Commission Publishes Recruitment Principles and the Civil Service Code

The Civil Service Commission today published the seven principles of selection to which every appointment to the civil service of the Network must be made, and the Civil Service Code, which sets out the standards of conduct required of officials in post.

The principles require selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. They also require that vacancies be advertised where those eligible can see them, that candidates be assessed against published requirements, that the same evidence be sought from every candidate, that assessment be proportionate to the post, that adjustments be made where a candidate needs them, and that every panel record the reasons for its decision. Competitions opened before 7 September 2026 under the interim arrangements may be completed under those arrangements, and the panel must record that it has done so.

The Civil Service Code sets out four values: integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. It requires officials to declare interests that might reasonably be thought to affect their work, to refuse gifts and hospitality that could place them under obligation, to keep official information secure and to give advice that is accurate whether or not it is welcome. Declarations are made within ten working days and recorded in the register of interests kept by each department.

The principles and the Code apply to all seven grades of the civil service. Departments must report on their competitions each quarter, and the Commission will audit a sample of competitions at every grade from October 2026. The full texts are published on the Recruitment Standards and Conduct and Codes pages of this site.