CMI Level 6 Award in Public Service Leadership (QCF)

CHARTERED-MANAGEMENT-INSTITUTE

vocational

This element focuses on the development of leadership capability through a collaborative investigative project within a public service context. Learners will demonstrate their ability to identify a relevant issue, justify its investigation through partnership working, conduct rigorous research, synthesize evidence, and draw actionable conclusions. The project culminates in evaluating outcomes and presenting findings to stakeholders, mirroring real-world public service leadership challenges.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for a well-justified project rationale that clearly aligns with strategic priorities and demonstrates a genuine need for collaboration, including identification of specific partners and their roles.
Reward evidence of systematic research using a range of credible sources, with critical evaluation of data and clear synthesis into viable options or scenarios.
Credit conclusions that are logically derived from the research findings, directly address the project aim, and lead to feasible, context-specific recommendations.
Marks are given for a comprehensive evaluation of both the project outcomes and the collaborative process, including reflective insight and lessons learned.
Assess the quality of the final presentation: professional structure, audience awareness, and the ability to articulate findings and respond to questions.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for a well-justified project rationale that clearly aligns with strategic priorities and demonstrates a genuine need for collaboration, including identification of specific partners and their roles.
Reward evidence of systematic research using a range of credible sources, with critical evaluation of data and clear synthesis into viable options or scenarios.
Credit conclusions that are logically derived from the research findings, directly address the project aim, and lead to feasible, context-specific recommendations.
Marks are given for a comprehensive evaluation of both the project outcomes and the collaborative process, including reflective insight and lessons learned.
Assess the quality of the final presentation: professional structure, audience awareness, and the ability to articulate findings and respond to questions.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Explicitly map your project aim to both the learning objectives and real-world public service priorities, showing strategic thinking from the outset.
💡Maintain a clear audit trail of all research activities, decisions, and data sources to evidence systematic investigation and facilitate synthesis.
💡Use established strategic frameworks (e.g., SWOT, PESTLE) to structure analysis and recommendations, enhancing the professional quality of your conclusions.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Focusing solely on the topic without adequately justifying why a collaborative approach was essential, resulting in a weak project rationale.
Drawing conclusions that are not sufficiently supported by the evidence or that leap beyond the data, undermining the credibility of recommendations.
Neglecting to evaluate the collaborative working process itself, missing an opportunity to demonstrate reflective leadership learning.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Be able to identify and justify a collaborative investigative project., Be able to conduct research, using sources, and synthesise data and options., Be able to draw conclusions and make recommendations that achieve the project aim., Be able to evaluate and present the results of the project.

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

CMI Level 6 Award in Public Service Leadership (QCF)

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Key Terminology

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in CHARTERED-MANAGEMENT-INSTITUTE vocational Public Services

Collaborative Public Services Project

Developing Public Service Teams.

Performance management

Planning to Meet Public Services Customer Requirements