The States have publicly advertised for a contractor to assist chief executive Charlie Parker in his planned overhaul, which he has said will include introducing a ‘culture based on teamwork, collaboration and getting things right first time’, as well as breaking down the ‘silo mentality’ where departments do not co-operate with each other. The appointment of a firm for the ‘provision of a culture change programme’ will be in addition to the recent extension of contracts for four members of Mr Parker’s ‘transition team’, who have completed their initial work.
Details of the terms of their new deals have not been revealed but they have cost at least £432,945 to employ since they were appointed at the end of last year.
No cost estimate of the work to be carried out by the contractor will be revealed until the supplier has been appointed, according to the States.
Chief operating officer Anna Daroy, director of communications Stephen Hardwick, organisational transformation consultant Jacquie McGeachie and strategic finance review consultant Camilla Black were appointed in October to drive changes in the public sector.
Although the team were officially ‘stood down’ last month, three have remained to work on ‘specific initiatives’ while the fourth is due to remain in post until a permanent appointment is made.
The job description for the new tender says that the estimated dates of the contract will be between 18 April and 31 December.
It says: ‘The States of Jersey are seeking tenders from suitably qualified companies with a track record in developing and delivering major cultural and behaviour change programmes in large complex organisations.
‘The programme will define and deliver how teams develop, work together and perform. Key elements are embedding, measurement and sustainability of the cultural change beyond the programme timeframe.’
A States spokeswoman said that the organisation intended to work with the successful bidder on a ‘four-year’ transformation programme.
‘The programme will involve a team from the company meeting all 7,500 managers and staff in small groups, over the four years, to develop new ways of working together as a one-government public service,’ she said.
‘Through hundreds of workshops and training events, the company will help to improve teamwork, collaboration and leadership capability, build a customer-focused approach, and help to embed the behaviours and values that will underpin the structural changes announced by Mr Parker.’
She added that the external supplier would ‘co-design and deliver’ the new programme with States officers.
‘One of the criteria that will influence the selection is the extent of the proposed social and economic contribution to Jersey by the supplier,’ she said.
‘The competitive tender closes on 8 May and a partner is expected to be appointed to start work in July. The costs of the contract will not be known or disclosed until the supplier has been appointed.’
Mr Parker said that modernising the public sector was ‘about more than structures, processes and services’.
He said: ‘It’s also about modernising our ways of working, our culture and our behaviours.
‘Building a motivated, open and accountable public service, in which colleagues collaborate, support each other and put Islanders first is an essential step in building one government to serve our Island.’
