Regulating Appointment on Merit

Chairing competitions for senior appointments

The Civil Service Commissioners contribute to the development of an effective and impartial Civil Service by giving assurance that appointments to the service are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

For recruitment to the most senior grades in the Civil Service the Commissioners play a very active role. A Commissioner will oversee the process and chair the selection panel for all jobs at Senior Civil Service pay bands 2 and 3 and Permanent Secretary appointments where the vacancy is open to applicants outside the Civil Service.

In addition, under the terms of the ‘Top 200 Protocol’ agreed between the Commissioners and the Senior Leadership Committee, we also chair competitions for the Top 200 posts in the Civil Service when the competition is restricted to applicants already in the Civil Service.

For most levels of recruitment outside the top tiers of the senior Civil Service the Commissioners provide assurance by auditing compliance with our Recruitment Principles. These replaced the Commissioners Recruitment Code on 1 April 2009.

Summary of appointments

During the reporting period, there were 74 appointments through ‘open’ competition to the Senior Civil Service which required the Commissioners’ approval.

Compliance monitoring: the approach

The Commissioners are required under the Civil Service Order in Council to audit the recruitment systems and practices of Government departments and agencies

Compliance Monitoring: our findings for 2008/09

The Commissioners received returns from 107 departments and agencies.

Exceptions to appointment on merit

The Commissioners recognise that in some rare instances department and agencies may have a business need to make appointments without following the principle of selection

Complaints under the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code (from April 2009 Recruitment Principles)

Individuals can complain if they believe the requirements of the Recruitment Principles (previously the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code) have been breached.

Evidence to Senior Salaries Review Body

In October we provided written evidence to the Senior Salaries Review Body for its 2009 report.

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