Ministerial appointments to public bodies: training pack for selection panel chairs

The recruitment process for many ministerial appointees is independently regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner, requiring compliance with the Commissioner’s 2022 Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. This training pack is for selection panel chairs in that process.


9. Key learning points

  • The panel chair is responsible for making key decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers
  • The panel chair will guide the panel though a series of decisions, including a recommendation to the Minister on whom to appoint
  • Positive action has been proven to improve the number of applications from and the appointments of people in underrepresented groups
  • Criteria should not be unnecessarily restrictive, otherwise good potential applicants may be ruled out
  • The person specification and criteria are a critical part of the whole appointment process, and will drive the recommendations to the Minister
  • Once agreed, the criteria may not be changed
  • The chair is required to provide a report to the Minister at the end of the round, setting out the extent to which the round delivered or did not deliver the desired outcome
  • The Commissioner's representative will produce a report at the conclusion of their involvement in the round setting out the methods and practices that they have observed and the extent to which their guidance on code compliance and good practice has been followed.

Contact

Email: public.appointments@gov.scot

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