Human Resources Services

Overview

Our highly experienced and reliable HR Consultancy team works in partnership with the Recruitment and Contracts Team and the Payroll and Pensions service.

We aim to provide schools with a practical, comprehensive and cost effective service.

We offer up to date expert support and advice ranging from tailored guidance on new employment law to policy development and supporting schools with all types of employee relations issues.

What the service provides

• Assignment to your school of a nominated Business Partner who will be available to you throughout the day and for a school visit on request
• Interpretation and implementation of employment law into practical school specific policies and guidance
• Advice on and interpretation of conditions of service for teaching and support staff
• Job evaluation service. Teachers salary assessments.
• Support with investigations e.g. disciplinary, grievances, harassment
• Support to school leaders and staff confronted with redundancy issues
• Consultation and negotiation with Professional Associations or Trade Unions on redundancies etc.
• Advice on recruitment and selection including job specifications and descriptions
• Attendance Management
• Completion of statutory Government returns, for example, School Workforce Census
• Advice to Chairs, Governors and Heads on Leadership salary ranges
• Advice on performance management

Benefits to your school

• Our specialised team provides a comprehensive and confidential service with a proven track record. We are committed to provide all the support and advice schools need to build and maintain a rewarded and efficient workforce
• The HR service works in collaboration with advisers from the Local Government Employers Assoc, North West Employers Organisation and representatives from all the Professional Associations to ensure the guidance we give is reliably based

Costs

HR forms part of a package which includes the Recruitment & Contracts Services and Payroll and Pensions

The costs are calculated according to employee numbers within the school.

Where difficult issues e.g. disciplinary investigations become prolonged there may be an extra charge.

Additional information

The full details of the HR Service to schools is available on request.

Overview

The HR Operations team provides transactional support working in close partnership with HR Business Partners and Pay Services, with the aim of providing a practical, comprehensive and cost effective service.

The team place recruitment adverts and provide written contractual correspondence to employees and schools, along with making any necessary pay changes for starters, leavers and other contract changes in an employee's life cycle.

What the service provides

• Operational advice on transactional processes for teaching & non teaching staff
• Placing of job adverts on the web and in publications
• Administration of Disclosure & Barring Service checks (DBS) and Barred List checks
• Ensuring that other safeguarding recruitment evidence is documented, e.g. references
• Preparing contracts of employment
• Processing new appointments, contract variations and terminations
• Carrying out qualification checks
• Reviewing processes to ensure they are "fit for purpose" in line with employment law changes
• Provision of pay information to outside bodies, e.g. mortgage requests
• Issue long service retirement certificates (where appropriate)

Benefits to your school

A dedicated contact will provide a "joined up" service working closely with Business Partners and Pay Services.

We are committed to continually developing in collaboration with our customers and partners to improve the service.

Costs

HR Operations forms part of a package which includes HR Business Partners and Payroll & Pensions.

The costs are calculated according to employee numbers within each school.

Overview

Our highly experienced Payroll & Pensions Team works in close partnership with the HR Transactional Team and the wider HR Service, aiming to provide you with a complete, quality assured service.

We provide schools with a comprehensive and cost effective payroll and pension service, regularly benchmarked against the market place in terms of price and performance.

We operate a 'Centre of Excellence' and our commitment is always to strive to exceed our customer's expectations.

What the service provides

• Fully compliant payroll and pension service including prompt and accurate payment of all school based staff, statutory and voluntary deductions from pay, post payroll reports, completion of authorised requests for employee earnings information, secure storage of payroll & pension records
• Expert advice and guidance on all matters relating to payroll and pensions
• Assisting your understanding of complex legislative changes such as Pension Reforms
• Full reporting service to statutory bodies such as HM Revenue and Customs and the Teachers' and Local Government Pension Schemes; including Year End Returns
• For full service details please email payroll@bury.gov.uk

Benefits to your school

Operating in a 'spirit of partnership' ensures that our services are tailored to meet your needs. We have a proven track record of delivering first class, quality, cost effective services to the education sector through our dedicated, professional team. Your pay and pensions services are in good hands leaving you free to concentrate on your core business.

Costs

Payroll and Pensions forms part of a package which includes HR and Recruitment and Contracts Services.

The costs are calculated according to employee numbers within each school.

Additional information

Pay Services produce circa 150,000 payslips PA with a headline accuracy rate over 99.8 per cent and administer 10,000 pension scheme memberships.

Overview

The supply service will endeavour to meet all your supply needs, both teaching and support staff.

Supply teachers are available on-line and the Supply Service team will be happy to engage staff on your behalf. We are available at css@bury.gov.uk and the Supply Desk will be staffed from 7.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

What the service provides

• We have an up-to-date supply register of teaching and support staff.
• All teachers fully qualified to teach in England.
• All support staff are interviewed prior to appointment with references taken.
• The school just needs to contact the Supply Service on css@bury.gov.uk and we will contact and engage the supply worker on behalf of your school. Please contact us before engaging staff so we can ensure all checks are in place.
• The online system enables schools to search for teachers according to Key Stage, curriculum area and availability.
• Schools using the online system do not need to complete and submit teacher claim forms.
• Online and paper claim forms will be processed for payment by the Supply Service and Payroll Services.
• Reports on supply teacher activities are sent to schools on a monthly basis.
• In order to monitor supply staff's performance we will request feedback as and when appropriate.

Benefits to your school

All supply staff are qualified and checked for safeguarding purposes with references taken, DBS are updated in line with Bury Council policy and update service.

This is a growing service that we are trying to improve based on what schools want so your feedback is always welcome.

The Supply Service is staffed by members of Supply Services - Human Resources - Department for Corporate Core Services so you know and trust who are committed to fulfilling your needs.

Costs

The online system is provided to schools free of charge.

To develop and improve the service for schools there will be a surcharge of five per cent on payments processed through Supply Service, Department for Corporate Core Services.

Additional information

Further details of the Supply Service SLA are available on request.

Overview

The service provides access to qualified and competent occupational health specialists including nurse advisors and physicians.

These specialists provide independent professional advice on matters of health and work. Advice is focused on support for employers in managing health issues.

The service works closely with Health & Safety and HR colleagues in a partnership approach.

Please note that Occupational Health is a service for employees of Schools and the Council and is different to Occupational Therapy. Details about the Occupational Therapy service can be found via The Bury Directory

What the service provides

Professional Occupational Health advice and assessments with regard to:

• Fitness for work
• Ill health absences, and associated options for return to work strategies
• Health concerns arising in connection with work but not involving absence
• Disability support
• Rehabilitation
• Potential ill health retirements
• Access and links to additional support and treatment services, including:
  • Health and safety (workplace adjustments and risk assessments in light of health concerns)
  • Physiotherapy
  • Counselling and psychotherapies
• Eye and eyesight testing
• Support and advice to employees on managing personal health issues and access to a range of health and wellbeing benefits and activities

Benefits to your school

The service will support you in:

• Keeping employees healthy and well, reducing absenteeism and improving performance
• Achieving good practice and legislative standards for workplace health management
• Protecting against the disruption and potential losses associated with ill health and injuries at work

Costs

The SLA price is based on employee numbers and sent under separate cover.

Additional support and treatment services are charged separately to this SLA.