Professionalism and skills

We promote the professionalism of senior public servants, and the specialist skills they hone in Government. 

We help our members develop their skills and experience.  We support government skills programmes, provide discounted career development programmes and have launched our own skills programme, FDA Learn. 

FDA Learn was devised to help members get the most from the Professional Skills for Government programme and take control of their careers.

Career development services

We have long offered career development services tailored for FDA members. These are now provided through the union's partner, CareerWorks. 

Courses include coaching on career re-evaluation, appraisals, CV writing, as well as personally tailored courses.

FDA Learn

Following the outcome of a 2006 survey gathering members' views on the Professional Skills for Government (PSG) programme, we set up our own professional skills project: FDA Learn.

The project, which is supported by the Union Learning Fund (ULF), works with departments to ensure that PSG is a fair and effective career development programme.

In January 2008 the project was launched by offering members a bespoke career coaching and counselling service.

To fulfil our aims, the project is committed to building relationships with all stakeholders including the National School of Government, departments and agencies, professional bodies and other higher education providers.

The project was highly commended in the 2010 ULF awards and has received funding for a second phase concentrating on the recession and all forms of diversity.

Union learning representatives

A network of trained FDA union learning representatives (ULRs) across the civil service has also been established as part of the project.

Based on a coaching and mentoring approach, the role of the ULR is to 'inform and support' members in developing and achieving their professional goals.

The ULRs can:

• signpost opportunities and providers
• receive training and have the right to time off to carry out their duties
• are supported by learning agreements with employers  (primarily government departments and agencies where the FDA has members).