Vision, aims and values
This section provides details of DWP's strategic objectives and the values and vision that shape them.
Vision and strategy
The vision of the Department is to:
- contribute towards fair, safe and fulfilling lives, free from poverty for children, people in work and retirement, disabled people and carers;
- reduce welfare dependency and increase economic competitiveness by helping people to work wherever they can and helping employers to secure the skills and employees they need; and
- provide greater choice and personalisation and higher quality of service for customers where it is in their interests and those of the taxpayers.
The DWP Three Year Business Plan, shows the policy priorities until 2012, what the aims of DWP are and how they will be achieved.
Aims and objectives
The Department's aim is to enable people to fulfil their potential over longer, more active lives. The focus remains firmly on customers, providing them with the services they need and aiming (wherever possible) to join up services with business partners in both the public and private sectors.
The Departmental Framework highlights the Department’s responsibility for the Government’s Public Service Agreements (PSAs). The Secretary of State has responsibility for two PSAs:
- maximise employment and opportunity for all, (PSA Delivery Agreement 8), and
- tackle poverty and promote greater independence and well-being in later life (PSA Delivery Agreement 17).
The Department also contributes to the delivery of a further nine Public Service Agreements where the lead responsibility is with another department.
The PSAs are underpinned by seven Departmental Strategic Objectives (DSOs) which represent the fundamental purpose and future direction of the Department. For more information about how we are performing against these targets and objectives, see the Departmental Report 2009.
- Departmental Framework
- Public Service Agreements, including PSA Delivery Agreement 8 and PSA Delivery Agreement 17 (these links will take you to the HM Treasury website)
- Departmental Report 2009
Change Programme
The Department's Change Programme aims to improve the quality of customer service. It has five main priorities:
- Treat customers well – by listening carefully, offering good advice and treating people with respect
- Deliver the right result – by making sure our customers get the right support, advice and financial help
- Respond on time – by meeting customer needs faster and keeping them in touch with progress
- Improve access to services – by making our information clearer, our systems simpler and contacting us easier
- Make DWP a great place to work – by involving staff in making changes, and making sure that everyone has the support, skills and tools they need to do their job well.
Future priorities
The DWP Three Year Business Plan 2009 – 2012 outlines our priorities:
- maintain the active labour market regime and pay people’s benefits on time;
- support people to return to work quickly; and
- prevent worklessness amongst working-age people.
In addition the Department will continue to:
- deliver the Government’s wide-reaching welfare, child support and pension reform agendas; and
- drive forward the Department-wide Change Programme, delivering tangible improvements for our customers and efficiency savings for the taxpayer.
Values
DWP aims to deliver the best possible service for the people who are its customers.
DWP's Values, which are shared by all its businesses, client groups and corporate teams, set out how it seeks to work in dealings both inside and outside of the Department. The four core values are:
- Achieving the best – using all our resources efficiently so that high and consistent standards of service are provided
- Respecting people – treating our customers and each other with respect, welcoming diversity and valuing others’ ideas and responding fairly to individual needs
- Making a difference – supporting, challenging and inspiring customers to improve their lives and helping each other to make a difference
- Looking outwards – working with others and learning how to get better at what we do.
