SSE HR Advisory Service
A Dependable and Professional HR Advisory Partner for Schools
Introduction SSE HR Advisory Service is just one of the services provided by Support Services for Education (SSE), a trading unit within Somerset County Council. We as an organisation offer a wide variety of services and training to all education providers such as Schools, Academies, Further Education Colleges and Universities. The SSE HR Advisory Team are a highly experienced and well-established team of professional HR Advisors who support Head Teachers, School Leaders and Governors/ Trustees. With over 50 years combined schools HR experience we provide an effective HR Service that meets the day to day and strategic needs of your school.
Our Service Offering The Team recognise that staff are your most valuable resource and by providing a comprehensive and flexible HR Advisory Service, we aim to ensure that your staff are used effectively and that you are well informed and protected in the rapidly changing world of employment law and the education sector. We work alongside you to make sure that you are equipped to meet your contractual responsibilities in respect of terms and conditions of employment. Each customer is assigned a dedicated HR Adviser who will work with you, your senior leaders and board of governors to achieve pragmatic and solution focussed outcomes in all aspects of employee relations including disciplinary, capability, grievances, absence management, restructures/ redundancies, TUPE. We are flexible in our service delivery approach and provide this service via a hybrid model of telephone, face to face or via virtual platforms where appropriate.
In addition to the advisory element of our service you will also have access to the following resources: • Model HR policies and procedures for you to access via an online portal, many of which have been consulted on and agreed with the recognised Trade Union Representatives. • A termly HR newsletter providing useful updates of what is happening in the world of Education HR not only locally but nationally. • Updates and alerts in relation to specific HR topics relevant to you • Access to a HR Advisory Telephone Duty Line in the event your designated HR Advisor is not available during term time. • Bespoke support to suit your individual needs. ( delete Schools) • Additional Consultancy Hours can be purchased • A chargeable mediation service delivered by qualified ILM accredited mediators. We offer a suite of training and development opportunities to enable head teachers and senior leaders to be equipped with the necessary skills to manage staff and maximise their full potential. In addition to this, we can also design and deliver bespoke training which is tailored specifically to meet your individual needs.
What is the difference between the packages available? •
Specialist HR Advisory Package
This is our core generic and consultancy HR support package designed to meet the operational day to day HR requirements. When purchasing this package, you will be allocated a set number of consultancy hours for the academic year under which we will deliver our service to you. Additional hours may be purchased should you exceed your allocation. This package also gives you access to the full range of features of the HR Advisory Service as set out earlier in this brochure. •
HR Advisory Consultancy Service
This is a tailored package where you can access HR support for specific projects, management of change or bespoke training packages. The pricing for this package is on a case by case basis and agreed in advance and would usually be purchased as a “bolt on” to the Specialist HR Advisory Package. •
Bespoke on-site HR Consultancy Service
This is a tailored on-site package providing additional HR support to that covered within the Specialist HR Advisory Package, which includes having HR advisers on site for a set number of hours each week during term time. Due to the nature of this support these arrangements tend to be longer term (e.g. termly or whole academic year) and are most effective when the support is focussed on strategic development or whole school initiatives. This package would be purchased in addition to the Specialist HR Advisory package. •
Policy Only Service
This service provides schools with access to all of our model HR policies, procedures and guidance via the online portal, plus HR newsletters, updates and alerts. HR advisory consultancy hours are NOT provided under this package, however, should your school require HR advisory support, consultancy hours can be purchased in blocks of 10 or individually.
Why choose us? We are a well-established team with a proven track record of being able to consistently provide a high quality, customer focussed HR Advisory Service across a whole range of educational settings. We understand the increasing pressures our customers are facing and always strive to work in partnership with them to achieve solution focussed outcomes that are in the best interests of the school to ensure the best educational outcomes for our children and young people. Don’t take our word for it, here is what some of our customers have said:
Key Contact details Sam Simmons – HR Advisory Service Manager Email: SSimmons@somerset.gov.uk Tel: 07811 309494 Kate Edwards – New Business Development Manager Email: caedwards@somerset.gov.uk Tel: 0300 123 7365
For latest news and updates follow us on twitter @SSESomerset Website details www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk If you would like to discuss any of our services in more detail please do not hesitate to contact us.