In 2007 the Commissioners will develop a process to audit the number of appeals against the Code in order to identify any patterns of concern.
Departments and agencies were asked to report to our Office on formal appeals relating to the Civil Service Code which they handled during 2006/07. There were four. Three were resolved and a fourth had been referred to the Civil Service Commissioners. Nominated Officers reported that a further 15 issues were raised with them covering matters such as personnel, health and safety, and conduct and discipline and, as such, were referred to the appropriate channels.
We are surprised at the very low number of appeals dealt with in departments and agencies. We are concerned that civil servants may not be clear about which issues might be raised under the Code; or that departments and agencies may not be recording the appeals centrally. We shall be following this up during the course of 2007 when the Commissioners develop a process to audit the number of appeals against the Code in departments and agencies in order to identify any patterns of concern.
