Complaints procedure
We want to help you resolve your recruitment complaint as quickly as possible.
If you have a complaint about your Civil Service recruitment experience, the Government Recruitment Service (GRS) may be able to help.
We cannot facilitate requests to reconsider a candidate’s application or interview score, unless there is evidence that you have been scored unfairly.
The team will investigate your complaint to understand the full circumstances, and you are encouraged to let us know what resolution you are looking for.
You should receive a response from the GRS Correspondence Team within 10 working days.
Candidates are politely reminded that the team is here to help and should be treated with the same respect and courtesy as you expect to receive.
Complaints can be submitted to the GRS Correspondence Team via this form.
General questions about a job advertised on Civil Service Jobs should be directed through the ‘contact points for applicants’ listed at the bottom of the job advert.
Legislation, codes and principles
Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010. The Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles explain in more detail the legal requirement that selection for appointment to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition.
Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request is the right to request recorded information held by public authorities. To make an FOI request to the Government Recruitment Service, please contact foi-team@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. You can find advice on how to make an FOI request on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.
A Subject Access Request (SAR) is the right to ask an organisation if they’re using or storing your personal information, and to ask for copies of your personal information. To submit a SAR to the Government Recruitment Service, please contact subject.access@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. You can find advice on how to make a SAR on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.