242 - Working in the public sector
CT310: Principles of working in the public sector (optional)
Organisational structures
The organisation of Central Government is separated into separate government departments. Most government departments are headed by a secretary of state or other senior minister and the structure of these departments tends to reflect what functions the minister has to oversee. Some departments are known as ‘non-ministerial’ which means they are not headed directly by a minister, but rather by a board answerable to Parliament.
Examples of ministerial departments are:
Charity Commission
Food Standards Agency
HM Revenue & Customs
Office of Fair Trading.
Examples of non-ministerial departments are:
Cabinet Office
Department of Health
HM Treasury
Ministry of Defence
A department usually has executive agencies under it. These have a defined business function and are headed up by a chief executive (often supported by a management board). They operate almost like a separate organisation from the main department. Whilst the ministers are not directly involved with the day-to-day running of executive agencies, they are ultimately responsible for their performance to Parliament and the general public.
Examples of executive agencies are:
Highways Agency
HM Court and Tribunal Service
Identity and Passport Service
Jobcentre Plus
UK Border Agency.
Departments and executive agencies are staffed by civil servants who are ultimately accountable to Parliament through the relevant departmental minister.
Aside from government departments and executive agencies, there also exist non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), both advisory (to advise on policy) and executive (to carry out policy).
Executive NDPBs carry out a wide range of administrative, commercial and regulatory or technical functions which are considered to be better delivered at arm’s length from ministers. Again, they are directly accountable to ministers and, in turn, to Parliament and the public
Organisational structures
The organisation of Central Government is separated into separate government departments. Most government departments are headed by a secretary of state or other senior minister and the structure of these departments tends to reflect what functions the minister has to oversee. Some departments are known as ‘non-ministerial’ which means they are not headed directly by a minister, but rather by a board answerable to Parliament.
Examples of ministerial departments are:
Charity Commission
Food Standards Agency
HM Revenue & Customs
Office of Fair Trading.
Examples of non-ministerial departments are:
Cabinet Office
Department of Health
HM Treasury
Ministry of Defence
A department usually has executive agencies under it. These have a defined business function and are headed up by a chief executive (often supported by a management board). They operate almost like a separate organisation from the main department. Whilst the ministers are not directly involved with the day-to-day running of executive agencies, they are ultimately responsible for their performance to Parliament and the general public.
Examples of executive agencies are:
Highways Agency
HM Court and Tribunal Service
Identity and Passport Service
Jobcentre Plus
UK Border Agency.
Departments and executive agencies are staffed by civil servants who are ultimately accountable to Parliament through the relevant departmental minister.
Aside from government departments and executive agencies, there also exist non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), both advisory (to advise on policy) and executive (to carry out policy).
Executive NDPBs carry out a wide range of administrative, commercial and regulatory or technical functions which are considered to be better delivered at arm’s length from ministers. Again, they are directly accountable to ministers and, in turn, to Parliament and the public