Civica UK Limited

Civica Parliamentary Questions, Ministerial & Treat Official Correspondence Management (iCasework)

A highly configurable and scalable SaaS solution deployed securely upon Amazon Web Services (AWS) which allows for the processing of Parliamentary Questions (with real-time interaction with the PQ system), the management of Ministerial Correspondence and Treat Official Correspondence (case management).

Features

  • Simplified, zero training interface for front-line staff and responsible officials
  • Sophisticated, power interface for case workers
  • Pre-configured support for Parliamentary Questions
  • Pre-configured support for Ministerial, Treat Official and Inter-Departmental correspondence
  • Office integration, Email integration, single sign-on, comprehensive integration API
  • Full integration with central Parliamentary Questions (PQ) system
  • Available on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform
  • Can be run alongside other iCasework case types
  • Sits on top of the iCasework case management platform
  • Provides for consistent management of Parliamentary Questions

Benefits

  • Proven system used across central government
  • Easy to use interface guides users through the process
  • Comprehensive out of the box functionality through pre-configured templates
  • Configurable solution through inbuilt form, workflow and correspondence template designers
  • Range of collaboration features to speed up communications
  • Many time saving features
  • Sophisticated access control model with complete audit trail
  • Sophisticated SLA monitoring tools
  • Sophisticated reporting including dashboards, automated email delivery and report designer
  • Extensive administration features allow for local management of system

Pricing

£1 a unit a year

Service documents

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Framework

G-Cloud 13

Service ID

2 5 3 0 1 2 3 9 2 5 7 6 1 6 6

Contact

Civica UK Limited Civica UK Limited
Telephone: +44 (0) 3333 214 914
Email: g-cloud@civica.co.uk

Service scope

Software add-on or extension
No
Cloud deployment model
Public cloud
Service constraints
The system is guaranteed to be available more than 99.5% of 24/7; any planned downtime will be scheduled to be out of hours when possible, and customers will be alerted in advance. There are no other constraints.
System requirements
  • Any device that supports modern browsers
  • Access to the internet

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
We aim to resolve the problem within the timescales given below, depending on complexity of the issue and support volumes: 1) Critical issues - our aim is to address and whenever possible, resolve the problem within two business hours (24-hours a day, 7 days a week (24*7)). 2) Significant issues - our aim is to address and where possible resolve the problem within eight business hours (Mon to Fri 9am to 5.30pm GMT/BST). 3) Minimal issues - our aim is to address and where possible resolve the problem within 24 business hours (Mon to Fri 9am to 5.30pm GMT/BST).
User can manage status and priority of support tickets
Yes
Online ticketing support accessibility
None or don’t know
Phone support
Yes
Phone support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support
Web chat
Web chat support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
Web chat support accessibility standard
None or don’t know
How the web chat support is accessible
Please contact Civica for details.
Web chat accessibility testing
Please contact Civica for details.
Onsite support
Yes, at extra cost
Support levels
We operate three priority levels (although this may change in some cases, depending on each client specific Service Level Agreement) as follows: 1) Critical issue - an issue which may result in the complete loss of the iCasework system (system down). 2) Significant issue - an issue that affects many users and disrupts the normal running of the system. 3) Minimal issue - an issue that has minimal impact and does not affect the normal running of the system or for which a workaround is available. The above support is provided as standard within the service fee. If customers require other arrangements these can be facilitated, but there may be extra costs involved.
Support available to third parties
No

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
We have an implementation service available on G Cloud and it provides a range of services that help customers to use the system. All implementations start with a project kick off event to formally start the implementation; the scope of the project will be reviewed and a project plan devised. If the customer requires it we can deliver onsite workshops to review customer requirements and explain how the requirements can be delivered. We offer support for testing, and we train customer staff. We have provision for service management discussions so that the solution moves from implementation project to "business as usual". After implementation we can assist in any project reviews if required.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
Other
Other documentation formats
An online wiki that holds the documentation
End-of-contract data extraction
At all times the customer can export its data from the system using the in-built Report Writer. If required, the customer can have extracts scheduled to run on a regular basis. If required we can also provide the customer with a copy of the database.
If customers have adopted our replication to AWS Redshift feature, then the data will be available there for future use.
End-of-contract process
We do provide for contract termination. Besides making available a copy of the database, we also provide the customer with facilities - using the Report Writer - to extract data from the system. The costs for that data extraction (DB and data) is subsumed within the service fees. We may agree to provide any further assistance reasonably requested by the Customer in connection with the hand-over to a third party of any services provided by us, and the Customer will pay the Provider in accordance with its then current standard rates for any such assistance. Such assistance will not be unreasonably withheld. Once the service is stopped we will delete all customer data.

