Paul Marinko 02 December 2022

Future Forum North: Build individual relationships with mandarins

Future Forum North: Build individual relationships with mandarins image
Image: pxl.store / Shutterstock.com.

Councils need to build individual relationships with Whitehall civil servants if they want to achieve positive outcomes, a former senior mandarin has advised.

Speaking to The MJ’s Future Forum North in Manchester, Stephen Jones, who recently became director of Core Cities after almost two decades in Whitehall, said viewing the civil service as a singular collective was a mistake.

He said the civil service should instead be viewed as a collection of individuals and teams with different agendas.

Mr Jones’ advice was that working with this reality was key for local government getting the most out of opportunities presented by Whitehall and councils should look to develop individual relationships with civil servants.

While he admitted civil servants were risk averse - and Whitehall only really welcomed innovation when faced with a crisis – there was a commitment from mandarins to levelling up to address regional inequality.

Mr Jones added the instinctive risk aversion of many civil servants meant examples of failure in local government were likely to colour their overall perception of councils.

He also said it was an unfortunate reality that civil servants rarely stayed in specific roles long enough to become experts.

But Mr Jones added: ‘While the civil service is riddled with generalists they are willing to learn.’

This article was originally published by The MJ (£). Learn more about Future Forum here.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner