Schools HR Professional Services gives access to a comprehensive, responsive, specialist HR service built on experience and holistic understanding of the specific demands faced by educational establishments from all phases/sectors. Enhanced by the provision of access to Occupational Health and Employee Assistance, which supports employee engagement and absence management. Bolt-ons supplement the core traded SLA package, providing additional resource/support.
With 85% or more of the school budget being spent on your workforce, it is essential that the right structures, people, policies and procedures are in place to deliver your priorities. Choosing our specialist HR service will empower Headteachers, Leadership, Governors and School Business Managers to carry out their statutory responsibilities, safeguarded by effective, up-to-date employment practices and access to supportive and practical HR advice.
Our aim is to optimise the day to day running in your school by the provision of bespoke HR solutions.
Services
The Schools HR Professional Services team
- An allocated, experienced Principal HR Advisor with specialist knowledge of school casework who will get to know your educational establishment and tailor their approach accordingly
- Access to advice from HR Professionals by telephone, email, virtual meeting or visit as appropriate
Services include:
Pay and conditions of service
- Provision of local and national information on employment issues e.g. salaries/benefits
- Advice on other matters relating to pay and conditions of employment for all categories of staff
- Advice and guidance on individual employment terms and conditions
Statutory compliance and best practice
- Advice on safer recruitment requirements
- Annual HR Audit and termly meetings including a review of the single central register
Employee relations and casework support
- Telephone, email and in-person advice and support on the implementation of the school's HR procedures
- HR attendance at all formal hearings and attendance management reviews from stage 2 onwards to advise and support managers, Headteachers and Governors
- Advice and support throughout the process of investigation
- Advice and support on consultation processes e.g. when redundancy is appropriate together with attendance at meetings as required
- Advice on timescales, statutory and procedural requirements and preparation of documentation
Change management
- Advice and support with workforce planning
- Advice and support with staffing reorganisation
- Advice and support with TUPE processes and school academy conversions, including consultation and provision of information
Occupational Health and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Access to Royal Greenwich Occupational Health Provider and EAP
- Triage and advice on Occupational Health referral and guidance on how to proceed following receipt of Occupational Health reports
- Access to telephone and email advice directly from an OH adviser.
Schools' HR website access
- Employment law and policy updates
- News bulletins
- Links to relevant external guidance and seminars
- Royal Greenwich model policies and procedures and associates letters
- Forms and guidance notes
- Information relating to national and local pay and other terms and conditions
HR Workshops
- Access to workshops on HR procedures including absence management, investigations and capability
- Annual workshop relating to the School Workforce Census
Links
Schools HR Professional Services actively influence and participate in national consultations to ensure the views and needs of our educational establishments are represented in relation to the workforce.
Well established links are maintained with national, regional and local employer associations, trade unions and professional bodies, education networks, school leaders, governing bodies, diocese and other relevant agencies (LGA, DBS and DfE). Partnership working supports the delivery of excellent services, driving efficiencies for the educational establishments we support.
When supporting schools on individual staff matters, we will work closely with the following Royal Greenwich services, as appropriate:
- Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO )
- Occupational Health and EAP
- Royal Borough Greenwich Legal Services
- Payroll
- Pensions
- Health and Safety
- Governor Support Services
- Recruitment
- Workforce Development
- School Improvement
- ECT, and Apprenticeships
Costs
Our traded service is charged annually.
Maintained schools: 1 April
Non-maintained /Academies: 1 September
Charges are based on the number of staff in your establishment for each year of this agreement, determined by the headcount recorded on iTrent as at the most recent workforce census (November - annually). Calculations are not based on FTE.
Schools that buy into RBG Payroll services: Headcount will be taken from iTrent on Workforce Census Day to calculate charges.
Schools that do not buy into RBG Payroll services: will be required to provide a copy/screenshot of the latest Schools Workforce Census (November 2023).
Please note a minimum charge applies per school: £2,450.
There is fixed rate of £82 per staff member
For example, a school with 30 members of staff will be charged £2,460 (30 x £82 = £2,460)
For example, a school with 30 members of staff will be charged £2,460 (30 x £82 = £2,460)
Office hours:
Monday to Thursday | 9.00am - 5.00pm
Friday | 9.00am - 4.30pm
