A

Awareness ?Learn more about skills levels

As you move into the SCS, there is an expectation that you already have an awareness of all ODP core skills and therefore the minimum expectation is that you would be at Working Level / Developing Level. 

Recognising that you do not require ‘Awareness’ this is foregone and you progress through the 7 capabilities assessing your current expertise from the minimum expectation for SCS ‘Working’ through to ‘Expert’ level. 

W

Working ?Learn more about skills levels

SCS1: 

• Uses data to maintain regular view of health and efficiency of processes across their portfolio. Identifies areas of concern, fine tunes processes and mitigates risks quickly.
• Creates a culture where teams remain curious and open to change as new patterns/insights emerge from insight; and builds the capability of their teams to turn data into insights to shape operational delivery.

SCS2:

• Delivers consistent service delivery, through empowering teams to use data, insight and evidence to make sound judgements and manage risk across the end-to-end operation. 
• Builds a culture of the appropriate use of data throughout the organisation. Advocates for data literacy across their organisation, the Civil Service and fosters a culture of making data available to all. 

SCS3: 

• Keeps data at the heart of everything they do, adopts a horizon scanning approach to data as an enabler for business outputs. Appropriately sharing insights across teams and with ministers, building team confidence in data driven decision making.
• Builds teams confidence in using insight in practice actively encouraging a performance coaching culture to data interpretation. Leads teams to challenge what is behind the data using analysis to drive effective, engaging leadership of service delivery.

P

Practitioner ?Learn more about skills levels

SCS1: 

• Uses varied and complex data sets and management information to make process improvement decisions quickly and deliver service performance efficiencies across their portfolio. 
• Ensures data is available to teams and fosters a culture of using insight to inform decisions across operational teams, asking the right questions to ensure actions are focused on delivering outcomes and mitigate risks.

SCS2:

• Demonstrates astute business awareness, across the end-to-end operation, bridging the gap between policy development and operations.
• Empowers teams to use insight and evidence at pace to manage risk and reach sound judgements, with focus on both high-quality services and developing innovative solutions supporting departmental outcomes. Creates a culture within teams where they use data and insight to tell a story both within and outside of their organisation.

SCS3: 

• As an expert in their operational area consistently drives data understanding and innovation across teams. Acting as a role model for streamlining data-based insight through decisions and leading synergy and understanding of advancement in the external market. Uses data to drive financial decision making, including the prioritisation of operational activity.
• Uses Insight to develop an understanding of future impacts on area of responsibility enabling constructive decision making around workforce, demands and effective service delivery.

E

Expert ?Learn more about skills levels

SCS1: 

• Uses data to articulate multi-layered, complex issues to inform policy development and ensures this is effectively translated into operational performance, delivering a consistent and high-quality service and driving performance improvement/transforming the way customers access and experience service.
• Supports a culture where teams are encouraged to question the origin of insight, handle the absence of data sets and consider which insight is most relevant to inform decision making.

SCS2:

• Keeps data at the heart of everything they do, empowering teams to effectively analyse and use insights to influence policies and processes and deliver consistent and high-quality services across their organisation and the wider Civil Service. Intervenes at the right time, including where it is necessary to balance wider considerations such as the political environment.
• Fosters a culture of making data available and empowering colleagues across the organisation, ensuring teams at all levels have the capability to use relevant insight. 

SCS3: 

• As the most senior voice for their operational area has a strong interest and understanding of the role external markets play in decision making to support efficiencies, productivity, and development of the most effective services. Building a culture of evidence-based decision making, skills around data interpretation and use.