The government department that runs Jobcentre Plus is in “good shape” and delivering a better service to its customers, according to an independent review published last week.

The capability review for the Department for Work and Pensions – government’s biggest department – shows that, as well as improving customer service, the DWP has increased productivity by 11 per cent over the last four years and has achieved efficiency targets of saving more than £1bn in costs while cutting 30,000 jobs.

The department’s ratings have shown an improvement in every key area being measured since 2006.

The review was conducted by Nick Holgate, COO at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, former Egg Bank CEO Ian Kerr and Cheryl Miller, chief executive of East Sussex County Council. They say the DWP has responded well to the findings of the last capability review, carried out in 2006, and has successfully delivered its core business while implementing a major change programme and participating in the government’s shared services agenda.

The review report commends the department’s leadership for taking responsibility for leading change across the organisation.

Welcoming the report, work and pensions secretary James Purnell (pictured) said: “This report shows that we have a really well run department, delivering its services increasingly effectively to the millions of people it serves every day. The report is a great tribute to the leadership and staff of the DWP, and I want to congratulate everyone on their hard work and commitment to ensuring that we are delivering results.

And DWP permanent secretary Leigh Lewis added: “This is a big vote of confidence in the department. Our customers are continuing to benefit from our improving standards of service and our staff can feel rightly proud of what they have achieved.”

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