Responsibility for terms and conditions for Civil Servants, outside of the Senior Civil Service, is delegated to departments and agencies. This ensures they can shape and manage their arrangements in ways that support their business and workforce needs.
To ensure a coherent and consistent approach across the Service, all departments must develop their arrangements within the conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code (CSMC).
What the CSMC covers
The CSMC sets out regulations and instructions on terms and conditions for all organisations across the Civil Service. It contains a framework of rules and principles that all departments and agencies must adhere to when determining terms and conditions for their staff. The CSMC is supplemented by codes of practice and guidance that help to ensure a corporate approach to key employment issues.
The CSMC also incorporates the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code.
Civil Service nationality rules
The vast majority of Home Civil Service posts (95%) are open to UK citizens and those from the Commonwealth (including British Overseas Territories citizens and British protected persons), the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Turkey (and certain non-EEA, non-Swiss and non-Turkish family members). The other 5% require special allegiance to the state, and are reserved for UK nationals.
Very occasionally, someone outside the above groups may be considered for an appointment in the non-reserved category for up to five years. This would only happen if there was no suitably qualified person available, who met the relevant nationality criteria, or if the individual being considered had exceptional qualifications or experience.
The Civil Service nationality rules can be accessed on this website.
Further information
Senior Civil Service contracts
Employment Practice maintain model contracts for Senior Civil Servants which you can access below:
- Model contract – Standard [MS Word, 83KB, 13 pages]
- Model contract – Permanent Secretary [MS Word, 84KB, 13 pages]
- Model contract – Fixed term [MS Word, 81KB, 12 pages]
Welfare bodies
The partnership with these organisations is part of the Civil Service’s commitment to a better deal for staff. You can get information about each of these bodies by following the relevant link below.
To speak to someone about these partnerships and how they operate, please call Bill Fitzmaurice on 020 7276 2230.