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
Application to install
No
Designed for use on mobile devices
Yes
Differences between the mobile and desktop service
The service is fully responsive and adapts to the device used.
Service interface
No
User support accessibility
WCAG 2.1 AA or EN 301 549
API
Yes
What users can and can't do using the API
The iCasework product provides a range of powerful and extensible REST style web-services that allow both update and query operations such as case creation, case updates, adding case notes or retrieving case details to be invoked remotely. The APIs make integrating the iCasework solution with other business critical systems simple and straightforward.
The REST services are provided as HTTPS end-points that can be invoked with one or more parameters. Each service returns an XML or JSON document whose contents vary depending on the operation performed.
API documentation
Yes
API documentation formats
  • HTML
  • PDF
  • Other
API sandbox or test environment
Yes
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
The iCasework product is a highly configurable platform. Our powerful form and workflow design tools can be used to deliver sophisticated solutions in a matter of weeks. Solutions can be configured by Civica staff through our GCloud implementation service.

Scaling

Independence of resources
We have many years experience of managing thousands of users concurrently using our service. We use Amazon Web Services resizable elastic compute capacity in the cloud to ensure that any increase in demand for capacity is provided for automatically. We typically achieve more than 99.9% service availability 24/7.

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
The iCasework product provides a range of inbuilt reports as well as a report designer that can detail a wide range of metrics in a variety of different outputs and chart formats. In addition we provide a replication to AWS Redshift feature which allows for further analytics.
Reporting types
Reports on request

Resellers

Supplier type
Not a reseller

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
Up to Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

Knowledge of data storage and processing locations
Yes
Data storage and processing locations
United Kingdom
User control over data storage and processing locations
No
Datacentre security standards
Managed by a third party
Penetration testing frequency
At least once a year
Penetration testing approach
‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CHECK service provider
Protecting data at rest
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
  • Encryption of all physical media
Data sanitisation process
Yes
Data sanitisation type
Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
Equipment disposal approach
Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

Data export approach
Users with appropriate permissions can design extracts (using the Report Writer) and either run these in real time or according to a schedule. The user defines the fields to be extracted as well as the format of the extract. Formats include CSV, XML, Word, Text, HTML, JSON and PDF.
Data export formats
  • CSV
  • ODF
  • Other
Other data export formats
  • MS EXcel
  • MS Word
  • HTML
  • PDF
  • XML
  • JSON
Data import formats
  • CSV
  • Other
Other data import formats
XML

Data-in-transit protection

Data protection between buyer and supplier networks
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
Data protection within supplier network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

Guaranteed availability
We guarantee annual uptime of at least 99.5% over 24/7. If the Annual Uptime Percentage for a customer drops below 99.5% for the Service Year, that customer is eligible to receive a Service Credit equal to 10% of their bill (excluding one-time payments made for consultancy or additional services) for the Service Year. Full details of how this is worked out is provided in the Service Definition.
Approach to resilience
We are offering Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the host for the database and application. Civica has used AWS for 7 years and our customers on that platform enjoy the benefits of the resilience of that hosting environment. AWS has designed its systems to tolerate system or hardware failures with minimal customer impact. AWS data centres are built in clusters in various global regions. In case of failure, automated processes move customer data traffic away from the affected area. AWS provides the flexibility to place instances and store data within multiple geographic regions as well as across multiple availability zones within each region. Each availability zone is designed as an independent failure zone. This means that availability zones are physically separated within a typical metropolitan region. In addition to discrete uninterruptible power supply and onsite backup generation facilities, they are each fed via different grids from independent utilities to further reduce single points of failure.
Outage reporting
In the unlikely event of an outage our Business Continuity Plan (BCP) will come into effect. It prioritises business services as follows: (1) company website, (2) web based services, (3) internal network, and (4) development centre. The priority order of contacting relevant stakeholders is (1) all company staff, (2) all clients, (3) AWS, (4) update website. The company website will be updated with appropriate messages that inform customers of the current position and likely resolution time. This can be supplemented by emails and telephone calls as appropriate.

