Resources for GSS Heads of Profession (HoPs)

The following provide support for statistics Heads of Profession:

Central Policy Secretariat

Central Policy Secretariat (CPS) supports the HoPs network in a number of different ways, including organising meetings and sending out the weekly HoPs email. Get in touch by emailing: GSS@statistics.gov.uk.

The National Statistician and the Deputy National Statisticians

Find out more about the National Statistician and the deputies. Get in touch by emailing: National.Statistician@statistics.gov.uk.

GSS recruitment team

Find out more on the GSS careers and learning area.

Get in touch by emailing: GSS.Recruitment@ons.gov.uk.

GSS careers team

Find out more on the GSS careers and learning area.

Get in touch by emailing: GSS.Careers@ons.gov.uk.

GSS capability

Find out more on the GSS careers and learning area.

Get in touch by emailing: GSS.Capability@statistics.gov.uk

Other HoPs

You can contact other statistics HoPs through Central Policy Secretariat or via the HoPs channel on GSS Slack. These links will only work if you have a Slack account and are logged in. You will also need to be added to the HoPs channel to see the content there.  Please email GSSHelp@statistics.gov.uk if you need access.

HoPs from other departments can be contacted through the Central Policy Secretariat (email: GSS@statistics.gov.uk) or via the HoPs channel on the GSS workspace on Slack. These links will only work if you have a Slack account and are logged in. You will also need to be added to the HoPs channel. Please email GSSHelp@statistics.gov.uk if you need access.

• GSS workspace on Slack
• GSS area on the Analysis Function website
• Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) website
• GSS newsletter – email GSSHelp@statistics.gov.uk to subscribe
• OSR newsletter
• The Analysis Function newsletter (contact Analysis.Function@ons.gov.uk to subscribe)
• Weekly HoPs e-mail (this is sent out by the Central Policy Secretariat: GSS@statistics.gov.uk)

Roles and responsibilities for statistics Heads of Profession.

Background

The GSS Vision, Strength in Numbers, sets out a range of objectives for the statistical system moving forward. As part of this, and to help strengthen GSS leadership, we include an ambition that GSS Heads of Profession (HoPs) should have an explicit objective reflecting their responsibilities for cross‑GSS leadership. A GSS Governance Task and Finish Group considered how best to embed this ambition into performance objectives. This section summarises their recommendations, which were endorsed by the National Statistician’s Executive Group (NSEG) in December 2025.

HoPs play a critical role in ensuring coherence, quality, and trustworthiness across the statistical system. While many HoPs already contribute significantly to cross‑GSS activity, this contribution is not always visible or consistently recognised within departmental objectives and performance frameworks.

Introducing a clear GSS‑focused objective helps to:

• make expectations explicit, ensuring cross‑GSS leadership is recognised as a core part of the HoP role alongside their responsibility for statistical leadership within their own organisation
• support consistency across departments while allowing flexibility in how objectives are delivered
• enable HoPs to prioritise and protect time for cross‑government activity
• strengthen accountability and provide clearer evidence of impact to line managers
• improve collaboration, capability and coherence across the GSS as a whole

The Task and Finish Group recommended the introduction of a mandatory GSS HoP objective from 2026/2027. The objective should be developed by individuals to reflect their departmental context while including specific cross‑GSS deliverables wherever possible.

In summary:

• Senior Civil Service (SCS) HoPs should include cross‑GSS initiatives within existing SCS minimum standards related to cross‑government working
• Grade 6 HoPs should have an explicit cross‑GSS objective where their line manager does not hold this responsibility – otherwise they are strongly encouraged to include one
• this expectation also applies to Grade 6 Deputy HoPs
• all GSG SCS should include cross‑GSS activity within SCS minimum standards relating to championing the Code of Practice for Statistics

Illustrative examples of GSS HoP objectives

These examples are intended to illustrate the type and scope of activity that could be included in a GSS-wide HoP objective. They are not prescriptive and should be adapted to reflect individual roles, grades, and departmental priorities.

Example 1: Representing the department across the GSS

By [date], actively represent [my department] across the UK statistical system, including engagement with GSS Heads of Profession, the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in order to raise the department’s profile as a forward‑thinking statistics producer.

• Participate in at least ten cross‑government forums or working groups, contributing departmental insights and promoting innovation and good practice.
• Deliver two actions that visibly enhance the department’s reputation within the GSS (for example, presenting a case study, leading a cross‑government session, or showcasing methodological improvements).

Success would be evidenced through positive feedback from cross‑government partners and increased visibility of departmental contributions.

Example 2: Shaping cross‑government standards and capability

By [date], lead and strengthen the department’s contribution to the GSS by actively shaping cross‑government statistical standards, capability, and coherence.

