Due to the current public health emergency it is unavoidable and understandable that it is causing considerable disruption to the delivery of public services, as well to the work of our own Office. With this in mind, we would ask for your patience and cooperation and in particular:
A) Please think about whether you really need to make complaints about COMPETITIONS RUN BY healthcare and social support services, both of which are under huge strain at the moment.
B) In terms of the work of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, our staff will continue to work during this time. However, we rely on interaction with the service providers to carry out our work, and there will be significant delays in getting responses from service providers, particularly those in healthcare. Additionally, some of our own staff will be redeployed to vital front line services. We apologise for the delays which will result.
If you are unhappy following a selection process, the Code of Practice outline the review and appeal mechanisms open to you.
You can either request a review of a decision made during the selection process, under section 7 of the relevant Code, or you can make a complaint that the selection process followed was unfair, under section 8.
You must choose between requesting a review of a decision or making a complaint. You cannot choose both.
If you are unhappy with a decision made during a selection process, believe it was made on the basis of incorrect information or that documented procedure was not followed, you can ask for a review under section 7 of the relevant code.
The decision may be reversed if it is found to have been incorrect.
For more information on the review process and how to request a review, click here.
If you think the selection process was unfair and in breach of the Code of Practice, you can make a complaint about the process under section 8 of the relevant code.
If the selection process is found to have been unfair, the decision will not be reversed. However, changes may be made to the process to ensure a breach does not happen again.
For more information on the complaint process and how to make a complaint, click here.
You must choose between a review of the decision (under section 7) and a complaint (under section 8).
If you have already asked for a review, you cannot then make a complaint. We will accept a complaint only in exceptional circumstances.
You must be careful when deciding which mechanism is most appropriate to your case. See the table below to help you choose the right option.
| When should I request a review (section 7) | When should I make a complaint (section 8) |
|---|---|
| If you are unhappy with the marks you received | If you believe the selection process was unfair |
| If you believe your experience and qualifications were not taken into account | If you can identify one or more breaches in the Code of Practice |
| If you believe the selection board did not follow the process outlined | If you believe the process did not treat candidates consistently or transparently |
| If you believe the marks you received were based on incorrect information | If you are looking for changes to the selection process for the future |
| If you are seeking a reversal of the final decision | If you are not seeking a reversal of the final decision |
The timeframes for asking a public body for a review or to make a complaint are as follows:
If you make a complaint outside of these timeframes, you may be refused.