The Civil Service has room to improve - particularly when it comes to fair promotions and the ability and leadership of senior staff, a survey has revealed.

The opinion survey conducted by more than 1,100 employees said that three quarters of the workforce believed directors and permanent secretaries did not make high quality decisions.

And the survey told how only three in ten believed the senior Civil Servants to be highly visible, and less than one quarter of those questioned said they thought permanent secretaries and directors led by example.

About 75 percent of the Civil Service staff completed the questionnaire last year.

Reactions on many questions were mixed, but only a third said they believed morale was generally positive, and just over half said they thought management valued their contribution.

The survey stated: "While most employees are highly committed to the Government as an employer, they consider the Government to be less committed to them as employees.

"Employees are generally favourable with regard to their working environment, although there are concerns with reference to safety, workload and relationship issues."

And the survey said employee job satisfaction was generally high, but morale was mixed.

And it went on: "Most employees are satisfied with the performance of their supervisor/manager, although there are clear opportunities for improving the quality of supervision within the Civil Service.

"There is mixed opinion with regard to the performance of the directors and permanent secretaries."

Three quarters of staff said they believed poor performance was tolerated, and the same number said they thought the process for considering employees for job openings and promotion was not fair.

A staggering eight out of ten said they felt the most capable people were not given the promotions.

Fewer than half said they felt they had received the necessary training or orientation from the Civil Service to do their jobs well.

The report went on: "With the exception of communications between peers, internal communications within the Civil Service requires special attention."

The Department of Personnel Services' Strategy into Action Bulletin said the survey results had provided the Civil Service with a snapshot of where gaps needed to be closed.

It said: "The survey provides a baseline upon which we can measure our performance and that gives us a shared agenda for our work.

"As you see from the results, some of it is hard hitting; there is powerful feedback here for all of us.

"Key areas where improvement is seen as a priority include performance management, staff development and communication.

"We will not be able to do everything immediately; improvements take longer to realise in some areas than others. The important thing is that we address the priorities and that when we conduct the survey again in autumn 2003, we can all see tangible improvements."

Permanent secretaries underwent a development programme in November of last year, after the survey had been completed.

Cabinet Secretary John Drinkwater said the survey had presented some important challenges for the Civil Service, but said the Service was committed to responding to those challenges.