NEW LEADERSHIP ASSURANCE & BENCHMARKING SERVICE FROM NATIONAL SCHOOL

4 Jul 2008 03:53 PM A new ‘Leadership Assurance & Benchmarking’ (LAB) service from the National School of Government will help Departments ensure that in-house leadership development is effective, delivers a return on investment and supports the corporate leadership agenda across government.

The new service, launched in Whitehall on Monday June 30, is a ‘light touch’ and constructive approach to assessment based on the National School’s Strategic Leadership Development Model, which reflects the components of world-class leadership development identified by Professor Ivan Robertson and the SCS Leadership Model.

Speaking at the launch event, Robin Ryde of the National School told those present: “Each year government spends well over £40 million on developing its leaders, and Departments have indicated to us that they would value advice and support in ensuring the quality of their in-house development activities and in benchmarking performance against one another. This practical and expert service is the National School’s response.”

Designed for SCS and feeder grade leadership development activities, the service includes diagnostic models – the Self-Assessment Inventory and the Maturity Index – which identify both strengths and areas for improvement. On completion, the activity is given a star rating from one to four which is valid for three years, with results published on the National School website.

The event saw the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) - which piloted the service on its New Leaders’ Programme - awarded a 3 Star rating, indicating that its practice is ‘Advanced: Exceeds minimum quality standards in most areas and may demonstrate exemplary standards in some’. BERR was delighted with the outcome, with a spokesperson commenting: “The process was rigorous but also a very positive experience. And the benefits have been well worth the effort. We now have external accreditation that shows the value of our internal leadership programme so we can be confident that our new SCS are getting the best mix of departmental and corporate development. We found this a non-bureaucratic way to validate an existing intervention that we know works well. We’re pleased too that the benefits extend beyond the programme itself and that we’re been able to use the experience to add value to other areas of our learning and development.”

Incorporating ‘do-it-yourself’, supported diagnostic and full service options, LAB can be applied flexibly to reflect the nature, size and scope of the leadership development activity in question - agreed in consultation with client organisations. For more information on LAB, or for a free trial of the Self-Assessment Inventory, visit:

www.nationalschool.gov.uk/leadership/leadershipassurance.asp or contact Pat Harrison or Sai Shanmugarajah at the National School on 01344 634 679 or 01344 634 681 respectively (email: pat.harrison@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk, or sai.shanmugarajah@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk).

Notes for editors

As the Government’s centre of excellence for learning and development, the National School of Government became a separate government department in January 2007. 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.

For media enquiries, please contact Rob Reynolds, National School of Government; email: rob.reynolds@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk; tel 01344 634145; m 07881 518719, or Chris Blunkell; email: chris.blunkell@btinternet.com; tel: 01227 772747; m 07941 831341.