Service assessments
Across government, digital and technology services must be assessed against the Service Standard at the end of each phase. Getting assessed is a condition of Cabinet Office spend approval.
Service assessments happen at the end of alpha, private beta, and public beta phases. They are compulsory for transactional services and recommended for non-transactional services.
If you're in the discovery phase, you should have a peer review.
A service is transactional if it allows users to either:
- exchange information, money, permission, goods, or services
- submit personal information that results in a change to a government record
A service is assessed by a panel of trained assessors from either DfE, or across government. The assessment will be the same, no matter which panel is reviewing it.
DfE panel service assessment
You need a DfE panel service assessment if your service or product:
- has less than 100,000 transactions per year (actual or planned)
- is non-transactional
Book a DfE panel service assessment using the Service assessment service.
Cross-government panel service assessment
You need a cross-government panel service assessment if your service or product has:
- over 100,000 transactions per year (actual or planned)
- users are from more than one public sector organisation
The Service Assessment Plus team will work with GDS (Government Digital Service) to arrange the panel of cross-government assessors.
Book a cross-government service assessment using the Service assessment service.
Peer reviews
Peer reviews are a less formal version of a service assessment. A report is produced, which will share feedback and recommendations. It is not an assessment and will not be RAG rated.
Peer reviews are always arranged with a DfE panel.
Discovery peer reviews
You need a peer review at the end of the discovery phase to provide assurance that it is reasonable to move to alpha.
Book a discovery peer review using the Service assessment service.
Other peer reviews
Peer reviews can also be arranged mid-way through alpha, private-beta, or public-beta phases. They provide assurance that the team is doing the right thing and are working towards the Service Standard. They can also help to prepare a team for an end-of-phase service assessment.
Mid-phase peer reviews are not compulsory. They may be requested by a service team, recommended as part of the Cabinet Office spend controls process, or by a service assessment panel.
If you would like to request a mid-phase peer review, please contact the Service Assessment Plus team.
The Service Assessment Plus team will prioritise service assessments over mid-phase peer reviews when recruiting assessor panels.
Support
Email the Service Assessment Plus team if you have any questions about service assessments or peer reviews.