Job Application Pack. Senior HR Adviser. August 2015

Job Application Pack Senior HR Adviser August 2015

Dear Applicant August 2015 Senior HR Adviser We are currently seeking to appoint a Senior HR Adviser, who will be contracted to work from home and the ideal candidate will live along or near the M5 corridor between Bristol and Birmingham in order to service EPM customers which includes schools, academies and Multi Academy Trusts in that locality. Occasional travel elsewhere will also be a requirement to meet customer needs, as will the requirement to travel into the office in Huntingdon one day per week (after initial office based training period). EPM is a market -leading company, providing HR and Payroll services to schools and academies, and has been operating as a private company since 1993. We currently employ over 115 staff and provide support to over 900 schools and academies in over 65 Local Authorities from Cumbria to Kent. We have a large and growing number of clients in the Midlands, South West and London area s, however all of the administration, payroll and online IT support for the customers is carried out from the head office in Huntingdon. EPM is in the enviable position of seeing significant year upon year growth. Our success is the direct consequence of our national reputation for a high quality and effective service and this, combined with national changes to the education system, including many schools converting to become academies, means that we are in a position to offer exciting opportunities for the right candidates. The successful candidate will work within one of our three HR teams, under the leadership of one of the Directors and line management of an HR Manager. We offer a fantastic opportunity to develop the key skills required to further a career in Human Resources in a growing business in the schools sector. The successful candidate will have experience in supporting Managers in handling casework including discipline, grievance, capability, sickness absence, restructure and redundancy. Experience should also include working to deliver HR services in schools or academies. Please submit your application by email to recruitment@epm.co.uk using the enclosed application form. Please also include a letter of application (a maximum of 3 sides of A4) identifying your skills, experience and qualifications. If you have any questions and would like to discuss the role please contact me on 07894751233 or David Williams on 07803150335. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 1 September 2015. Yours faithfully Alexandra Hawkins Director

Contents Page The Organisation The Position Job Description Person Specification General Conditions of Employment How to get to EPM

WHAT DOES EPM DO? THE ORGANISATION We provide a bespoke HR and Payroll portal for schools and academies to save time by reducing the amount of administration, minimising the scope for error on appointment and payroll transactions so that school leaders can focus on the things that really matter. Our Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) e-bulk system provides schools with a fast, secure means of undertaking critical preemployment checks as part of child protection arrangements in schools. We also provide on telephone and email support plus onsite support for formal hearings. We are not the in house resource but operate as a contracted service provider operating to an agreed specification. This means operating within the policies and procedures adopted by individual schools and providing practical, problem solving advice. We strive to provide the best possible advice, information and support but we clearly recognise that it is for the school to decide on the best course of action, not for the LA or personnel provider to do so. The arrangements also differ in academies and Multi Academy Trusts. HR SERVICE Our HR service covers decisions about: Recruitment and selection Appointments Managing conduct, capability and ill health Redundancy Dismissal Performance management The induction of new staff and newly qualified teachers In service training Pay and remuneration Flexible working/ maternity/ paternity and parental policies Employee relations Transfer of Undertakings Headteachers and governors will recognise the need for expert advice and support to help manage the human resource to the maximum advantage and to ensure that problems with employment legislation do not interfere with the main purpose of running a school. We have the expertise, experience and understanding of the cultures found in schools to help schools achieve the high level of staff management which will make a major contribution to a successful school or academy. PAYROLL SERVICE Our integrated payroll service has been running since 1 April 2001 and has proved to be a great success. We now provide a payroll service to over 700 schools. Our HR and Payroll services work very closely together to provide an efficient and accurate service. There is nothing more frustrating for a school than having to rectify payroll issues. EPM recognises that payroll has to be right first time, every time. As well as all of the usual functions related to payroll we offer: Preview reports run to provide the school with information about each payroll before it is committed to be processed, via the online payroll portal. Realistic closing dates for payroll information to accommodate the needs of the school whilst ensuring staff are paid on time. On the rare occasion that an error or omission occurs, whoever causes it, immediate correction and payment. Individual attention and service to each customer, irrespective of size of the customer s payroll.

THE POSITION This role will be suited to an HR professional with experience of working in the Education Sector who is able to deliver customer focused solutions in accordance with relevant employment and education legislation You will be required to provide expert advice and guidance to a portfolio of schools and academies, delivering support on HR and employment related matters to a range of customers. You will be able to quickly establish credibility and develop effective working relationships with School Leaders and Governors. You will be able to interpret policies, procedures and collective agreements; responding to and resolving issues in timely and effective manner. You will have experience of managing a diverse range of casework including matters relating to discipline, grievance, redundancy, restructure, management of attendance and capability. All our staff are encouraged, through the continuous professional development system, to develop their role within the organisation. Staff Benefits The following staff benefits are available to employees of EPM: EPM requires all staff to participate in the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) process. The Directors are committed to developing the quality of service EPM provides and recognise the benefits individuals gain from reflecting, planning and analysing learning experiences. The Directors recognise the importance of individual input to identifying and meeting job related development needs. A company pension scheme in which both you and the company contribute up to 6% of your contractual salary. A non-contractual annual bonus is paid to all staff in the form of store vouchers. This bonus is dependent on the performance of the company, and therefore the performance of everyone working as a team. All tuition and examination fees are fully paid for company approved courses (subject to certain conditions). The CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) offer a number of qualifications which many of our HR team members have completed with the support of the Directors. Books required for courses are paid for (in this case they are the property of the company and go into EPM s library when the course is complete). Computer training if needed, on a variety of software packages.

