GovXchange programme
hosting a secondee –
your questions answered

Internal approvals required for a secondment will vary between organisations. You should consult your organisation’s secondments policy to determine the approvals required.

For secondments into the Civil Service, additional approvals may need to be obtained from the Civil Service Commission and/or the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Further information can be sought by emailing the team at secondmentexpertise@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Secondment hosts will be able to bring in talented individuals who can offer fresh perspectives and help drive forward the valuable work you are trying to deliver. Secondees will have operated in a different form of government, and will be able to offer alternative insights as you develop your work.

You will be matched to a secondee who has the specific skills or expertise needed within your organisation. They can be utilised to deliver set pieces of work or projects, or build long-term capability within your organisation. We encourage you to consider how best a secondee could contribute to your team and wider organisation.

Guidance on headcount is available from ONS. The terms of the secondment will need to be agreed between the host and home organisation; however, the usual arrangement is for individuals to remain on their home organisation’s payroll and for the host organisation to reimburse the salary costs to the home organisation. In this case, the secondee will usually be classed as on their home organisation’s headcount.

Managers and vacancy holders are invited to submit the details of the proposed placement using this form. The form requests information including the role details and essential skills and/or experience. Organisation specific approvals and policies have to be followed before submitting the form.

We are not restricted to facilitating secondments only where there is a specific vacancy to fill. If there is a particular skill or area of expertise you are looking to bring someone in for, and you believe a secondment may be a suitable approach, you are also welcome to submit your interest. In this case, you may have the opportunity to collaborate with the secondee to shape the placement in a way that meets your specific needs, whilst providing the secondee with a valuable development opportunity.

The GovXchange programme will not use formal recruitment to identify individuals most suitable for the secondment opportunities. Instead, a matching process will be in place.

Once a role or an individual’s interest has been submitted via the forms provided, the GovXchange programme team will identify where matches can be made.  The vacancy holder will then set up a matching meeting with the applicant to discuss the opportunity in more detail. The matching meeting should be an informal discussion with the potential secondee to consider whether they are suitable for the role. It is up to the discretion of the vacancy holder as to how they approach this conversation.

Following the discussion, if there is mutual agreement between both parties to proceed with the secondment, the secondment can start being set up between the host and home organisation. If either party feels the secondment is unsuitable, the secondment will not proceed. The role and individual will remain on the database for further potential matches.

If either party feels the match is unsuitable, the secondment will not proceed. You should share the outcome of the meeting with the programme team and explain clearly and transparently if you do not believe the match is suitable.

The home and host organisation will need to agree on this when negotiating the terms of the secondment and detail this in the secondment agreement. The recommended approach is for the secondee to remain covered by the terms and conditions of their home organisation. HR and/or legal advice should be sought if considering moving the secondee to the host organisation’s terms and conditions.

The home and host organisation will need to agree this when negotiating the terms of the secondment and detail this in the Secondment Agreement. The recommended approach is for individuals to remain on their home organisation’s payroll and receive the pay award of their home organisation. The host organisation will then reimburse the salary costs to the home organisation (VAT will be applied). The secondee will not usually be eligible for any non-pay benefits from their host organisation, such as reward vouchers or employee benefits.

It is up to the host and home organisation to negotiate the level of reimbursement, which may vary from full or partial to the home organisation continuing to fund the secondee throughout the secondment.

Throughout the secondment, you should conduct regular line management conversations and provide guidance and support to the secondee, as you would any individual in your team. You should ensure they receive feedback on their progress and also allow them to share their observations from coming into the organisation with fresh eyes.

The programme team will ask you to provide feedback on your secondment experience throughout the programme to help evaluate the Test and Learn’s success. They will contact you regularly, and you are encouraged to share honest and open feedback about your experience with the programme