Government Analysis Function > Government Statistical Service and Statistician Group > GSS governance > GSS committees and groups > GSS People Advisory Group

GSS People Advisory Group

The People Advisory Group (PAG) supports the National Statistician and statistical Heads of Profession (HoPs) to provide a world class statistical service. It works to strengthen the Government Statistical Service (GSS) as a community for sharing best practice and team working.

PAG also concentrates on recruitment, personal development, talent management and retention for the Government Statistician Group (GSG), in line with the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) strategy.

The group meets four times a year and has four main responsibilities:

  1. To advise the various GSS professional support teams on the development of people policies for the GSS.
  2. To implement the strategy for UK statistics.
  3. To advise the statistical HoPs on people issues.
  4. To develop important reference documents and communications that support professional development in the GSG, including the Government Statistician Group competency framework.

Each year, PAG develops a programme of work on behalf of the National Statistician and statistical HoPs. There are several teams and groups responsible for completing this programme of work, including:

  • various GSS teams
  • the Steering Group and Task and Finish Group — this structure sits underneath PAG

The chair of PAG is Gemma Brand from the Department for Transport. Other members of PAG are senior managers from UK government departments and Devolved Administrations.

The work of PAG is supported through two Steering Groups:

  • Career Framework Steering Group
  • Learning and Development Steering Group

The Steering Groups consult, research, develop options, make recommendations, and make decisions. They will also set the remit for individual task and finish groups and act on their findings.

Task and Finish Groups are commissioned to work on solutions for priority objectives. Their responsibility is to consult with important stakeholders, represent departments, inform, recommend, and achieve the priority objectives.

The current priorities of PAG are split between the two Steering Groups.

Career Framework Steering Group

The priorities of this group are to:

  • oversee the Apprenticeships Task and Finish Group
  • oversee the Fast Stream Review Task and Finish Group
  • oversee the GSS Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Shadow Board
  • work on the Employee Offer including entry routes to the profession
  • oversee the GSS people policies, including the GSG Competency Framework

Learning and Development Steering Group

The priorities of this group are to:

  • develop a suitable statistical learning curriculum for the GSS Fast Stream
  • work with the Analysis Function to promote the analytical learning offering, including the Analysis Function online skills tool
  • ensure analytical learning is produced in line with Learning Needs Analysis

Purpose

The purpose of the GSS People Advisory Group is to develop and review people policies and practice for the GSS community. “GSS” will always refer to the wider GSS community, which includes the GSG profession.

PAG will:

  • set the GSS People Priorities for the year and oversee the progress with an annual report to HoPs
  • provide governance to the Learning and Development Steering Group and the Career Framework Steering Group — this will help ensure both groups can contribute to the content of the GSS People Priorities
  • report to HoPs and make recommendations to them on people issues based on the work from the Steering Groups and the Task and Finish Groups
  • ensure people interventions which include policies and procedures are embedded consistently across the GSS
  • be responsible for the policy on GSG Competency Framework, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) policy, core statistical training programmes, GSG entry routes, and recruitment

Ways of working

PAG will:

  • set the people strategic direction for the GSS, taking into consideration Civil Service HR and Analysis Function direction to avoid duplication of effort
  • actively contribute to and benefit from the strategic people aspects of the wider analytical community across government
  • review the GSS People Priorities every 3 months to maintain a realistic workload for the Steering Groups and the Task and Finish Groups
  • triage decision making to the appropriate level — for example, this could involve deciding whether an issue should be referred to HoPs or to Steering Groups
  • ensure people across the GSS community have opportunities to get involved in its work through either Steering Groups or Task and Finish Groups
  • ensure inclusivity by considering the diversity of needs and views across the GSS, including those of the Devolved Administrations through active contributions and interactive sessions
  • refer appropriate matters to HoPs and the National Statistician when needed

PAG will normally meet virtually every 3 months to monitor progress. These meetings will be 90 minutes long. Any other requests can be discussed through monthly correspondence as needed.

