Public Servant Lifestyle

Ten years after its original introduction, the Cabinet Office has unveiled a modernised Civil Service Code - setting out the duties and responsibilities of civil servants.

As well as reaffirming historic values, the new Code makes clear that the Civil Service must be outward-facing and meet the needs of the public who fund and use its services.

"Our traditional values of integrity, objectivity, impartiality and honesty are our bedrock," said Sir Gus O'Donnell, Cabinet Secretary & Head Of The Home Civil Service.

"They are just as important today as when they were first developed and are essential to everything we do, whether it is policy, delivery or corporate services. They need to be expressed clearly in a way which is relevant to all our staff.

"We need to ensure we live up to these values. And I want all civil servants to reflect some additional qualities in everything we do. These bring the dynamism needed to deliver 21st century public services. So as well as these traditional values, we need pace, pride, passion and professionalism."

The new code is the result of work between the Government and the Civil Service Commissioners, and a detailed consultation that elicited over 2,000 responses from civil servants across a broad range of grades, departments, disciplines and regions.

Revisions to the Code include:

For the first time the Code provides for the Independent Civil Service Commissioners to consider a complaint direct from a civil servant

The Code forms part of the terms and conditions for Civil Servants. For the first time, the Code makes clear that it forms part of the contractual relationship between a civil servant and their employer

The introduction of the new Code comes as Sir Gus O'Donnell challenged the Civil Service to transform itself and raise all aspects of what it does to the level of the best.

"I want to commend what we already achieve, but not shirk the challenge of how far we have still to travel. We need to be valued by ministers and recognised by external bodies as a superb source of expert, objective policy advice, trusted by all to be honest, impartial and to act with integrity.

"We need to deliver world-class, citizen-centred services, frequently in partnership; learn from the best examples of change and have the confidence and skills to apply what we learn."

He said that civil servants' thinking had to be relentlessly focussed on citizens and open to new ideas from outside. The Civil Service had no monopoly on policy advice or service delivery and did not seek one.

"Through vigorous management and improving skills, the Civil Service should strive for excellence in everything it does and work with and through partners to deliver for citizens.

"It is this culture which will maintain and strengthen public trust in the Civil Service for years to come. Because without the trust of the public, the Civil Service will not survive, and will not deserve to," he said.

The Cabinet Secretary acknowledged that the Civil Service was not living up expectations in all areas and echoed Sir David Normington's regret about recent problems at the Home Office.

"Some aspects of current performance must and will improve, and soon. We are fully committed to tackling these issues, and urgently."

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