Helping to promote the Civil Service Values

Role of the Civil Service Commissioners

The Civil Service Commissioners have two complementary roles in relation to the Civil Service Code (and the Diplomatic Code of Ethics, which is the equivalent and closely related code that applies to those civil servants working in the Diplomatic Service).

The Commissioners hear appeals from civil servants who believe that they have been required to act in a way that conflicts with the core values of the service as outlined in the Code.  We also hear appeals from civil servants who believe they have witnessed another civil servant behaving in such a way. This aspect of our work is described in section 7 of this report ‘Upholding Civil Service values’.

The Commissioners also work with departments to help them promote the Code and the core values. We took on this role in 2003 at the suggestion of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, and with the support of the Cabinet Secretary.

Promotion of the Code