SCHOOL COMPLETES APPOINTMENT OF FOUR NEW HEADS OF PRACTICE

20 May 2010

The National School of Government announces that Carole Sweeney has been appointed Head of Practice for Policy and Working in Government. This completes the appointment of four new Heads of Practice to the recently restructured Learning and Delivery Directorate.

Carole joined on the 1st May from the Joint International Unit for Education, Employment and Social Affairs. There she was a Deputy Director with responsibility for the development of international education partnerships. She played a major role in setting up a new International Education & Research Advisory Forum with a Ministerial Chair. Carole has also been instrumental in developing a new Global Learning Strategy with DFID and DCSF.

Prior to that, Carole held a number of senior roles in the FCO developing expertise in political, economic, commercial and corporate areas, as well as in multilateral negotiations. Carole has worked overseas in Germany, Norway and Egypt.

The School’s three other Heads of Practice, all appointed in the last thee months are:

• Chris Fisher, Head of Leadership and Strategy - Chris was appointed in January, when he joined the National School from the Department of Work and Pensions.
• Isobel Brown, Head of Specialist Professions - Isobel was appointed in February, having joined the National School from CLG to lead the Law Team in June 2009. The Specialist Professions Practice includes learning and development for the Legal, Finance, Governance, Audit and Risk, Economists and Statisticians professions.
• Carol Pedley, Head of Operational Delivery - Carol was appointed in February. Her career spans public and private sectors, firstly with the BBC and latterly in the private sector. At the National School she has specialised in communications, coaching, mentoring and image management. The Operational Delivery Practice covers Change and Continuous Improvement, Management Development and Personal Effectiveness, Business Skills, HR and L&D, Procurement and Programme & Project Management.

Commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Miller, Director of Learning Delivery, the National School of Government said:

“We are delighted to welcome Carole to the National School. She brings with her a wealth of experience in policy, overseas partnerships and management.

“The four practice heads give us the strength and expertise to deliver an excellence Core Learning Programme for the Civil Service. They will also help the School play a more prominent role in delivering learning across the Civil Service and wider public sectors through our open and tailored programmes.

Enquiries:

Ann Hall, Head of Communications & Marketing
Telephone: 01344 634 818
Email: ann.hall@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

The National School of Government
As the Government’s centre of excellence for learning and development, the National School of Government became a government department in January 2007. Under the leadership of Rod Clark, it strives to ensure the highest professional and academic standards in public service organisational and people development. Visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk for more information.

Civil Service Core Learning Programme
The Core Learning Programme is a new programme designed to deliver essential learning and development that is unique to the Civil Service more efficiently across government. It is expected to be a key ingredient in developing greater capability and a more corporate approach within the Civil Service by promoting common practices, standards and language.

The Leadership of the Civil Service and representatives drawn from across government, have worked closely with the National School to define the objectives of the programme, and to develop its overall size, shape and content.

The programme is being rolled-out from April 2010 and funding is being provided by centrally agreed departmental contributions.

The objectives of the Core Learning Programme are:

1. To build leadership capability and depth - through a development programme tailored to the needs of government and underpinned by its values (the “Civil Service way”);
2. To promote the highest standards in policy development and implementation by driving consistent approaches, common standards, and common language - a shared understanding across government;
3. To ‘Join-up’ government by creating professional communities;
4. To equip civil servants to respond rapidly to new government priorities, both nationally and internationally;
5. To deliver essential elements of learning and development more efficiently across the Civil Service through economies of scale.

Visit www.nationalschool.gov.uk/csclp/index.asp for more information.