Here is a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the public appointments process. If you can't find what you're looking for here, please don't hesitate to contact us by telephone or in writing. Our contact details can be found at the foot of this page.
What sort of person should apply for a public appointment?
I’ve never sat on a board before, does that mean I shouldn’t bother applying?
How do I go about applying for a role?
Why do we need a Commissioner for Public Appointments? Does it mean that the system is unfair at the moment?
Will applying the new Code of Practice take a lot of public money?
Who pays for the Commissioner and her office?
How long does the appointment process take?
Am I too old/too young to apply?
How many people will I be up against if I apply?
I would like to apply for a public appointment in a few years’ time. What sort of experience should I be getting to help me towards this goal?
Is there anyone I can talk to for some advice on whether to apply?
I’m dyslexic so I find application forms very difficult. Will I be penalised because of this?
I haven’t been in work for a few years. Will this affect my chances of being appointed?
I have convictions for motoring offences. Will they affect my application?
Will I be paid if I am appointed?
Would I have to give up my full-time job if I were appointed?
Will I receive any training for the post?
Who does the OCPAS Assessor answer to?
How do I become an OCPAS Assessor?
I’m unhappy about my experience in a recent appointment round. How can I make a complaint?
If I make a complaint about an appointment process will this affect my chances of being appointed in the future?
Where can I find out which appointments are available?
What sort of person should apply for a public appointment?
First of all, there is no “sort” of person who should or shouldn’t apply. Public bodies are concerned with issues and services that affect the whole of our society, which means you! Obviously, not just anyone can run these bodies – there will be certain knowledge and skills which are necessary for each post – but these could be gained through your work, hobbies, volunteering or home life, there’s no set pattern you have to follow. You might find that your hobby has given you specialist knowledge that is just what a particular public body needs. Alternatively, you may have experience of finance, business, marketing, or any number of other relevant skills. You might even just have first-hand experience of being on the receiving end of public services. Your application will be judged on how well your skills, knowledge and personal qualities match those required for the post. It’s important that the boards of public bodies reflect the whole of society in Scotland, but for that to happen people from all backgrounds and communities – people like you - need to apply.
I’ve never sat on a board before, does that mean I shouldn’t bother applying?
No, it doesn’t. There’s no denying that board experience can be useful. It obviously wouldn’t be wise to have an entire board with very little experience of governance. On the other hand, how effective is a board filled with people who all have the same skills and experience? What is really needed is a balance of expertise and capabilities. In practical terms this means that for some posts it may help to have board experience, and for others it might not matter so much. It just depends on what is required by a particular board at a particular time. Not having previous experience should certainly not discourage you from applying, though. In fact, if we are to increase diversity in our public bodies it is absolutely crucial that we have applications from people who are new to public appointments.
How do I go about applying for a role?
Basic guidance on how to apply can be accessed from the following links. First, you should look at the mock application form. This is a fairly typical example of what you have to complete to be considered. It incorporates criteria drawn from different types of board appointments such as territorial health boards and the boards of advisory bodies. Next, you should look at the pointers for applying. This document makes it clear what constitutes evidence and what the selection panel is looking for when they assess applications. It will also give you some useful tips should you be invited to interview. Last of all, you should look at the example criteria and answers. Here you'll find examples of completed answers for some of the criteria on the mock application form as well as an assessment of them. Some are good and some are not so good. For each example we provide we'll show you how and in what way a given answer would or would not encourage the selection panel to invite that applicant for interview.
Why do we need a Commissioner for Public Appointments? Does it mean that the system is unfair at the moment?
No. In fact the process has been regulated since 1995 by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Great Britain, who was appointed in response to the Nolan Committee’s recommendations for improving standards in public life. Following devolution, on 1 June 2004 Karen Carlton was appointed as the first Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland. The work done by both Commissioners has gone a long way to improving fairness and openness in public appointments, but there is still work to be done. The Commissioner, her Office and her team of OCPAS Assessors provide ongoing regulation of the appointments process. They deal with enquiries, provide guidance on the Code of Practice, investigate complaints and monitor appointment rounds to make sure that the Code is followed and interpreted appropriately for every appointment round for a regulated public body. (Not all public bodies come within the Commissioner’s remit, but you will be able to recognise a regulated body by the OCPAS regulated logo which will appear on all publicity.)
Will applying the new Code of Practice take a lot of public money?
No. In fact, it should help to make good use of public money by appointing the very best candidates available, who will make the most effective use of our public bodies’ funding. Naturally, any regulatory system has some costs attached to it, but these costs are minimal compared to the benefits gained from a fair and open appointments process. The costs that are involved for each appointment aren’t really any greater than for any other well-conducted recruitment process – devising application packs, publicising the position, assessing applications, interviewing, responding to applicants, and so on. The Commissioner’s office bears the costs of the OCPAS Assessors for each round, so that the degree of independent scrutiny is not determined by how much a public body, or the relevant Scottish Government directorate, can afford.