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Only authorised support staff will have access to the database server and database. Civica support staff do not access customer data as a matter of course. Only in rare cases of support or maintenance, after explicit permission granted by the customer, will support staff log in to customers iCasework applications or look at customer data. All case access (even when read only) through the application is audited. All direct database access by support staff must be authorised by a support manager. Access privileges are revoked when such access is no longer relevant.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

Access to user activity audit information
Users have access to real-time audit information
How long user audit data is stored for
User-defined
Access to supplier activity audit information
Users have access to real-time audit information
How long supplier audit data is stored for
User-defined
How long system logs are stored for
At least 12 months

Standards and certifications

ISO/IEC 27001 certification
Yes
Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001
The Audit People
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
20/10/2012
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
The certification covers "provision of software and hosting services from offices in London".
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
No
PCI certification
No
Cyber essentials
Yes
Cyber essentials plus
Yes
Other security certifications
No

Security governance

Named board-level person responsible for service security
Yes
Security governance certified
Yes
Security governance standards
ISO/IEC 27001
Information security policies and processes
We have a fully audited and tested Information Security Management System which underpins our ISO27001:2013 certificate. The policies and procedures have been independently audited and practices are audited by external auditors. New staff are inducted into the ISMS when they start; other staff are regularly reminded about their responsibilities and managers are required to ensure that their staff adhere to the policies. Staff are advised when policies are updated. The senior management of the company owns the ISMS and the Information Security Management Representative delivers day-to-day management of the system. All staff are reminded that they are individually responsible for security. The data security theme is delivered through staff / team meetings, training sessions, shared documents and via email. Continuous improvement in the delivery of security is encouraged. Risk assessments are regularly carried out and the competency of the delivery of the ISMS is measured though internal auditing and management review.

Operational security

Configuration and change management standard
Supplier-defined controls
Configuration and change management approach
All significant, non-routine changes to Organisational information processing facilities (hardware and software) are subject to change control. A procedure (from our ISMS) ensures that segregation of duties in in place for the requesting, authorizing and implementation of a change. All changes should be applied first to a test platform, and a "recover position" is defined for each change. Changes are tracked and documented within the company. At all times the security of our infrastructure and customer data are at the forefront of any consideration of a change request and our Compliance Manager manages this process.
Vulnerability management type
Supplier-defined controls
Vulnerability management approach
We have a qualitative approach to risk management. This covers (a) the categorisation of assets across six major headings including information assets (and these include client data), software assets (these include application software) and physical assets (these include networks); (b) the identification of assets within each category at a level appropriate to risk assessment; and (c) the assessment of possible threats to and vulnerabilities of each asset and its likelihood and impact on the business either directly or indirectly. The risk assessment is carried out at least annually and is reviewed when changes are processed through the Change Control process.
Protective monitoring type
Supplier-defined controls
Protective monitoring approach
Daily checklists are in place to monitor malicious activities like failed login attempts, attempts to access the system from an unknown IP etc. We also have automatic monitoring tools in place to warn of issues.
The Infrastructure Team analyses and understands any incidents and to identify appropriate actions to contain it and to implement contingency plans. A request will then be made to take appropriate actions to recover from the incident, and to implement contingency plans.
Incident management type
Supplier-defined controls
Incident management approach
There is a specific procedure for responding to security event in our ISMS. We are committed to sharing information about any such breaches; most of our customers specify their requirements for notification times to be detailed in contractual arrangements. Our starting point is to alert the customer as soon as is possible after such a breach has been confirmed.

