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The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Complaints and Investigations

The Commissioner investigates complaints and may conduct an inquiry into the policies and practices followed in relation to appointments processes which she regulates.

She will only investigate any complaint concerning such an appointment process if the process took place within the preceding 12 months (unless there are exceptional circumstances).

Subject to this time limit,  she will investigate complaints which concern:-

  • an individual’s experience as an applicant;
  • the way a department or other responsible organisation has handled an appointments process; or
  • if it appears that her Code of Practice may not have been followed.

The Commissioner will not investigate complaints relating to:-

  • non selection or non reappointment unless it appears that the appointments process has breached her Code of Practice;
  • appointments to public bodies which she does not regulate;
  • the manner in which a public body is run; or
  • the actions of the members of a public body within her remit or their remuneration.

Where a complaint is made to the Commissioner, the Commissioner will request the relevant department or other responsible organisation to try to deal with the complaint. If the complainant remains dissatisfied with the department’s response, the complainant may then request the Commissioner to consider initiating an investigation into the complaint.

Further details of the Commissioner’s complaints policy and the manner in which complaints are investigated may be found in Making a Complaint about a Public Appointments Process – a Guide.

Please click here for a Word version of the complaints form. You should download the form onto your own computer, complete the form, save a copy for your records and email the completed form to: enquiries@publicappointmentscommissioner.org

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