To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what employee reward schemes are offered to staff of his Department; what the purpose of each scheme is; how many staff participate in each scheme; and what the cost of operating each scheme was in each of the last five years. (290540)

Under the Department’s reward and recognition policies¹, employees can receive one or more of the following:

Non-Consolidated Performance Payment

One-off performance payment where an employee below the senior civil service (SCS) is judged to have performed to category level 1 or 2+ or a member of the SCS is judged to have performed to performance groups 1 and 2 levels in the reporting year.

Instant Reward²

One-off payment in the form of a voucher based on staff nomination of any DCSF employee, team or directorate whose actions have demonstrated initiative and significant impact in relation to the departmental priority areas of outcome and people management, customer service or collaborative working

Staff Suggestion scheme

One-off payment for employee ideas judged by the relevant team, based on criteria, to merit a cash reward.

Long Service Award³

For completion of 25 years service where employees are eligible for a gift up to the value of £250, or one week’s paid special leave.

¹ Department for Education and Skills to 27 June 2007 and Department for Children, Schools and Families from 28 June 2007

2 Introduced in July 2007

³ Based on those employees taking the cash option.