Who pays for the Commissioner and her office?
As the Commissioner is a public servant she, and her office, are paid for out of public funds. The funds are paid through the Scottish Parliament and the Commissioner is accountable to Parliament for the use of her budget. Full details of last OCPAS ’s budgets, and how they are spent, can be seen in the Commissioner’s Annual Accounts on the Publications page of the website.
How long does the appointment process take?
This varies from appointment to appointment and the process can be quite lengthy. It is common for several months to pass between application and appointment because of the process used by the Scottish Government. However, the new Code of Practice aims to remove unnecessary delays and provide a degree of certainty. Under the new Code, the application pack must include the interview date(s) and planned date of appointment, so that applicants can see how the appointment should progress.
Am I too old/too young to apply?
No. Nor are you too married or too single, too male or too female, too rich or too poor. These things have nothing to do with your suitability for appointment.
Of course it’s possible that someone very young might not have amassed the necessary skills, knowledge and personal qualities needed for a public appointment, but it is the ability to meet the requirements of the post on which you will be judged, not on any assumptions based on your age.
From April 2006 all personal information, including your name, age, gender and address will be kept separate from the part of your application which is seen by the selection panel. This means that no-one on the selection panel should be able, even unconsciously, to judge your application on anything but its own merit.
How many people will I be up against if I apply?
Some appointment rounds attract a huge response, with over 100 applications being received, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Other appointments might require specialist skills or a substantial time-commitment, or just be less popular, so only a handful of people apply. Either way, if you are selected for interview you are usually among the top six to eight candidates for the post.
I would like to apply for a public appointment in a few years’ time. What sort of experience should I be getting to help me towards this goal?
As we’ve mentioned above, there’s no such thing as the “right” or “wrong” background, but there are some activities that will make you better prepared for a role on a board. For example:
- positions of responsibility - through your work/voluntary work/hobbies
- decision-making
- activities which show your ability to speak up and to influence opinions and outcomes
- devising and delivering reasoned arguments
- working in a team to address issues and problems
- knowledge in a particular field, or of a particular type of public service
- any activity which demonstrates your communication skills, and your ability to challenge and question
- a general awareness of political issues
- activities which demonstrate sensitivity, insight or empathy where difficult issues are concerned
- for very high profile, national bodies - experience on boards at local or regional level
The skills, knowledge and personal qualities that you will need will very much depend on the sort of role you want to take up. If there is a particular body that interests you, it may help to contact them directly to ask what kind of skills they would value. And don’t forget, boards need a balance of different skills and knowledge – your in-depth knowledge in one area might outweigh your inexperience in another. The only way to find out is to apply!
Is there anyone I can talk to for some advice on whether to apply?
Unfortunately, at the moment the broad answer to this is no. This is an area which falls outside the Commissioner’s remit – she is here to regulate and monitor the system and cannot give advice on individual applications. The new Code of Practice does, however, require feedback to be given on applications. If you apply for a post and are not invited for interview you can ask for feedback on your application (within a specified time limit) and it must be given to you. All interviewees will be given feedback on their performance automatically. This means that if you aren’t successful the first time, you will be able to properly assess the strengths and weaknesses of your application and make improvements for future appointment rounds. Getting feedback should also help you establish whether you are ready for a public appointment, or whether you need to build up your skills and knowledge before applying again.
I’m dyslexic so I find application forms very difficult. Will I be penalised because of this?
No, as long as you make it known in your application that you are dyslexic. Dyslexia comes within the definition of a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).The sponsor directorate (the Scottish Government directorate responsible for the appointment) must not discriminate against you because of your disability, so it has a duty to make reasonable adjustments to the selection process to ensure that you are not disadvantaged by your dyslexia. The sort of adjustments which might be reasonable will vary from case to case, but might range from allowing your application to be dictated, to simply not penalising you for errors of grammar or written style.
Naturally, you will still have to prove yourself the best candidate if you are to be appointed, but you will have the opportunity to present your skills and knowledge in a way which does not unfairly discriminate against you. The public body would also be under a duty to make reasonable adjustments for your dyslexia if you were appointed to the board. Further information on the DDA definition of a disability can be found on The Disability Rights Commission website.
From December 2006 all public bodies, and the Scottish Government, will also have a wider legal duty to give due regard to promoting equality of opportunity for disabled people.
I haven’t been in work for a few years. Will this affect my chances of being appointed?
Not necessarily. Your employment status usually has nothing to do with how well you meet the requirements of the role (unless one of the requirements is to have a particular job, such as a requirement to be a practising lawyer). From April 2006 the selection panel will only see the part of the application form where you describe how you meet the criteria in the person specification. If you can show on your form that you are one of the candidates who best matches these you will be selected for interview. The panel will only be aware of your employment status or history if you have referred to it in this part of your application. Obviously, if you do want to mention your work, past or present, to show how you meet the requirements of the post, you can do so. The important thing is that the process does not require you to. How you gained your skills and knowledge is not important, it is the fact that you can demonstrate the skills and knowledge which matters.
