Interchange
What is it?
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Defra's Interchange programme promotes the movement of staff and exchange of good practice between the Civil Service and other public, private and voluntary organisations.
It proposes a diverse range of options designed to offer maximum flexibility both to Defra and to participants. These include:
- Secondment (both to and from non-civil service organisations)
- Loans (between Government Departments or their Agencies)
- Short-term attachments
- Shadowing arrangements
- Mentoring
- Joint training events - and many more
What are the benefits?
The advantages of Interchange are potentially wide ranging. Both individuals and organisations can benefit from cross-fertilisation of new ideas, fresh approaches and diverse ways of working. Interchange allows staff to gain a variety of experience and acquire new competences whilst offering employers a cost-effective way to meet skills gaps in an organisation. It also facilitates broader outlooks and makes possible the development of networks between organisations.
What is Defra's policy?
Defra is committed to making interchange available to people at all levels throughout the organisation wherever it is practicable to do so and wherever real benefits can be identified as flowing from it. It is similarly committed to considering opening up opportunities to receive people and ideas from other organisations subject to practicality, affordability and the benefits to be had.
Where can I get further information?
For those outside Defra interested in either taking up interchange opportunities within the Department or providing them in their own organisation should first contact their own HR/Interchange Unit for further information on how they implement interchange. For those within Defra, further information is available on the intranet - including some guidance notes on how interchange operates in the Department and how to register interest.
Loans and secondment administration is handled by the Shared Services HR Team in York. All queries/enquiries should be directed to:
SSD Enquiry Centre
Telephone: 0845 603 7262
Email: ssd.enquiries@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Any written correspondence should be sent to:
SSD HR Services
Zone A1, 2nd Floor
Foss House
Peasholme Green
York YO1 7PX
Page last modified:
2 July 2007
Page published: 10 February 2003