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Independent review of processes (for example CESG CPA Build Standard, ISO/IEC 27034, ISO/IEC 27001 or CSA CCM v3.0)

Public sector networks

Connection to public sector networks
No

Social Value

Fighting climate change

Fighting climate change

Civica’s Environment and Social Governance (ESG) committee provides focus for ongoing development and implementation of our environmental policy, supported by our ISO 14001 standard. We commit to working with staff, customers, suppliers, contractors and partners to recognise and reduce our environmental impact. Simultaneously we’re optimising our services to support environmental and community initiatives.

We support fighting climate change by:
- Helping employees reduce their environmental footprint at work. Initiatives include: recycling facilities across our offices, single use plastic reduction, timer switches for office devices, cistern water saving devices, installing LED lighting when refreshing offices, WEEE recycling all hardware, print reduction, phone and printer cartridge recycling, FSC certified paper; weekly employee communications encouraging and advising employees on positive approaches to reduce carbon. Employees have carbon saving benefits such as cycle to work scheme.
- Socially responsible purchasing, sustainable procurement, reduced consumption.
- Selecting suppliers, goods and services that demonstrate sustainable, socially responsible, ethically sound standards.
- Leading by example via activities such as: reducing single use plastic consumption by 70% within the next 5 years; prioritising use of green energy; promoting recycling through ‘Zero to Landfill’ and ‘Zero Print’ schemes; working towards carbon neutrality with workforces and facilities over the next 10-years.
- Creating software with sustainability in built in; net-zero is a key theme in our product roadmaps.
- Partnering customers to co-create public services fit for the future. Civica's NorthStar innovation lab creates physical and virtual opportunities to jointly explore trends and technologies supporting customers Net Zero ambitions.
- Meeting/exceeding environmental legislation through ISO audits.

We have a Carbon Reduction Plan and commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2040 (latest). We are reviewing our energy mix, materials we use and working with partners to begin to plant a ‘Civica Forest’ whilst maintaining awareness of the Greenwashing issue.
Covid-19 recovery

Covid-19 recovery

In the spring of 2020, Civica were an early signatory to the C-19 Business Pledge. We focused on safeguarding our people and communities and ensuring the successful ongoing provision of our business-critical software and services.

Supporting customers: Alongside business as usual for our customers, we have worked hard to support the national and local level response through practical, innovative and updated software capability. We have delivered a range of new capabilities quickly, such as those listed below, and continue to provide system advice, configuration and data insights to ensure effective action.
- COVID-19 App (the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland) was developed and launched with the Northern Ireland Department of Health, and helped reduce the pressure on the 111 helpline.
- Developed local track and trace solution for London Borough of Redbridge, enabling it to support localised contact tracing/escalations.
- Community Helper software - built on the iCasework platform to help local authorities co-ordinate rapid support for vulnerable people while minimising safeguarding risks.
- Our Trac e-recruitment software was used to help NHS recruiters get the right candidates into posts quickly and fast-track DBS checks.
- Supporting social housing tenants - assisted teams to re-focus resources and provide vital support to tenants.
- Supporting Revenues and Benefits teams - software solutions for the two largest UK government measures, Business Rates Grant fund and the Council Tax Hardship fund.

Supporting employees: We proactively provide guidance and support for our people, from keeping remote workers engaged, to our mental health champions and free-to-access Employee Assistance programme. We have adopted a blended working model enabling colleagues to work safely and flexibly at various locations and hub offices, enhanced how we communicate, and continue to look for new ways to share ideas and inspiration.
Tackling economic inequality

Tackling economic inequality

Create opportunities for entrepreneurship and help organisations to grow. Civica is committed to working with its customers to deliver value into the community by supporting young people, developing skills and mentoring businesses to attract inward investment and growth that brings with it employment and skills.

We support innovation through our NorthStar innovation lab, a company-wide initiative focused on enhanced client outcomes by applying fresh ideas on data, automation and new technologies. We work with our customers to co-create public services that are fit for today and for the future. Our Civica NorthStar innovation lab creates physical and virtual opportunities for us to jointly explore trends and technologies.

Create employment and training opportunities
Civica is a member of the 5% Club, and aims to have 5% of its UK work force as either apprentices, graduates or work experience students by the end of 2025. We employ apprentices and graduates into a number of different disciplines and locations, with a focus on ensuring they are long term employees of Civica.

