In January 2006 Dame Janet was appointed Commissioner for Public Appointments in England and Wales as well as a Civil Service Commissioner. The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments supports the work of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, a position which is independent of the Government. The Commissioner's role is to regulate, monitor and report on appointments made by UK Ministers
and by members of the Welsh Assembly Government to the Boards of around 1,100 national and regional public bodies. Some bodies within Northern Ireland also fall under the Commissioner's remit.

Dame Janet completed her five year non renewable term both as Commissioner for Public Appointments and a Civil Service Commissioner 
in December 2010.