What is expected from You as a Civil Servant
Civil Service Code
The Civil Service provisions of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 places the Civil Service values on a statutory footing and includes the publication of a Civil Service Code. The Civil Service Code sets out the core Civil Service values and standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values. The Civil Service is an integral and key part of the Government of the United Kingdom. It supports the Government of the day in developing and implementing its policies, and in delivering public services. Civil servants are accountable to Ministers, who in turn are accountable to Parliament. If appointed as a civil servant (either on a permanent or fixed term basis), you are appointed on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a commitment to the Civil Service and its core values:
- Integrity
- Honesty
- Objectivity
- Impartiality
The Civil Service code is available at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/values/index.aspx
Confidentiality and the Official Secrets Act
The post is covered by the Official Secrets Act. As a civil servant, you are bound by the provisions of criminal law, including the Official Secrets Act, which protect certain categories of official information, and by your duty of confidentiality owed to the Crown. Candidates must exercise care in the use of official information acquired in the course of official duties, and not disclose information which is held in confidence.
Conflicts of Interest
Candidates must declare any interests they may have that might cause questions to be raised about their approach to the business of the Department. They are required to declare any relevant business interests, share holdings, positions of authority, retainers, consultancy arrangements or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies, both for themselves and for their spouses/partners. The successful candidate will be required to give up any conflicting interests and his/her other business and financial interests may be published. As a civil servant, you may not take part in any financial or non-financial activity which would could in any way conflict with the interests of the organisation or be inconsistent with your role. An actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest may arise where your impartiality in performing your official duties is called into question because you have an interest in an area affected by, or affecting, those official duties. Civil servants should not receive benefits of any kind from a third party which might reasonably be seen to compromise their personal judgement or integrity.
Political Activity
As a civil servant, the political activity rules aim to give you the greatest possible freedom to take part in public affairs whilst making sure you do not compromise your official duties. These rules relate to activities where you might express your political views in public. They do not concern your private beliefs and
opinions or stop you being a member of a political party. Further information can be found in the Civil Service Management Code, available at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/csmc/index.aspx.