The implementation of a single civil service HR policy across all Whitehall agencies has moved a step closer following the appointment of the first head of Government HR Operations.
 

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s in-house publication People Management, Chris Last, HR director general of the Department for Work and Pensions, has taken up the cross-departmental role, while also retaining his existing responsibilities.
 
Last’s remit includes boosting HR professionalism and talent management across central government, but he will also be accountable for HR performance management.
 
Ian Watmore, who took up the post of chief operating officer at the Cabinet Office’s Efficiency and Reform Group last September, said: “This appointment is a key part of the new model for government HR operations. It will ensure we are able to continue to build HR capability and ensure quality of service to our HR operations, in both our central arrangements and in our respective departments.”
 
Watmore has been tasked with ensuring there is a coordinated approach to cost-cutting activities across central government as well as improving accountability. Among other things, he has been appointed to lead a cross-departmental group charged with creating single coherent HR policy for the civil service across all Whitehall HR departments by March 2012.
 
The initiative will cover revamping HR processes and expert functions as well as policy development and delivery. Job losses have not been ruled out in order to remove duplication between agencies. Other priorities include simplifying civil service pay structures and terms and conditions and cutting expenses.
 
Last, whose role it will be to implement the new policy, said: “I am really pleased to be able to take on this new role. It is a challenging but important time for the development of government HR. I look forward to working with my colleagues across government to continue to deliver this ambitious programme.”