Template for Hr Newsletter

							                       HR Newsletter for Schools
                       Advice and Support for you
                       Issue 2 – Term 4, March 2010
                       Produced by Strategic HR in conjunction with HR STS Customer
                       Contact Centre



 1. POLICY UPDATES & GUIDANCE

1.1.   CHANGES TO THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH REFERRAL PROCESS

       HR have reviewed the occupational health referral system to make it more efficient
       and to ensure that appointments are allocated more effectively.

       The changes, that take effect immediate effect include:

          i)     completed referral forms should be sent directly to Occupational Health
                 and not via the HR STS Customer Contact Centre. Their address is: The
                 Lipscombe Centre, 8 Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8ST.

          ii)    reports will returned directly to the headteacher / manager who undertook
                 the referral. If support / advice is required on the contents of the report or
                 any recommendations then advice should be sought from HR STS
                 Customer Contact Centre.

          iii)   Where appointments are missed this should be followed up with the
                 employee and the headteacher / manager should contact Occupational
                 Health direct if a further appointment is needed.

       Further advice and support is available from HR STS Customer Contact Centre.

1.2    UPDATE TO DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE

       We have recently updated the model Disciplinary Procedure for use in schools to
       give clarification regarding the delegation of decisions relating to suspension and
       dismissal. The model Procedure is applicable to all schools.

       The updated Disciplinary Procedure can be found at:
       http://www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/services/pdf/disciplinary_procedure.pdf


 2. EDUCATION UPDATES


2.1    CHANGES TO THE POINTS BASED SYSTEM TO WORK IN THE UK

       The UK Border Agency (UKBA) operates a points based system for the employment
       of overseas workers in the UK. This includes, for schools, overseas trained teachers.
      With effect from 14 December 2009 two changes to the system were introduced:

         Teachers in special school became skills shortage occupations. (Secondary
          teachers in mathematics and science remain skills shortage occupations).

          Employers are only able to recruit overseas teachers of subjects which are not
          skills shortage occupations through Tier 2 if they have advertised the vacancy for
          at least 4 weeks (previously it was for 2 weeks) as part of the resident labour
          market test and have been unable to recruit suitable resident labour.

      Updated guidance on the UK Border Agency requirements to reflect the above
      changes can be found on Teachernet at:
      http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/overseastrainedteachers/

      Further information on the points-based system generally can be found at:
      http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/pbs
      docs/

      NB: OTTs are not permitted to work in state maintained schools for more than four
      years if they have not been awarded QTS.

      For further information please contact: HR STS Customer Contact Centre.

2.2   CHANGES TO THE EARLIEST RETIREMENT DATE

      The earliest retirement age for members of the Teacher's Pension Scheme (TPS)
      and the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with shortly be increasing from
      age 50 to age 55. After this change has come into effect individuals who are under
      age 55 at the date of redundancy will not be able to access their pension benefits at
      the date of their redundancy. However the exact date of the change is slightly
      different in each of these pension schemes.

      From 6 April 2010, the Teachers’ Pensions Regulations will only allow employers to
      award premature retirement benefits to scheme members who have attained age 55.
      Scheme members who joined the TPS on or after 6 April 2006 are already precluded
      from being awarded premature retirement before age 55. From 6 April 2010, in all
      cases, premature retirement benefits can only be awarded if the scheme member
      has attained age 55 on the date the employment terminates.

      In the LGPS a redundancy pension is automatically paid if a member of the scheme
      is old enough to qualify at the date of their redundancy. From this April onwards all
      members of the LGPS will need to be 55 or over in order to qualify for the immediate
      release of their pension benefits in redundancy cases. However, due to an error in
      the wording of the legislation governing the LGPS it is currently unclear whether the
      change in this scheme will take effect from the 30th or the 31st of March 2010, and
      an amendment to the current legislation is currently proceeding through parliament.
      Scheme members who joined the LGPS on or after 31 March 2008 are already
      prevented from receiving a redundancy pension if they are made redundant before
      age 55.
      For further information please contact: Tom Wallen, Pensions & Pay Policy Officer
      (0117) 9223489.

2.3   TEACHERS’ PENSIONS NEWS WINTER 2009/10

      The latest edition of TP News, Winter 2009/10, is available to download from the
      Teachers’ Pensions website:http://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/tpnews/tpnews.htm

2.4   NEOST BULLETIN 4

      Bulletin 4 provides an update on the developments of WAMG and the general work
      of NEOST including:

      i) the new WAMG ways of working and it’s priorities

      ii) the School Teachers Review Body commenting on:

          the review of the SEN allowance criteria and subsequent proposals
          what criteria should be established for leadership roles and progression for
          deputy head and assistant head posts.

      Further information on the SEN allowances and leadership criteria can be found at:
      http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=14550



 3. PRIORITY HR ISSUES FOR TERM 4

3.1   MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE

      If you are going through a restructuring / reduction of your staffing establishment for
      September 2010 then you should by now be well into the implementation of the
      Managing Change procedure.

      For advice and guidance please contact HR STS Customer Contact Centre. Support
      can include:

         Advice on the process
         Help with drafting the service review plan and timelines
         Advice on holding consultation meetings e.g. suggested agendas
         Template letters
         Advice on selection criteria and their application
         Attendance at representation hearings and appeals to support the Panels.

      Jan MacKenzie, Team Leader, HR STS Customer Contact Centre is leading a
      session on 30 March 2010 regarding Managing Staffing Reductions. Further details
      and to reserve a place please contact: gds@bristol.gov.uk