What is it?
'A Day in the Life' is a free work shadowing initiative that provides a unique opportunity for staff in government and Civil Society to step into each other's shoes for a day and learn about how the 'other side' operates.
Aim
The aim of 'A Day in the Life' is to improve cross-sector understanding of the roles and responsibilities of staff within the public and Civil Society sectors, as well as the operational environments and wider contexts in which they work. By opening up dialogue between staff, this in turn will ensure improved relationships and policy-making.
Government departments taking part in 2013
• Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
• Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)
• Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
• Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
• Department for Education (DfE)
• Home Office
How does it work?
Applicants are paired up with a suitable person from the opposite sector. At a convenient time during September - November, both spend up to a day in each other’s organisation. There they have the opportunity to find out more about each other’s work ranging from the day to day responsibilities through to the wider contexts in which they operate and the challenges they face. They also have the opportunity to ask questions, offer and take advice, and share ideas on how civil society and government can work more effectively together.
What you will get out of the scheme
The personal nature of the scheme provides a unique opportunity to observe, ask questions and acquire information at first hand - information that cannot be obtained through other more conventional methods of research.
For civil society staff:
• a greater understanding of decision-making processes within government and how a government department works
• a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of staff within a government department, including the challenges they face and ways in which they work with Civil Society
• a valuable insight into other organsational structures, practices and work cultures
Who can apply?
'A Day in the Life' is free to all Civil Society staff in England and staff of participating government departments.
For further information and to apply, visit: www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/workshadow
Deadline: Friday 26 July 2013