Established officer

If you resign, you can't go back. Resignation is permanent.

You also won't be granted a career break to "test the waters" in another part of the service, that is not allowed.

There is a circular on it, you will find it linked HERE.

It opens in PDF format. Give it a read and see what applies to your situation.

Why can't you just transfer ?

I've moved departments twice. Once on promotion and then on a chosen demotion to a different part of the country. Both were open panels and I didn't break service.

Absolutely not allowed.

Career breaks are only granted for very specific purposes, e.g. travel, further education or caring for family.

They're not granted so someone can test run working somewhere else.

(edit - you can take a career break for self-employment).

Do take the leap. You've been through probation before and it's a breeze if you keep your nose clean and don't take the p***. As you well know yourself you want to be some headbanger to fail probation in the CS. Best of luck in the new appointment.

Does working in a different jurisdiction constitute 'travel', I wonder? I thought you were allowed to take career break to work abroad, like all the teachers in Dubai.

Rules around career break vary wildly between different areas of the public service. As mentioned, those who work in education (teachers) don’t have many of the limitations that apply to the civil service (eg teachers can seek political office, civil servants can’t)

I took it to mean a different county not country.

I'd be surprised if they referred to a civil service or public service job in another country, in this context.

Anyway, they haven't come back to say! If it is outside the country it's fine.