employing outside the Panel for civil servant job

Hi my query is as follows: 2 years ago i applied for a civil servant job, it was a fixed term contract, i was placed 5 on the panel. To my knowledge 3 ppl from the panel have been called. I am now aware that another employee has left their post. I have heard that they are taking on someone for the summer who was not on this panel and they have not readvertised. Can they do this? Am i not right in thinking to take on someone outside the panel regardless of how many years have passed they must re-interview? and where do i stand in this situation?

They are probably taking on someone from the Temporary Clerical Officer panel to cover it for the summer. They probably don't have authorisation to fill it properly.

Panels used to remain active for 2 years before a new competiton would be launched, but I don't know how they are treating them now with the embargo in place. The Public Appointments staff are normally very helpful if you want to clarify the status of your panel.

Has this person just been employed in a temporary capacity for the Summer? I would think this doesn't constitute filling the role

I don't think people going on term time can be replaced anymore so that wouldn't explain it.

The civil service advertised a few months ago for temporary summer staff, so they obviously intend taking some people on during the summer.

Term-time per se has gone, staff can apply for a period of unpaid leave (called the shorter working year) which can be taken at any time of the year (the applicant doesn't need to be a parent either). There may still be a sizeable number of staff who take the summer off so it might make sense to hire replacements.