We are responsible for establishing the principles that should be followed when making an appointment. These are set out in our Codes of Practice. The codes also outline the standards that should be adhered to at each stage of the selection process.
The codes also set out the review and appeal mechanisms open to candidates when they are unhappy with a selection process. They also outline what is expected from candidates in an appointment process as well as explaining our audit function.
We have five Codes of Practice. In most cases, appointments will be made under the Code of Practice for Appointments to Positions in the Civil Service and Public Service. However, sometimes they can be made under one of the other codes.
Find out more here on where each Code applies.
We updated our Codes of Practice in 2017, making changes mostly to the review and appeals mechanisms. The revised codes came into effect on 8 March 2017.
Any appointments advertised on or after that date come under the updated codes. If they were advertised before this, the earlier codes will apply.