Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that all those working in Government Departments receive training on bullying and harassment.

There are model policies in place for use by departments on Dispute Resolution and Discipline, which cover all aspects of bullying and harassment, including processes for employees to follow to ensure that Civil Service managers and employees have the right advice and options available to them for raising their concerns, with signposting to the appropriate support. Our model guidance also includes a separate Sexual Harassment policy and guidance.

CSHR have provided guidance and training for investigations being carried out internally in departments to support departments to investigate all issues raised. Processes include specific advice and guidance relating to handling all disputes with specific advice on bullying and harassment complaints.

We provide materials for cross-departmental ‘Speak Up’ campaigns to encourage individuals to come forward to report poor behaviours.

The Civil Service Diversity & Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 has specific actions to take in continuing to address bullying and harassment within the Civil Service:

(a) review progress made within departments on implementing the recommendations from the 2018 major review by Dame Sue Owen of the Civil Service arrangements for tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination; to identify what more we can do to continue to make progress

(b) develop our central policies around sexual harassment, safeguarding and domestic violence, building on those already in place, along with clear employee assistance routes to support victims.

Activity to deliver on those commitments has begun and is due to be completed within the lifetime of the strategy.

As part of the leadership and management curriculum as set out in Leading to Deliver: A Leadership and Management Prospectus, we are ensuring that inclusion is integral to the design, ensuring that it supports our objectives, setting clear expectations for all leaders and managers at all levels and providing managers with the skills to have challenging conversations and investigate if needed.

We have also recently developed a new course of Civil Service Expectations which sets out expectations of civil servants, covering Civil Service Values, the legislation and the support available for employees.