Minister for the
Cabinet Office Tessa Jowell has been appointed as the new Chair of
the successful Public Services Forum (PSF), which encourages
employers, government and trades unions to work together to
deliver world class public services for everyone.
She takes on her role at a critical stage in the PSF’s history
when it is driving forward its work on improving vital skills to
ensure all staff can deliver the best possible services during the
global downturn and beyond.
* This week the forum published a report on what has been
achieved in its first five years, showing it has made a real
impact on the whole of the public service workforce of nearly six
million people. It also looks ahead to the challenges facing the
public sector in the coming months and years.
Successes so far include:
* the Code of Practice on Workforce Matter, which prevents the
emergence of a two-tier workforce in outsourced public services.
* the innovative Drive for Change programme, which has introduced
new ways of learning from the frontline so that policy is informed
by the people who actually deliver services.
Welcoming the publication of the report, Tessa Jowell said:
“The PSF is still enabling productive discussions between the
government and trades unions on workforce reform after nearly six
years.
“Demand for public services is increasing during the recession,
so it’s more important than ever that frontline staff have the
skills and support they need to deliver first-rate services.
“In Building Britain’s Future we set out an ambitious vision for
the future of public services in this country, but we can only
make that vision a reality by working with everyone involved in
the public services supply chain.
“The forum allows us to do that – I’m very proud to be its new
chair and I’m looking forward to continuing its good work as we
tackle the economic challenges ahead.”
Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress,
who works with the forum, agrees its achievements have helped
citizens get a better deal:
“The PSF has achieved a great deal in its first five years.
Unions, employers and government need to get together and discuss
the vital issues affecting public services – fairly paid and
supported staff, delivering high quality services with proper and
sustainable funding. The current economic downturn makes the case
for the Public Services Forum all the more important.”
Susan Anderson, director of public services at the Confederation
of British Industry (CBI), said:
“The considerable challenges our public services face will only
be met if people work together. No one has all the answers, so the
more we come together and share our views and experiences, the better.
“The Public Services Forum is playing a major role in addressing
workforce issues. It has added real value over its first five
years and we’re looking forward to being part of it in the future.”
Stephen Bubb, chief executive of the Association of Chief
Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), said:
“Tackling the recession and thinking about the effects of public
spending constraints will require us as employers, unions and
Government to think creatively, to welcome innovation and to work
together. The PSF is a great forum for us to do this. I will
ensure that the voice of third sector – now an employer of over
1.3million people is heard loud and clear.”
Notes to editors
1. The forum has published a report on its first 5 years and will
follow it with an annual update on progress.
2. The report was prepared by the Public Service Reform
Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, in partnership with the trade
unions, public sector employers, the CBI and the voluntary sector.
3. The Public Services Reform Forum was set up in 2003 to improve
national dialogue between government, public service trade unions
and public sector employees. Since then it has been working to
improve the delivery and citizen experience of public services by
bringing together these bodies to consider workforce issues that
are critical for the delivery of public services. At two of the
four annual meetings representatives from the trade unions can to
talk frankly to ministers without other partners present.
4. The report is available on the Cabinet Office website –
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/workforcematters/psf-fiveyears.aspx
Cabinet Office Press Office 22 Whitehall LONDON SW1A 2WH
Tel:
020 7276 1146
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Out of hours telephone 07699 113300 and ask for pager number 721338
Contacts:
Cabinet Office Press Office
Phone: 020 7276 1273
Fax: 020
7276 0618
NDS.cabinetoffice@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Sinead. Keller
Phone: 0207 276 1146
sinead.keller@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk