Schools HR Team

 

 

 

The Schools HR Team is a team of 11 HR professionals with a thorough understanding of teacher and support staff terms and conditions of employment and extensive experience of working in partnership with school leaders to resolve complex HR issues.

The Service is offered throughout the year, including during school holiday closure periods. Unlike some other providers, there is no time limit for how often you can access the Core Service.

The Service is available to maintained schools and academies. No additional costs are applied to Academy schools.

Each school is allocated two dedicated HR representatives. Support from other colleagues in the team can be provided for any urgent matters.

 

Core Service Offer

Unlimited advice on the following:

  • Employment legislation, national/local terms and conditions of employment;
  • Pay & Grading - including development of the annual model Pay Policy, advice and guidance on pay ranges, grading structures and Job Evaluation;
  • Discipline, capability, grievance and bullying and harassment issues;
  • Sickness absence, including stress-related absence, disability discrimination matters, critical/terminal illness and ill health retirement;
  • Recruitment and selection, including probation/induction issues;
  • Redundancy, restructuring and reorganisation, including TUPE;
  • Management of safeguarding allegations against staff, including statutory referrals (e.g. DBS, TRA)
  • Support and advice with employee relations issues relating to whole-school issues and individual casework matters;
  • Liaison with internal/external bodies as required (e.g. Police, Safeguarding etc);
  • Liaison with trade unions on casework matters and issues affecting staff in schools;                                                                                                                                   

Policy development

The provision of an extensive suite of model policies, procedures and guidance covering the full range of employee relations issues, reviewed annually and in response to changes in employment law, national and local terms and conditions;

The SLA is still available to schools that have their own policies and procedures in place. We will tailor any advice and support to what you have in place.

Casework documentation

A suite of standard template letters/documents for use in managing HR casework is available. We will also review any HR-related correspondence that a school is proposing to send to an employee e.g. letters, reports etc.

Legal processes

Support in the preparation of documentation for and attendance at Employment Tribunal or Court proceedings as a witness when required.                                                             

Attendance at meetings of the Governing Board 

Attendance at Committee Hearings of the Governing Board, to provide advice and guidance, including:

  • Disciplinary and grievance hearings and appeals;
  • Attendance and capability hearings and appeals;
  • Bullying and harassment and complaints appeals;
  • Redundancy meetings and appeals;
  • Pay appeals;
  • Complaints appeals (where the issue relates to a HR matter).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

HR visit

Where a new headteacher is appointed or a new school purchases the Service, we offer an introductory HR visit to the School. Its purpose is to review School practices with regard to HR, discuss the key aspects of important HR policies and procedures and provide advice in relation to any new/ongoing HR casework matters. HR visits can also be requested by schools that purchase the service as required.

Management information

Provision of workforce information and analysis to support people management processes (for schools that purchase LCC HR & Payroll services).                                                       

If you wish to discuss the cost of the Core Service or any aspect of the services that we provide, please contact jeanette.whitham@lancashire.gov.uk

Training briefings

The Schools HR Team delivers a suite of training briefings (one-day and twilight, face to face and online). SLA customers benefit from reduced rates for these. Details of all briefings can be found on the Schools Portal or by emailing schoolshrteam@lancashire.gov.uk

Additional Services

Provision of a trained Investigating Officer where the school is not able to conduct the investigation themselves.

Full mediation process delivered by a trained mediator.

 

 

 

 

Provision of bespoke training and development opportunities outside the suite of Schools HR Team training courses.

 

 

Provision of the Service to additional/community facilities where the employees are not directly employed by the School.

Additional consultancy/specialist project work/bespoke services may be offered on request, including for development/negotiation/implementation of non-statutory terms and conditions.

Feedback and complaints

We welcome suggestions for improvements to the service, to ensure that we continue to meet the requirements of our schools. In addition, we actively seek feedback from schools via questionnaires following the resolution of a case.

Although we are committed to delivering the highest possible standards of service, in the rare event that you wish to raise a concern about any aspect of the service, please contact jeanette.whitham@lancashire.gov.uk.

 

Service renewal

The service is offered on a rolling basis i.e. the service continues on a financial year by year basis unless a minimum of 3 months' notice (i.e. no later than 31st December) is given by either party of their intention to terminate. The notice of intention to terminate must be served via email to the following email address: schoolshrteam@lancashire.gov.uk

This SLA is offered separately to that for HR & Payroll. Enquiries relating to the HR & Payroll SLA should be directed to payroll-servicedevelopment@lancashire.gov.uk

Lancashire Teaching Agency

Are you looking for assistance with day-to-day or long-term supply? If so, the Lancashire Teaching Agency would be pleased to hear from you. The benefits of sourcing supply staff through LTA are:

  1. Competitive pricing rates ranging from £145.30-£199.20 per day for teachers, with a clear breakdown of how the rate is comprised;
  2. Transfer to contract fees that cannot be beaten by other local providers;
  3. Safer recruitment and selection processes in place for all roles;
  4. Requirement for supply staff to attend compulsory induction/Level 1 safeguarding training within their first month;
  5. Opportunities for supply staff to undertake CPD;
  6. Frequent User Membership scheme, providing cheaper daily rates and transfer to contract fees;
  7. Whole school recruitment – including Teaching Assistants, Office Staff, Site Supervisors, Welfare Assistants

For further details of the service or to book your supply staff, please contact

Preston Office: (01772) 200845

Lancaster Office: (01524) 843347

Secondary Team: (01772) 567302

Email address: lancashire.teaching@reedglobal.com