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.
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.
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.
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
Deputy Director Induction (DDI)
The Leadership College for Government runs the Deputy Director Induction (DDI) 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 | Induction Day | DDI Connect Event |
|---|---|---|
| DDI 36N Ty William Morgan, Cardiff | Wednesday 17 September 9.30am – 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 37N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road | Tuesday 23 September 9.30am – 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 38N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road | Wednesday 24 September 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 39N – Eskrine house, Belfast | Wednesday 1 October 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 40N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road | Wednesday 15 October 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 41N – London, 1 Horse Guards Road | Thursday 16 October 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 42N – Liverpool, India Building | Thursday 23 October 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
| DDI 43N Benton Park View, Newcastle | Tuesday 4th November 9.30am - 5.00pm | Thursday November 20 Conference Aston, Birmingham |
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 leadershipcollege@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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.
Sign-up to a Director Induction.
If you have any further questions please contact leadershipcollege@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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
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Updated the section: Civil Service Orientation (CSO)
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Updated the sections: Civil Service Orientation (CSO) Deputy Director Induction (DDI)
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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).
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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.
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You can now sign up for Director and Deputy Director inductions.
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