Complaints under the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code
Right to complain
Individuals can complain if they believe the principles in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code have been breached. They should first complain to the department or agency concerned. If they are not satisfied with the response, they can take their complaint to the Commissioners. If we uphold a complaint, we make recommendations both in relation to the specific case and to guard against future breaches of the Code.
Complaints this year
Our Office handled nine complaints during the year, including two carried over from last year. This compares with 2006/7 when only four complaints were received.
No cases were upheld.
In eight instances this was because the complaint fell outside the Commissioners’ remit.
- In one case because it related to the appointment of a contractor
- In one case because it related to the terms of a transfer between departments
- In one case because it related to the grading of a post
- In one case because it related to the terms offered for reinstatement
- In two cases because it related to an internal competition
- In two further instances because although the complaint related to an issue covered by the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code, the complaint had not been taken up first with the relevant department
The one substantive complaint concerned the non-payment by a department of travelling costs to candidates attending selection tests. After consideration, the complainant was advised that the practice did not run counter to the Commissioners’ requirement in relation to openness as expressed in the mandatory statement at para 2.18 of the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code.
Good practice
During the year the Commissioners considered whether more needed to be done to alert people of the opportunity to complain if they feel that the principle of appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition is not being properly applied.
Our Recruitment Code had long made it possible for such complaints to be lodged. In the first instance the complaint should be made to the recruiting department. If the complainant is not satisfied with the department’s response he or she should come to the Commissioners.
However the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code had never made it mandatory for departments to include details of the complaints procedure in information sent to prospective candidates. As a result some departments were publicising the arrangements and others were not.
The Commissioners concluded that the existing arrangements were at odds with good practice. This was both in relation to good regulation generally and also in relation to our specific duty to maintain the principle of selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. The Commissioners decided that we must change our Recruitment Code to require departments to publicise the complaints procedure amongst applicants for posts.
‘Regulated by the Civil Service Commissioners’
From 1 April 2008, the Commissioners’ Recruitment Code was amended to require departments and agencies to include details about the complaints procedure in literature made available to prospective applicants.
Departments were also required to incorporate a special ‘Regulated by the Civil Service Commissioners’ logo in advertisements and information packs. The new logo has been introduced to highlight our role as regulators of recruitment into the Civil Service. We trust that it will quickly become a recognised and easily understood part of Civil Service recruitment advertising.
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