This report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development sets out the building blocks needed to create a transformed HR function that will help public sector organisations drive high performance and meet targets. It is based on research across the public sector including Leeds City Council, Health and Safety Executive and HM Revenue and Customs.

It makes recommendations for public sector HR professionals to help overcome key challenges in their bid to achieve targets and compete against private sector organisations for talent.

The report highlights the need for HR departments to identify the people issues that will make the greatest difference to business performance and treat them as a priority. The reform agenda is crucial to the success of organizations, but research shows that employee engagement seems to be neglected in taking reform forward, despite the role it plays in the performance culture.

Other key issues are how to develop the skills and confidence to act strategically in areas such as business partnering, organisational development and change management and how HR can work more closely with senior managers to develop strong leadership and wider organisational talent.

The report is available from CIPD. http://www.cipd.co.uk