Looking for advice from civil servants

[Bookridden]

I've achieved a promotion to SEO in a new department in operarational delivery. I'm keen to do well but nervous about the jump from HEO to SEO and what the expectations will be. Also, any tips for how to adjust to the different culture of a new department would be gratefully received. I am so nervous and worried about being promoted above my abilities.

Oh congratulations! Which dept are you moving to as culture and expectations can be very different depending on the dept and team

Ah @Bookridden well done! That's my next step! Congratulations

I found that the jump wasn't huge as normally you are working at the next level up before you are promoted. However each Department is different. With different cultures and expectations so it really depends where you are.
However remember they wouldn't have given you the job if you hadn't demonstrated you can do the job.

My new dept is the cabinet office (don't want to be more specific than that). My old dept is one of the large operational depts.

Appreciate that this will vary massively from dept to dept, but what would you expect from a new SEO if you were managing them? At this level, is there much induction, or are you expected to sort all this for yourself? Grateful for any tips. Thank you

Congratulations.

Cabinet Office is likely to want you to hit the ground running.

Be proactive, get onto the intranet and find the basics e.g. HR/payroll system, room booking, orientation maps of the buildings, IT systems, fire evacuation process etc. Staff Handbook, HR & Facilities policies, cost centres and acct codes etc. Do your mandatory training ASAP e.g DSE.

A lot will be familiar but there will be differences, don’t be afraid to ask is this the policy/process or do you do something different. Don’t be surprised if it’s quiet the first day/week or two it will ramp up very quickly.

Before you start familiarise yourself with the gov.uk Cabinet Office website, you can find the business plans etc. to give you a good idea what their priorities are.

If you can try to go in for a day/half day to meet the team, see where you are sitting and to get system log ons, pass etc. It really helps if you have at least an email and Intranet access on day one. If you can get your IT kit before you start.

Sorry that’s a bit of a brain dump, but gives you some pointers.