I have convictions for motoring offences. Will they affect my application?
Not necessarily. Application forms for some public appointments might ask you about certain convictions, but these may or may not include motoring convictions. Most convictions become “spent” after a certain period of time (under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974), after which you no longer have to declare them when asked. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule, for example, if you applied for an appointment which would bring you into contact with children or other vulnerable groups. In these cases all previous convictions, spent or unspent, would be relevant to assessing your suitability for the post. If you are required to provide Disclosure information (information provided by Disclosure Scotland about an applicant’s criminal history) at any stage in the application process, this will be made clear in the application pack.
Even if you do have motoring convictions, or any others, to declare, they won’t necessarily prevent you from being appointed. It will depend entirely on whether the nature of the conviction(s) makes it inappropriate for you to be appointed to the position in question.
Will I be paid if I am appointed?
It depends - some public appointments are paid and others are not. You can always find out before you apply, because details of any remuneration will be included in both the publicity and the application pack. Also, whether or not the appointment is paid, you will be entitled to claim any reasonable expenses you incur in carrying out your work for the public body (for example the cost of travelling to a board meeting and often care costs for children or other dependants while attending meetings). Current levels of remuneration for each public body can be found in the Scottish Public Bodies Directory on the Scottish Government website.
Would I have to give up my full-time job if I were appointed?
This will largely depend on your job and on the time commitment required for each particular appointment. Some positions involve a relatively low time commitment, perhaps one day every month or two, whereas others need a few days every week. It may be possible to use your annual leave entitlement to carry out your duties for the public body, or to agree a flexible working arrangement for your job, but this is something you will need to work out with your employer before taking up any appointment. It is a good idea to have this discussion as early as possible, even before you apply, so you can work out how best to accommodate the time commitment. You will be questioned about this if you are invited to interview. Many employers are very supportive of their workers’ participation in public duties and appreciate that they will benefit from the experience and personal development gained by their employees through their public duties. Legislation requires employers to allow employees who hold certain public positions reasonable time off to perform the duties associated with them. More information on this can be found on the Department of Trade and Industry website.
Will I receive any training for the post?
Yes. If it is your first public appointment the Scottish Government will supply you with an induction manual. The public body itself will also set up induction sessions with its key staff, and provide you with copies of all its key policy and strategy documents, and guidance notes. Beyond that, further training will be arranged by the public body depending on your particular needs.
Who does the OCPAS Assessor answer to?
OCPAS Assessors (OAs) are appointed by the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland and are answerable to her for their professional conduct and competence. They do not answer to Ministers or their departments, nor to any of the public bodies. As part of the selection panel, the OA is fully involved in the process for every regulated public body and ensures that the Code of Practice is properly applied in every appointment round.
How do I become an OCPAS Assessor?
Through an open competition, just like for a public appointment. This means that all applications will be assessed on merit alone, and vacancies will be advertised publicly - so keep an eye on the OCPAS website. Applicants’ personal details will not be seen by the Commissioner or her selection team until after candidates have been shortlisted for interview, so you will not be at any advantage or disadvantage because of your gender, age, location, education, or any other irrelevant factor. A detailed person specification will be available when the positions are publicised, but broadly speaking some knowledge of good practice in recruitment and selection, and of interpreting and applying a system of regulation or law, are both likely to be an asset when you apply. More information on the current OCPAS Assessors is available here: OCPAS Assessors. If you would like to be informed of any future opportunities to become an OCPAS Assessor, please e-mail OCPAS at info@publicappointments.org or telephone 0131 718 6268.
I’m unhappy about my experience in a recent appointment round. How can I make a complaint?
The first step is to give the relevant Scottish Government directorate the opportunity to respond to your concerns. If you are not satisfied with the Department’s response you can then ask the Commissioner to consider an investigation. The Commissioner will only investigate a complaint if the appointment was made a maximum of one year previously. Further information on the investigation of complaints can be found in the publications section of this website.
If I make a complaint about an appointment process will this affect my chances of being appointed in the future?
Absolutely not. For one thing, from April 2006 all applications will be anonymous during the early stages of the process. This means you cannot be identified by the selection panel until the interview shortlist has been decided, even in the unlikely event that they know about your previous complaint. Also, different Scottish Government directorates are responsible for different public appointments, so your second application might not even be dealt with by the same team. Both the Commissioner and the Scottish Government recognise the importance of facilitating and even encouraging genuine complaints about the appointments process, so that we can maintain its integrity and continue to address any areas where improvement is needed. Your comments and feedback are invaluable, and will be treated as such.
Where can I find out which appointments are available?
A list of current vacancies for public appointments is available on the Scottish Government ’s website. You can also register your interest in public appointments. The Scottish Government’s central Public Appointments support team will then contact you once a quarter with a list of forthcoming appointment opportunities. You will still need to request an application pack for any appointment which interests you and apply in the usual way.
