2016-2017 Audit Plan
- A renewed approach to oversight of the staffing system
- Audit activities planned or underway in 2016-2017
A renewed approach to oversight of the staffing system
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has adopted a system-wide approach to ensure its continued accountability to Parliament, while supporting deputy heads in adapting their organizational staffing systems.
- System-wide staffing audit
- Conducted every two years, alternating with the Survey of Staffing and Non-partisanship, to obtain a better view of system-wide performance, while reducing effort required by participating organizations. Findings and recommendations stemming from the audit will be shared broadly to increase awareness of risks and potential solutions.
- Redesigned “Survey of Staffing and Non-Partisanship”
- To collect information from stakeholders on their perceptions of staffing and non-partisanship.
- Risk-based audits
- Conducted when deemed necessary by the PSC in a specific organization or to address a systemic risk to determine whether additional support is needed.
- PSC investigations
- The PSC conducts investigations, as needed, on the following: external appointment processes where an appointment or proposed appointment may not have been made on the basis of merit or where possible errors, omissions or improper conduct occurred; internal appointment processes, at the request of a deputy head, where possible errors, omissions or improper conduct occurred; and any appointment processes in which political influence or fraud is suspected. The PSC also investigates allegations of improper political activities by public servants.
- Political activities and non-partisanship
- The PSC renders decisions regarding permission to seek nomination and be a candidate in federal, provincial, territorial and municipal elections, as well as a leave of absence without pay, if applicable. It also provides guidance, information and tools to employees regarding their legal rights and responsibilities related to political activities and non-partisanship.
The PSC supports organizations through a modernized approach to advice, comprehensive and timely staffing information and through regular engagement with organizations.
- Staffing support advisors
- The PSC has dedicated resources that provide organizations with ongoing staffing advice and support.
- Support for ongoing improvement
- Data and information provided to organizations to improve the performance of the staffing system. Tools and products include:
- Staffing assessments
- An informal assessment of an organization’s staffing framework and key steps in appointment processes to support learning and capacity building.
- Effectiveness and Efficiency Projects (EEPs)
- Topical, fact-based analyses that support continuous improvement at the system-wide level.
- Staffing dashboard
- Provides organizations with a snapshot of data on staffing activities.
Audit activities planned or underway in 2016-2017
In the coming year, we will develop methodologies and launch new oversight tools to inform the PSC and organizations on areas for improvement in the staffing system and identify appropriate solutions.
- System-wide staffing audit pilot
- The pilot will obtain information on the integrity of staffing at a system-wide level (core requirements); gather information about the implementation of the New Direction in Staffing (staffing environment) and identify possible areas for improvement.
- Horizontal risk-based audit: educational credentials
- This audit will review current practices in organizations related to validating educational credentials. The results from this audit will yield useful information for organizations to guide decisions on risks and controls. Audit results will also inform ongoing learning and improvements to the staffing system through improved PSC support.
PSC enabling activities planned or underway in 2016-2017
- Staffing assessment: Public Health Agency of Canada
- An informal assessment of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s staffing framework and key steps in appointment processes to support learning and capacity-building.
- Staffing assessment: Canada Border Services Agency
- An informal assessment of the Canada Border Service Agency’s staffing framework and key steps in appointment processes to support learning and capacity-building.
- EEP: merit criteria and inclusive recruitment
- A fact-based analysis that will support the development of inclusive merit criteria and provide considerations to hiring managers for attracting the best candidates.
- EEP: collective staffing
- A fact-based analysis of PSC information on collective staffing that will provide hiring managers with key considerations about whether and under what circumstances to use collective staffing.