Civil Service Commission, which exists to oversee the fairness of government’s recruitment practices, is running various workshops to ensure the compliance of campaigns to fill top digital roles and others
The Civil Service Commission has announced a series of new training workshops to help departments run fair, open and merit-based recruitment – including specialist offerings on how to deliver effective and inclusive online job adverts.
New training sessions have been launched “following positive engagement” with its training in 2024-25 and draw on common trends identified through the commission’s 2024-25 audit, the regulator said.
The commission audits a sample of recruitment campaigns across departments each year to check they are meeting the legal standard and to highlight positive practice.
The first workshop – on common breaches and lessons learned – took place last month, with five more classes lined up over the next few months:
Exceptions
Wednesday 20 August | 13:00 – 14:00
A focused session on commonly used exceptions – how and when they apply, and when to seek the commission’s prior approval.
Job Adverts Masterclass: Crafting Effective Job Adverts
Wednesday 3 September | 13:00 – 14:00
Improve advert clarity, inclusivity and structure to enhance candidate experience and reduce risks. Includes a mock advert exercise.
The Use of Reserve Lists
Wednesday 17 September | 13:00 – 14:00
Understand how to compliantly manage reserve lists, including extensions, reassignments and location changes.
Mastering the Audit Process
Wednesday 1 October | 13:00 – 14:00
An essential guide to preparing for audits – tracking processes, managing risks and maintaining compliance.
Commissioner-Chaired Campaigns & Panel Composition
Wednesday 15 October | 13:00 – 14:00
Covering the composition and responsibility of selection panels, the role of a department’s link commissioner, panel composition and diversity considerations, and insights from a commissioner about their experience as a chair.
The commission said the workshops – which are all be being held on Microsoft Teams – will be take place on a rolling basis throughout the year, with new dates and registration links added regularly. Participants must use a government-issued email address to register.
