2019

      Added SCS Performance Agreement Form (April 2019).

  11. 17 April 2019

      Updated documents

  12. 15 June 2018

      Two documents have been updated: - SCS performance management guide for job holders and line managers - HR practitioner's guide: performance management arrangements for the SCS

  13. 27 July 2016

      Added SCS performance agreement form and HR practitioner's guide.

  14. 2 June 2016

      Updated guidance for performance management arrangements.

  15. 17 May 2016

      Updated with new guidance

  16. 20 July 2015

      Updated version of guidance documentation published

  17. 2 April 2012

      First published.

Documents

Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2026 to 2027 performance year) (PDF)

PDF, 854 KB, 22 pages

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Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2026 to 2027 performance year) (HTML)

HTML

Supplementary Guidance: Annual Performance Reviews (PDF)

PDF, 449 KB, 16 pages

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Supplementary Guidance: Annual Performance Reviews (HTML)

HTML

Managing poor performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service (PDF)

PDF, 362 KB, 33 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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Managing poor performance: policy procedures for the Senior Civil Service (HTML)

HTML

Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2025 to 2026 performance year)

PDF, 2.5 MB, 26 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

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Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service (2025 to 2026 performance year)

HTML

SCS Performance Agreement Form

MS Word Document, 4.98 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email accessible.formats@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

These documents set out guidance and policies for managing performance by members of the Senior Civil Service (SCS).