Editing Civil Service (United Kingdom) (section)

==Governance==

===Minister for the Civil Service===
{{Main|Minister for the Civil Service}}
The position of Minister for the Civil Service is not part of the Civil Service as it is a political position which has always been held by the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]].

===Head of the Civil Service===<!-- This section is linked from [[Cabinet Secretary]] as well as a number of other pages -->
The highest ranking civil servant is the Cabinet Secretary. A subsidiary title that was also held by the incumbent is ''Head of the Civil Service'' (previously ''Head of the Home Civil Service''),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://civilservice.blog.gov.uk/author/sir-jeremy-heywood/|title=Sir Jeremy Heywood, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service|website=gov.uk|publisher=UK Government|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> who until recently was also the Permanent Secretary of the [[Cabinet Office]].<ref name=HoCS>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/leads/Gus/index.aspx |title=Sir Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service | publisher=UK Government |date=29 January 2009|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110620155535/www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/leads/Gus/index.aspx |archive-date=20 June 2011 |access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> However, following the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition Government of David Cameron]] the three posts were split from the single holder. The last person to hold all three positions together was [[Gus O'Donnell]], Cabinet Secretary, Head of the Home Civil Service and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, August 2005 – December 2011. The postholder is responsible for ensuring that the Civil Service is equipped with the skills and capability to meet the everyday challenges it faces and that civil servants work in a fair and decent environment. The postholder also chairs the '''Permanent Secretary Management Group''' and the '''Civil Service Steering Board''' which are the main governing bodies of the Civil Service.<ref name=HoCS/>

It was announced on 11 October 2011 that, following O'Donnell's retirement at the end of 2011, the role of Head of the Home Civil Service would be split from the post of [[Cabinet Secretary (United Kingdom)|Cabinet Secretary]]; there would additionally be a new, separate, Permanent Secretary to lead the Cabinet Office.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cabinet-secretary-announces-retirement--2|title=Cabinet Secretary announces retirement|website=GOV.UK}}</ref> After O'Donnell's retirement, [[Jeremy Heywood]] replaced him as Cabinet Secretary – serving until 24 October 2018 when he retired on health grounds; [[Ian Watmore]] as Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary; and lastly, [[Bob Kerslake]] as Head of the Civil Service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/pages/view/623890/kerslake-to-head-the-civil-service-with-promise-of-visible-leadership|publisher=Cabinet Office Civil Service Live Network|title=Civil Service Live Network: Kerslake to head civil service with promise of 'visible leadership'|access-date=8 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711052450/http://network.civilservicelive.com/pg/pages/view/623890/kerslake-to-head-the-civil-service-with-promise-of-visible-leadership|archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref> In July 2014 it was announced that Kerslake would step down and Heywood would take the title of Head of the HCS while [[John Manzoni]] would be Chief Executive of the Civil Service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jeremy-heywood|title=Sir Jeremy Heywood|website=gov.uk|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref> From 24 October 2018 to 4 November 2018, the office of Head of the Civil Service was vacant, as Heywood resigned on health grounds. Following Heywood's death, [[Mark Sedwill]] was given the additional Civil Service portfolio. [[Simon Case]] succeeded Mark Sedwill as Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service in 2020 until resigning in December 2024 on health grounds. [[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]] took over the roles on 16 December 2024.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 700px;"
|-
!#
! style="width: 250px;" | Name
! style="width: 100px;" | Dates
! style="width: 400px;" | Notes
|-
|1
| [[Warren Fisher (civil servant)|Sir Warren Fisher]]
| 1919–1939
| also Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|2
| [[Horace Wilson (civil servant)|Sir Horace Wilson]]
| 1939–1942
| also Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|3
| [[Richard Hopkins (civil servant)|Sir Richard Hopkins]]
| 1942–1945
| also Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|4
| [[Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges|Sir Edward Bridges]]
| 1945–1956
| also Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|5
| [[Norman Brook|Sir Norman Brook]]
| 1956–1962
| also Joint Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|6
| [[Laurence Helsby, Baron Helsby|Sir Laurence Helsby]]
| 1963–1968
| also Joint Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|7
| [[William Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Sanderstead|Sir William Armstrong]]
| 1968–1974
| also Permanent Secretary, [[Civil Service Department]]
|-
|8
| [[Douglas Allen, Baron Croham|Sir Douglas Allen]]
| 1974–1978
| also Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Department
|-
|9
| [[Ian Bancroft|Sir Ian Bancroft]]
| 1978–1981
| also Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Department
|-
|10
| [[Douglas Wass|Sir Douglas Wass]]
| 1981–1983
| also Secretary to the Treasury
|-
|11
| [[Robert Armstrong, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster|Sir Robert Armstrong]]
| 1981–1987
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|12
| [[Robin Butler|Sir Robin Butler]]
| 1988–1998
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|13
| [[Richard Wilson, Baron Wilson of Dinton|Sir Richard Wilson]]<ref>David Butler and Gareth Butler, ''Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000'', Macmillan, 2000, p. 302.</ref>
| 1998–2002
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|14
| [[Andrew Turnbull, Baron Turnbull|Sir Andrew Turnbull]]
| 2002–2005
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|15
| [[Gus O'Donnell|Sir Gus O'Donnell]]
| 2005–2011
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|16
| [[Bob Kerslake|Sir Bob Kerslake]]
| 2012–2014
| also Permanent Secretary, Department of Communities and Local Government
|-
|17
| [[Jeremy Heywood|Sir Jeremy Heywood]]
| 2014–2018
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|18
| [[Mark Sedwill|Sir Mark Sedwill]]
| 2018–2020
| also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|19
|[[Simon Case]]
|2020–2024
|also Secretary to the Cabinet
|-
|20
|[[Chris Wormald|Sir Chris Wormald]]
|2024–present
|also Secretary to the Cabinet
|}