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title Accountable to Accountable For Base Senior HR Adviser HR Manager / Director HR Adviser(s) / HR Administrator(s) Predominately home based with a minimum of 1 day per week in the office (after initial office based training period) Purpose of the Job To ensure outstanding customer service across the organisation by delivering, and supporting colleagues to deliver, expert HR advice and guidance in a timely and effective manner. Constantly striving to improve the efficiency and professionalism of working practices to meet the company s objective of clarity and consistency and working smarter not harder to facilitate an increase in customer base whilst maintaining and improving customer service. Main Responsibilities / Duties of Job: Customer Responsibilities: 1. To manage and support a portfolio of schools/academies on all aspects of HR management. Liaising with the schools allocated HR Administrator/ HR Adviser / Payroll colleagues to ensure a seamless HR and Payroll service. 2. Provide advice and guidance to colleagues within the team to support their development and to ensure that all customers receive timely, accurate and professional advice. 3. Support with administrative and HR processing matters, as required. 4. Respond to a wide range of customer enquiries, via telephone, e-mail or other correspondence, relating to personnel issues/administration in a professional manner, to ensure that customers receive timely, accurate and valuable advice. 5. Offer accurate interpretation, advice, application and representation to customers on employment legislation, best practice and policy and procedures in relation to and in the context of customers policies and procedures: recruitment and selection, remuneration, terms and conditions of service, disciplinary and capability (performance and health) cases, grievance, redundancy and whole school restructures, academy conversions and TUPE etc, liaising with EPM s in-house lawyer and senior colleagues where appropriate. 6. Undertake visits, where appropriate, to customers to provide support and advise on HR concerns to assist in their resolution. 7. To attend and advise where necessary at formal hearings / appeals, up to and including dismissals and attend and advise at union consultation meetings. 8. Identify situations where legal/safeguarding support is needed and liaise as appropriate. Internal Team Responsibilities: (under the direction of the HR Manager) 1. Actively participate in regular team meetings and training to keep up to date with current legislation, policies and procedures and other information sources to enable transmission of accurate advice to customers and team members. 2. Contribute towards allocation and monitoring of work of HR Administrator(s) / HR Adviser(s).

3. Contribute towards the CPD process for HR Administrator(s) / HR Adviser(s) and other colleagues within the team, and have an ongoing responsibility in relation to their development / progress and identifying training requirements. 4. Monitor available data including work tray dashboard, case work spreadsheet (ensuring accurate at all times), tweet sheets, customer feedback, proactively addressing any customer service concerns, escalating to an HR Manager where appropriate. Internal Broader Responsibilities: 1. Contribute towards and support senior colleagues, with the updating of customer model contracts, guidance, policies and procedures. 2. Participate in the preparation of Termly Updates. 3. Take company wide responsibilities as required, under the direction of a HR Manager. 4. Report on a monthly basis to the HR Managers on the above, as required. Other Responsibilities: 1. Ensure outstanding customer service in all areas of HR and Payroll. 2. Promote EPM Ltd whenever possible, seeing opportunities for new business. 3. Proactively seek new and innovative ways to work smarter, not harder, ensuring clarity and consistency across the organisation. 4. Any other duties commensurate with the purpose and grading of the post.

PERSON SPECIFICATION JOB TITLE: Senior HR Adviser QUALIFICATIONS Essential Desirable Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualification - Level 3. Educated to degree level or equivalent Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development - Level 5. Full Driving Licence and own transport. Current membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development COMPETENCIES AND KNOWLEDGE Essential Desirable Minimum of 18 months experience in an advisory position within a human resources environment which will include advice and support for managers, training, responsibility for issues such as the appointment and dismissal of staff, grievance, disciplinary procedures, absence management, redundancy etc. Experience of attending hearings up to and including dismissal to advise managers and/or present the case. Previous experience of managing human resources in the Education Sector. Competency in interpreting and providing advice on employment legislation and conditions of service to ensure compliance and best practice. Understanding of terms and conditions of employment within schools and academies Understanding of Education Legislation

Competency in establishing good working relationships with a range of clients e.g. headteachers, governors, and senior managers, or similar. Ability to quickly gain credibility with clients Confident in negotiating with trade union representatives Competency in working within the constraints of predefined employment policies and procedures Competency in formulating and implementing policy and initiatives Highly skilled communicator both verbally and in writing Ability to use initiative to solve problems and think outside the box Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft office Experience of providing creative solutions to complex employment issues within the constraints of regulation and policy. Experience of working with HR/ Payroll databases and management information systems Able to demonstrate careful attention to detail and ability to check all work for accuracy and quality standards Ability to prioritise and work well under pressure to strict deadlines

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Hours of Work Full time hours of work are 37 per week, worked Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. You will be expected to work such reasonable hours as are necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the job, including such additional time outside the normal hours as may reasonably be required. Annual Leave The annual leave year commences on 1 st January each year and the holiday entitlement is 22 days per year rising to 27 after 5 years. In addition, you will also receive payment for a concessionary office closure day (normally Christmas Eve, unless that falls at a weekend), the 8 bank holidays per annum and any additional statutory holidays. There is an office closure period between Christmas and New Year, for which normally 3 days annual leave must be held back for. Due to the nature of the post the majority of your annual leave is required to be taken during school holidays, in accordance with the Annual Leave policy, with the express prior agreement of your Manager. Dress Code The dress code is smart office wear. Confidentiality The post-holder must maintain confidentiality about information that the business holds in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Terms and Conditions of Service The job description may be reviewed and amended after consultation with the post holder. The Employee may be required to undertake any other duties which may arise and are reasonably deemed to fall within the scope of the post. Health, Safety and Security Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors. Employees must ensure the security of premises and report any damage or loss of property to the appropriate authority. Smoking Smoking by employees is not allowed on the premises at any time.