Recognising the need for common understanding of policy development and implementation good practice across the Cayman Islands Government, a series of “Policy Workshops” was born five and a half years ago.
“The ultimate aim is improving the lives of those we serve by delivering outcomes more effectively,” explains Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. “This complements Goal 5 of the 5-Year Strategic Plan for the Civil Service – Demonstrate Excellence in Governance Practices.”
Supported by successive Cabinet Secretaries, these workshops are facilitated by Robert Lewis, former Director of the Policy Coordination Unit and now Acting Director of Special Projects in the Cabinet Office, and undertaken as part of the Cabinet Secretary’s constitutional role of ‘ensuring that Government policy is developed coherently’.
Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose notes, “Policy is at the heart of everything we do, so it is essential that we provide the support and training necessary to sharpen civil servants’ skills in the areas of policy development, coordination, implementation, and monitoring.”
Bringing his vast knowledge and experience in the area of public policy, Mr Lewis began facilitating workshops soon after his appointment as Director of the Policy Coordination Unit in 2011. He had previously worked as Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Policy Development at the Department of Planning and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the University of London, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and various management certifications.
Participants consistently commend how the facilitator makes the material informative, practical, interesting and engaging.
Karlene Bramwell, Policy Officer for Gender Affairs, says Mr Lewis has “a unique ability to make concepts clear and simple, and most importantly… impart information in a non-intimidating environment.”
Radio Cayman Talk Show Host Sterling Dwayne Ebanks echoed this sentiment, describing the environment created as giving participants “a sense of safety, security and confidence [that] affords them an opportunity to freely express opinions and ask questions.”
Lyneth Monteith, Director of Education Services, also thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and how the subject matter came alive.
The workshops focus on good practice regarding policy design, development, implementation, monitoring, review, evaluation and change. A key aim is to improve public outcomes by ensuring policies are developed and implemented through partnerships with stakeholders. This approach maximises buy-in and ownership, improving the likelihood of more comprehensive policy implementation and effectiveness of the actions taken.
The series has also recently become an important component of the pre-launch activities associated with the 5-Year Strategic Plan, hosted in partnership with the Portfolio of the Civil Service. Chief Officer Gloria McField-Nixon states, “Policy is a major deliverable of any government. As we strive to be a world class civil service, we seek to improve not only the way we deliver services but also way we formulate and evaluate the policies which govern those services.”
The one-day workshops are designed for senior and middle managers, including Chief Officers, Deputy Chief Officers, Heads of Department, Chief HR Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Senior Policy Officers and others in policy advisory or monitoring roles.
So far, attendees have been drawn from most Ministries and Portfolios as well as the Governor’s Office, Office of the Ombudsman, Judiciary, and Auditor General’s Office.
The Deputy Governor is keen to see this trend continue, saying, “The workshops so far have received excellent reviews from participants who acknowledge the benefits to their work and I would encourage all civil servants in policy related roles to take advantage of it.”
The workshops balance theoretical information and practical group activities, giving participants an opportunity to apply the theory discussed. But Mr Lewis believes “the real learning happens when participants take the principles raised in the session and correctly apply them to their own unique context.” For many participants, this means being concerned with a wider breadth of issues when putting together policy proposals.
A typical session begins with asking participants what they expect to get out of the workshop and tailoring it accordingly. The core content covers the basics of policy design and implementation, critical success factors, policy analysis exercises, and complimentary competencies – i.e. relevant hard and soft skills. Each workshop concludes with additional information such as an overview of the legislative drafting process, working with Ministers, training and information resources, and how to use various policy templates.