Home Office ‘is now an example of good HR practice’

18 September 2009:

HR at the Home Office has improved to such an extent over the past three years that it is now cited as an example for the rest of the civil service, according to the head of HR at the department.

The Home Office had high-profile problems in 2006 when it received a poor capability review and was labelled “not fit for purpose” by home secretary at the time, John Reid. But since then it has smartened up its act, receiving a much better report in 2008 and being praised for its “appetite for improvement” in a further assessment this summer.

Back office functions, including HR, did not escape criticism in the first review but Home Office HR director-general Kevin White told PM that the function is now felt to be much better and more professional.

“It is beginning to be a reality that, when Whitehall wants to give an example of good HR practice, it points to the Home Office,” he said.

The HR transformation since 2006 has included the move to shared services for transactional HR, a greater focus on measurement and customer service in the function and the creation of a new programme for graduate HR trainees.