HR, Advice Support and Training

Our Human Resources service is dedicated to working in partnership with headteachers, school leaders and governing bodies to provide a comprehensive and bespoke service support to meet the requirements of your school.

We provide a responsive, flexible range of HR services to all schools including academies, irrespective of their governance arrangements. Our services are underpinned by an extensive knowledge of the workings and requirements of the education sector. In circumstances where your school needs a joint approach, involving other local authority services, we will dovetail our support together with the Education Improvement Service, Occupational Health, Governor Services, Finance, Health and Safety and Legal Services in order to ensure your school receives the best possible joined up support in all of our work with you.

What we offer

An effective HR service that meets the day to day and strategic needs of your school.
A competitively priced HR service, exceptionally remaining at the current pricing levels for the financial year 2021/22.
Dedicated professional named HR Business Partners who will work with you to ensure you have the confidence and necessary support to address the many challenges you and your governing body face.
A team of HR professionals with a wealth and depth of experience to provide high quality, solution focused support, setting out the risks, within a timescale agreed with you.
Comprehensive up to date knowledge of education law, employment law and HR best practice.
Our HR Service has close working relationships nationally with the DfE and the Local Government Association (LGA) to ensure our written policies, guidance and comprehensive toolkit documents are specifically designed to meet the ever changing and complex challenges faced by schools.
Comprehensive practical support and guidance on all employee relations matters including appraisal/competency, grievance, disciplinary, safer working, recruitment, absence, redundancy and performance related pay issues and opportunities for apprenticeships.
Workforce planning, including advice on restructuring, job design and employee development.
Advisory and professional support to head teachers and/or the governing body or trust at all formal hearings and appeals at no extra cost.
Specialist advice to produce documents in preparation for and outcome letters to confirm decisions taken at formal meetings/hearings and appeals at no extra cost.
Video conferencing and on-site support to manage HR related investigations including access to specialist HR consultants who can undertake complex investigations on behalf of the school.
A range of bespoke training opportunities specifically for you as a head teacher, school leader, school business manager, governor or trust board member.
Expert job evaluation analysis to ensure that your staffing structures are effective and that all posts in your school comply with the School Teachers’ Pay & Conditions Document and Single Status pay structures and equal pay legislation.
The purchase of one of our annual HR Support packages gives you exclusive access to the Nottinghamshire Schools Staff Absence Insurance Scheme.
A choice of two levels of service: Standard or enhanced, details of which are summarised in the packages document below.

Working alongside your school designated HR Business Partner, we will respond to your telephone calls and emails within one working day and to written enquiries within five working days.

“I am an experienced head teacher but there is always something unexpected around the corner. Nothing could have prepared me for the last two terms. It has been great knowing that we were not alone! The support and advice we have received has been absolutely first class. Someone is always at the end of the phone. A great team!" - Interim Executive Head Teacher, Fountaindale School, December 2020

"Throughout the HR process, staff and Governors, but especially myself as Head were supported, sometimes daily ensuring we were safe in our decisions and practice." - Head Teacher, Misterton Primary, December 2020

"Nottinghamshire County Council HR Service is invaluable and has provided us with expert and informative support and guidance. The team are well skilled and knowledgeable but also offer reassurance and understanding when challenges arise. As a result of their work, issues are quickly resolved, defused and de-escalated minimising the workload and stresses on leaders within schools." - Head Teacher, James Peacock Infant and Nursery December 2020

I have found Nottinghamshire School HR Service professional, reliable and up to date in the advice and support provided. Our school has been supported immensely on a wide range of HR issues. The advice and support is timely and can most certainly be relied upon in a crisis. I would wholeheartedly recommend the service. - Head Teacher, Sutton Bonington School, December 2020

Packages

HR package details, 2021/22 [PDF]

Enhanced and Standard packages are summarised in the above document and we are happy to discuss any additional or bespoke requirements with you.

The enhanced level of service will provide your school with an increased number of on-site visits and face to face meetings ensuring a greater level of in-depth support. Full details of packages with prices can be accessed via our interactive ordering system (IOS).

Training

General

Access to a full range of HR related training opportunities for headteachers, senior leaders, business managers, governors and trust board members at a reduced price. We are also able to provide bespoke training for individual schools or groups of schools on request. Please discuss with your named HR Business Partner.

Safeguarding training in Schools

In addition, we also provide Whole School Safeguarding Training and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Training on a pay as you go basis. We have a team of experienced trainers offering training to ensure that schools are compliant with legislation, standards and procedures in safeguarding to fulfil legislation and Ofsted requirements. The training is updated frequently in line with statutory changes and new developments in safeguarding. Please contact safeguarding.training@nottscc.gov.uk or 0115 977 2347 for more information and booking.

Benefits to your school

Customer Service - 98% of respondents to our recent customer survey rated the service excellent or good.
HR advice and support - 98% of respondents rated the service excellent or good.
Resolution of issues - 96% rated the service excellent or good.
Value for money - 98% of respondents rated the service excellent or good.
Head Teacher and Senior Leaders' Training and Briefings - 80% of respondents rated these as excellent or good.

Accessing Support

Support and advice is always available from your named HR Business Partner

Contact can be made by telephone (Office and Mobile), email and video conferencing. Both packages include access to the HR Helpline available during normal office hours between 8.30 am -5.00 pm, Monday to Thursday, 8.30 am – 4.30 pm on Friday.

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