Each meeting will concentrate on the main workstreams from the GSS People Priorities. Papers from the Steering Groups will be distributed 5 working days before the meeting date, when needed.

The group will share an executive summary to the Steering Groups and will decide the most appropriate communication method to engage with Heads of Profession.

The composition of the Steering Groups and Task and Finish Groups should reflect a diversity of views across the GSS and concentrate on the timely development of well-defined products.

Membership

Members are expected to attend the group meetings. If a member is unable to attend, they should send a temporary representative in their place. This temporary representative must have the authority to make decisions.

The membership of PAG is made up of:

  • The Chair
  • Steering Group Chairs
  • Task and Finish Group Chairs
  • GSS Head of Profession
  • Deputy Director of People Capability
  • Head of Analysis Function Capability and GSS Careers Team
  • Head of GSS Policy and Coordination
  • GSS People Priority Leads

In addition to the specific roles, personal viewpoints of members may be considered by PAG. Members must clearly indicate when they are sharing a personal viewpoint.

People Advisory Group Chair

The role of the PAG Chair is to:

  • provide overall leadership for PAG by ensuring the people priorities are in line with strategic considerations and the views of the National Statistician and HoPs
  • work with PAG on the strategic direction and work programme of the People Priorities
  • report to HoPs on PAG activities and provide feedback on relevant people discussions and decisions

Steering Group Chairs

The role of the Steering Group Chairs is to:

  • provide overall leadership for the Steering Group and Task and Finish Groups to carry out activities outlined in GSS People Priorities
  • ensure PAG’s work activities align with the wider Analysis Function agenda and Civil Service direction
  • ensure the GSS community is engaged and well represented

Task and Finish Group Chairs

The role of the Task and Finish Group Chairs is to:

  • seek and represent the views of members from the Task and Finish Groups
  • provide updates and papers to help with decision making
  • maintain a close relationship with their HoP, keeping them up to date with the work of PAG and supporting the embedding of new people policies

GSS Head of Profession

The role of the GSS Head of Profession is to:

  • be an advocate within the GSS HoP community
  • champion or sponsor people interventions across the GSS community

Deputy Director of People Capability

The role of the Deputy Director of People Capability is to be:

  • accountable for the GSS People Priorities
  • an advocate for the GSS

Head of Analysis Function Capability and GSS Careers Team

The role of the Head of Analysis Function Capability and GSS Careers Team is to:

  • provide links to the Analysis Function
  • advise PAG on professional Human Resources issues in the context of central government

Head of GSS Policy and Co-ordination

The role of the Head of GSS Policy and Co-ordination is to provide the link to the appropriate governance channels for the GSS HoP community and the National Statistics Executive Group (NSEG), when needed

GSS People Priorities Leads

The role of the GSS People Priorities Leads is to:

  • provide professional advice and support on their relevant topic area
  • provide updates and papers to help with decision making when needed
  • incorporate the Analysis Function strategic direction within their workstream

The next PAG meetings will take place on:

  • Tuesday 5 March 2024
  • Tuesday 4 June 2024
  • Tuesday 10 September 2024
  • Monday 18 November 2024

Terms of Reference

The GSS Career Framework Steering Group has two distinct aims:

  1. To consult with stakeholders, research, test and agree solutions and recommendations before submission to PAG for approval, for issues affecting recruitment, badging, career frameworks and success profiles.
  2. To act as a “first response” to provide or identify a solution where the community has an urgent, one-off or bespoke ad-hoc recruitment or careers need.

Terms of reference

The L&D Steering Group is mandated by PAG as the main consultation forum and platform for all GSS learning developments. The Steering Group provides a place where:

  • GSS organisations can influence and inform the learning offer — this leads to solutions for emerging requirements being identified at earliest opportunity
  • core GSS learning providers engage and consult community representatives on important changes and developments before submission to PAG for approval

Contact

If you have any item that you wish to be considered for a future PAG meeting, you should contact your departmental HoP in the first instance. Alternatively, you can contact:

For any other queries, please email GSS.Careers@ons.gov.uk.

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