GUIDE SECTION: DISCIPLINE
GENERAL
1.
Disciplinary powers lie ultimately with the permanent head of the department. Subject to any directions he may give, minor offences (see paragraph Code 4) may be dealt with by the offender's line manager, The permanent head of the department may, and ordinarily should, delegate the exercise of his disciplinary powers under the formal disciplinary procedure to an officer (usually the Establishment Officer or his representative) or officers of his own or (where appropriate) another department. The level at which a decision to dismiss is taken should not
normally be below Assistant Secretary. Disciplinary powers should not be further delegated without the express authority of the permanent head of the department and should normally be subject to consultation with the Staff Side. Permanent delegations of such powers should appear in the department's staff rules. Delegation of disciplinary powers is without prejudice to the permanent head of the department's powers to deal with any particular case himself, or to confirm or vary the decisions of his delegates when considering appeals to himself or reports made to him by the Civil Service Appeal Board.
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2. As Code paragraph 4 points out relatively minor offences may properly be dealt with on the spot by the line manager. guidance in this section is intended to apply to the cases in which formal disciplinary action is considered necessary.
PRELIMINARY ENQUIRIES
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3. Before any formal changes are considered in cases where the facts are not clear, departments may find it expedient in some
* instances to appoint an officer or officers to investigate the case and to advise the person exercising disciplinary powers. Departments should consider whether any officer should be suspended
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