Support educational attainment
Learning and development is at the core of the Civica Quality Management Framework. We believe in investing in our people and are proud of our Investors in People Gold accreditation and in being a top rated Glassdoor Employer.

We run our own Civica Academy for employee development and skills enhancement, which delivered over 220,000 hours of training during 2021. We provide our own apprenticeship programme (team leader level 3) for our aspiring and current managers that are considered stars of the future.

We are working on building some new apprenticeship standards such as the UX degree apprenticeship. This will benefit not only Civica’s Digital Team but all companies and customers that need UX talent.
Equal opportunity

Equal opportunity

Civica is a 2022 Financial Times Diversity Leader and is ‘Gold’ Investors in People accredited, demonstrating our commitment to promoting equal opportunity by tackling inequality in employment, skills and pay in our workforce. We proactively implement equal opportunities for employment and personal development among diverse groups and local areas, and ensure rights for all staff are always protected. This is led by our Group Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) team, championed by our CEO who is also our Chief Diversity Sponsor. The strategy and policy manages:
- Interview training, focusing on unconscious bias/equal opportunity.
- Anonymising CVs and ensuring interview panels represent minority groups.
- Using a decoder to ensure job advertisements use gender and culturally neutral language.
- Attracting/recruiting from minority backgrounds/disadvantaged groups across the organisation, especially into under-represented areas.
- Advertising vacancies in a wide variety of places and diversity/disability portals (including; BME jobs, Disability jobs and LGBT job sites), to increase gender diversity and ethnicity.
- Company-wide Diversity & Inclusion network, including affinity groups relating to under-represented groups.
- Mandatory Diversity & Inclusion training for all staff.
- Pay equity reviews addressing inequality and UK gender pay gap.
- Flexible Working to encourage higher uptake for women, working parents and disabled groups.
- Partner with a social innovator company to help recruit and support employees with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

We gather and analyse data on our performance from regular surveys such as ENPS, IIP, Pulse survey, employee engagement surveys.

Our D&I team monitor the take-up, use and effectiveness of our measures, such as the number of new recruits from minority backgrounds, women, parents and diverse groups, and provide statistics for our Annual Review on performance against targets. For example, we report on the number of people attending training sessions and the split of male to female attendees.
Wellbeing

Wellbeing

Civica actively promote a mentally healthy workplace and workforce through our 40+ Mental Health Champions (MHC) and our ‘Health and Wellbeing’ policy, encouraging a flexible and realistic work/life balance. We integrate mental health and general wellbeing in all that we do from recruitment and ‘First Impressions’ to appraisals and strategic management.

Our ‘Health and Wellbeing’ policy and programme for all employees provide a foundation to support both the mental and physical health of our staff. Examples include:
- Employee Assistance Programme and online Wellbeing Hub, which provides 24/7 access to websites, e-mail, phone and face-to-face counselling on all personal issues.
- Aviva DigiCare+ Workplace App providing external mental health consultancy.
- Mental Health Champions who support colleagues’ wellbeing in the workplace.
- RedArc Personal nurse service.
- Management Coaching - managers are trained in GROW (Goals, Reality, Options and Will) and in being Health and Wellbeing Advisors, supporting employees with mental/physical health needs.
- Health assessments/advice aimed at improving physical health.
- Cycle to Work scheme to aid physical and mental health.
- Weekly fruit drop for offices, encouraging a healthier diet.
- We provide free eye tests for all VDU users, encourage staff to take advantage of NHS flu vaccinations services, and support people wishing to use the NHS Stop Smoking Service.

We also support our customers’ and communities’ physical and mental wellbeing through: Employee ‘Donate-a-Day’ to local charities; Local events organised through “Charity Champions”; Directors providing guidance to local community health and wellbeing projects; Supporting social housing tenants to re-focus resources and provide vital support to tenants.

Suppliers/subcontractors are subject to Civica’s Sub-contractor Selection Process as defined in our ISO9001 Quality Management System, which includes criteria for assessing health and wellbeing policies and their promotion.

Pricing

Price
£1 a unit a year
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
No

Service documents

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at g-cloud@civica.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.