• Contribute actively to GSS HoPs meetings.
• Be involved in at least two GSS steering groups, Task and Finish Groups, or community initiatives.
• Sponsor a GSS Champions group focused on [topic], meeting quarterly with the network, representing it at HoPs meetings, and helping to unblock barriers to progress.

Success would be evidenced through positive feedback from Deputy Heads of the GSS, delivery of agreed cross‑government milestones, and demonstrable adoption of improved practices across the GSS network.

Example 3: Engagement through the HoP network and OSR

By [date], make a sustained and visible contribution to the wider GSS through active engagement in the HoP network and structured engagement with the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

• Attend at least 80% of quarterly HoP meetings and fortnightly HoP calls, contributing updates and sharing insights from [my department].
• Promote GSS‑wide initiatives such as training, conferences, awards, and secondments through at least four targeted communications or briefings per year.
• Provide departmental input to GSS, OSR or ONS‑led initiatives, contributing to a minimum of three consultations or working groups where relevant.
• Participate actively in a GSS Task and Finish Group on [topic], delivering agreed actions and contributing to at least two tangible outputs.

Success would be measured through evidence of departmental representation in HoP outputs, positive feedback from GSS partners, increased departmental participation in cross‑government opportunities, and delivery of Task and Finish Group milestones.

Example 4: Championing the Code of Practice for Statistics

By [date], actively champion the Code of Practice for Statistics across the department by strengthening understanding, adoption, and assurance among statistical producers and users.

• Deliver at least three targeted engagement activities, such as workshops, briefings, or drop‑in sessions, to improve awareness of the Code.
• Act as a visible point of contact for Code‑related queries, supporting teams to apply the Code during planning, production, and dissemination of statistics.

Success would be evidenced through improved compliance and assurance, positive feedback from colleagues, and increased confidence and understanding of Code principles across the department.

If you have any questions about these objectives, please email GSS@statistics.gov.uk.

• The strategy for the United Kingdom statistical system
• GSS Harmonisation Workplan
• GSS Quality Strategy

All strategies in the GSS policy and guidance hub.

Useful links

• The GSG recruitment policy
• Guidance for the adoption of success profiles

Recruitment campaign planner

GSS recruitment mainstream dates for Statistical Officers, placements and apprenticeships.

For C4 and C10 the type of exercise will be determined by the requirements of departments at that time.

GSS recruitment campaigns 2025-26

Questions about recruitment

Contact the recruitment team (GSS.Recruitment@ons.gov.uk) if you have a query relating to:

• permanent and temporary recruitment
• badging exercises
• sandwich students
• summer placements
• GSS assessor training
• careers fairs
• GSS Fast Stream recruitment

Useful links

• The policy on badging statisticians
• GSG competency framework
• The GSG Career Framework with information on how to help people use it
• The policy for recruiting a statistical Head of Profession

Questions about careers

Contact the careers team (GSS.Careers@ons.gov.uk) if you have a query relating to:

• GSS professional standards
• Government Statistician Group (GSG) competency framework
• badging policy
• careers and talent pipelines (including GSS apprenticeships)
• GSS Fast Stream scheme and policies
• GSS student roles

• The Code of Practice for Statistics
• Reporting breaches of the code
• Labelling official statistics
• Publishing official and accredited official statistics
• Publishing official statistics in development
• Changing or ceasing to publish official statistics
• Publishing official statistics on polling days
• Management information and official statistics
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• The CPD policy for the Government Statistician Group (GSG)

All these and more can be found on the main guidance hub.

• Training courses
• The GSG learning pathways
• GSS careers and learning
• Analysis Function learning area
• Analysis Function careers area

Any questions on learning and development? Email: GSS.Capability@statistics.gov.uk

Data leaders network

Find out about the data leaders network on GOV.UK

Champion networks

GSS champion networks 

Analysis Function champion networks:

• Reproducible Analytical Pipeline (RAP) champions
• Data linkage champions 

About the Analysis Function

The Analysis Function: Frequently Asked Questions

About the GSS, Government Statistician Group (GSG), government professions and Analysis Function

All producers of official statistics have a responsibility to work closely with the devolved administrations.

Read more about working across the devolved administrations.

The Office for Statistics Regulation is the regulatory arm of the UK Statistics Authority. It aims to enhance public confidence in the trustworthiness, quality and value of statistics produced by government. It does this using four main tools:

• assessment – assessing statistics against the Code of Practice for Statistics and designating them as accredited official statistics if they comply in full
• compliance checks – providing a high-level review of the statistics
• systemic Reviews – on issues and opportunities that cut across the statistical system
• casework – making public comment on the uses of official statistics

The OSR ogranise their work around subject themes. This has enabled them to develop wider networks of external contacts and topic expertise. As part of this approach, their regulators will seek to maintain regular contact with all HoPs. The OSR team page gives the names and contact information and their subject themes.

Find out more about diversity and inclusion in the GSS.