===Permanent Secretaries Management Group (PSMG)===<!-- This section is linked from [[Cabinet Secretary]] -->
The PSMG considers issues of strategic importance to the Civil Service as a whole, as well as providing corporate leadership where a single position is required across all government departments.<ref name=PSMG>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/psmg/index.asp |title=Permanent Secretaries Management Group |publisher=UK Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915133807/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/psmg/index.asp |archive-date=15 September 2008 }}</ref> It is chaired by the Head of the Civil Service<ref name=HoCS/> and consists of all [[Permanent Secretary (United Kingdom)|first permanent secretaries]] and other selected permanent secretaries and [[director-general|directors general]]. This includes the Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service,<ref name=PSMG_members>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/leadership/psmg/psmg.aspx |title=Membership of the Permanent Secretaries Management Group |publisher=UK Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717014057/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/leadership/psmg/psmg.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2010 }}</ref> and the Head of the Diplomatic Service.<ref name=HoDS>{{cite web |url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/PSMG/peter_ricketts.asp |title=Sir Peter Ricketts, Permanent Under Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office |publisher=UK Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121224707/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/PSMG/peter_ricketts.asp |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}</ref>

===Civil Service Steering Board (CSSB)===
The CSSB was established in 2007 and meets monthly.<ref name=CS_governance>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/index.asp |title=Civil Service governance |publisher=UK Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921175350/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/index.asp |archive-date=21 September 2008 }}</ref> Its role is to enhance the performance and reputation of the Civil Service by focusing on specific areas delegated to it by PSMG.<ref name=CS_governance/><ref name=CSSB>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/cssb/index.asp |title=Civil Service Steering Board |publisher=UK Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015080035/http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/structure/CSSB/index.asp |archive-date=15 October 2008 }}</ref> The CSSB is chaired by the Head of the Civil Service.<ref name=HoCS/>

===Civil Service Commissioners===
{{Main|First Civil Service Commissioner}}
The Civil Service Commissioners are not civil servants and are independent of Ministers, they are appointed directly by the Crown under Royal Prerogative and they report annually to the King.<ref name=CSCommission_01>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/About_us/ |title=Civil Service Commissioners website (About Us) |publisher=Civil Service Commissioners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914173227/http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/About_us/ |archive-date=14 September 2008 }}</ref>

Their main role is regarding the recruitment of civil servants. They have the responsibility to ensure that all civil servants are recruited on the "principle of selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition." They maintain a recruitment code on the interpretation and application of that principle, and approve any exceptions to it. They audit recruitment policies and practices within the Civil Service and approve all appointments to the most senior levels of the Civil Service.<ref name=CSCommission_02>{{cite web|url=http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/About_us/Code_of_Practice/ |title=Civil Service Commissioners website (Code of Practice) |publisher=Civil Service Commissioners |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509085220/http://www.civilservicecommissioners.org/About_us/Code_of_Practice/ |archive-date=9 May 2008 }}</ref>

The Commissioners also hear and determine appeals in cases of concern about propriety and conscience raised by civil servants under the Civil Service Code which cannot be resolved through internal procedures.<ref name=CSCommission_02/>

Northern Ireland has a separate Commission called the ''Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland'' which has the same role.<ref name=CSCommission_02/><ref name=nics_01>{{cite web|url=http://www.nicscommissioners.org/ |title=Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland | publisher=Civil Service Commissioners for Northern Ireland}}</ref>