Filenews 22 October 2023 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
The Public Service Commission (PSC) is working feverishly to implement the reform of the Public Service, starting from January 1, 2024. Staff training has been intensified in recent months.
At the same time, the Commission has received the necessary know-how from private actors because of the changes being promoted. The reform of the Public Service was approved by Parliament during the government of Nicos Anastasiades, after the bills were "toothless" by the parties, as a result of which they did not bring about the expected drastic changes.
For the National Health Service, reform is a huge challenge and a big challenge. Among the changes that will be implemented is the procedure for filling promotion and first appointment and promotion positions with the introduction of measurable criteria, with predetermined weights, and the introduction of a new category of positions called "Interdepartmental Promotions".
In addition, examination centers will be set up in order to evaluate candidates with modern methods and/or exercises (written exams and/or aptitude/skills tests, role exercises, presentations, case studies). In addition, a new system for evaluating the performance of civil servants is established. The National Health Service will supervise the proper implementation of the new evaluation system
Purchase of services
At the same time, the Commission will seek to proceed with the purchase of services from the private sector, for the proper functioning of the examination centres, as it does not have the required experience.
It has already applied to the European Commission's Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG Reform) to request technical assistance in developing mechanisms and skills for selecting reliable partners, acquiring know-how in relation to the design, operation and supervision of test centres, in order to be able to meet its obligations.
The Commission submitted a request entitled: "Established procedures and set up of an Examination Centre for the Cyprus Public Service Commission", which was approved by DG Reform, with funding of €500 thousand. With the tender for the project, DG Reform decided to award the tender to PwC.
It should be noted that this request was included in the Cypriot Recovery Plan, through which Cyprus is expected to receive funds of €2026.1 billion.
Contracts signed
For the implementation of the new legislation on reform, a contract has been signed between the Department of Information Technology Services and the contractor company for the provision of services for changes and modifications of the existing information system of the Public Health Service, in order to manage the new procedures for filling positions provided for in the legislation on the reform of the public service.
According to the strategic plan of the Public Service Commission 2024-2026, the preparation for the implementation of the reform within the time frame that has been decided requires a huge effort and actions both for the further development of the information systems operating in the Office of the Public Service Commission, in cooperation with the competent services, but also for the training of both the Committee itself and the staff for the implementation of its new provisions legislation and the powers conferred on the Commission.
Evaluators at school
In the meantime, the Department of Public Personnel Administration (TSI) in a circular informs that training seminars for evaluators will be held. The circular states that the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration (CAPA), in the context of the information or training activities promoted in relation to the process of evaluating the performance of employees based on the new regulations on the evaluation system that have been implemented since January 1, 2023, has contracted with the private company KPMG for the organization of a series of training workshops to be implemented between October 2023 and February 2024 for public service executives participating in Evaluation Teams (evaluators), with the aim of developing their skills, knowledge and attitudes in relation to the new regulations and their implementation.
Initially, the training seminars are addressed to the heads of independent services, general directors of ministries / deputy ministries and heads of departments. The rest of the executives – evaluators of the public service organizations (Deputy Ministries / Ministries / Independent Services / Departments) will then undergo training.
Certificates from the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration
"The learning activities will be adapted, where possible, to the needs of each target group and will focus on the practical dimension of learning, where, following the electronic asynchronous program already offered by the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration (CAPA) and which everyone is encouraged to attend before participating in the workshops, participants will have the opportunity, Through modern educational methodologies and tools (simulation techniques, group work, case studies, etc.), to resolve questions related to the new evaluation system and its implementation process, to be informed about good practices and tools of communication and feedback to the evaluated employees, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the change of culture necessary for the successful implementation of the new system", the circular adds.
It should be noted that officers who complete the training will receive a relevant certificate of attendance from CAPA.
The circular also stresses the importance of the commitment, first of all of the relevant supervisors and other executives, in relation to the timely response for registration and attendance of training, as the new evaluation system has already been implemented and the first evaluation with the new regulations for the year 2023 should be completed by the end of March 2024. Therefore, it is noted, evaluators must be able to implement it.
At the same time, "training in the new evaluation system has been included as a milestone in the Recovery Plan, i.e. it is a government commitment, for the implementation of which a contractual obligation has been undertaken to design and implement training activities to cover the entire population of evaluators, which will not be repeated."
