HR Manager
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To provide a professional HR service to the whole Nursery School, identifying HR priorities and recommending appropriate people management solutions to support the Nursery’s aims and function. Providing expert professional advice and support to managers and staff on all aspects of Employment Law, reflecting Treehouse Nursery School’s desire to be an employer of choice, advising on current employment legislation and applying best practice at all times.

Job Description 

Strategy

• Developing, leading, communicating and delivering a HR strategy for the Nursery, ensuring all HR operational activities link back to Treehouse Nursery School Business Plan
• Translating the HR Strategy into day to day practicalities by designing, managing and monitoring operational HR systems and processes to maximise efficiency
• To continually improve the HR function and drive efficient and effective working practices throughout the Nursery School, ensuring that a high quality service is provided consistently by the HR function

Employee Relations

• Provide professional HR advisory support to the Senior Management Team, Departmental Managers and individual members of staff on HR and legislative matters, including complex casework where necessary
• Manage employment relations matters to their successful conclusion
• Undertake and conduct Grievance / Disciplinary investigations, and act as cochair and/or advisor at hearings when necessary
• Ensure all data is processed in line with the Data Protection and GDPR and manage the end to end requests of Data Subject Leadership
• Play an active role in strategic decision making, providing advice to the Senior Management Team
• Provide guidance and support to the Payroll Team, HR generalist and HR Assistant
• Line Manage the Head of Domestic Services
• Act as a role model, coach and mentor, inspiring with energy and enthusiasm

Performance Management

• Develop and manage an effective performance management strategy with supporting policies and procedures
• Overall responsibility for the staff appraisal systems for all support staff for the whole Nursery
• Overall responsibility for the probationary period appraisal process for all staff
• Advise managers on the correct procedures to be followed in managing staff performance

Training and Development

• Ensure that managers and teams have the appropriate skills and capabilities to undertake their responsibilities effectively
• Manage, in liaison with the Finance Manager the nursery staff CPD budget • Develop and prepare staff training plans, and delivering wide training where appropriate
• Source and arrange suitable in-house and external training and development courses and workshops
• Delivery of effective induction training to all staff HR

Processes and Information Systems

• Maintain and develop a whole Nursery School HR system to include contracts of employment, job descriptions, induction, training and staff wellbeing initiatives
• To maintain and develop the current HR processes and practices established for all staff in line with current legislation and good practice
• Maintain personnel files on BreatheHR
• Undertake absence monitoring, providing guidance to line managers on managing attendance where necessary

Remuneration

• To ensure a fair and consistent staff pay structure across Treehouse Nursery School
• Conduct salary and benefits benchmarking for all staff groups to ensure that the Nursery School’s provision is competitive
• To advise on payroll matters, as required
• To manage HR personnel in ensuring that relevant reports are prepared and submitted in a timely manner for audit purpose

Employment Legislation

• Overall responsibility for the ‘Single Central Record’ of recruitment and vetting checks, ensuring it is fully maintained and compliant with Ofsted and safeguarding regulations
• Overall responsibility for the processing of DBS applications, and all other preemployment vetting and safeguarding checks
• Keep up to date with changes in employment legislation, guidance and good practice and advise Senior Management Team and Line Managers accordingly
• Review and keep up to date all HR related policies and procedures, including the Staff Handbook
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, guidance and best practice, and the School’s policies
• Liaison with the School’s employment lawyers as necessary

Establishment/Budget

• Manage establishment changes and update staffing budget as necessary
• Maintain the current year staffing budget and prepare forecast
• Produce HR establishment report for Governors’ Finance and Audit Committee meetings, when requested

Staff Wellbeing

• Regularly attending meetings with the managers to report on staff wellbeing
• Liaise with the external Occupational Health provision in respect of referrals
• Review OH medical reports and recommendations, and in conjunction with line managers, ensure the needs of staff are being met in the workplace
• Work in conjunction with Senior Management Team to coordinate and implement staff wellbeing surveys and focus groups when required, following up with action plans Communication
• Termly reports to the Senior Management Team on key HR areas such as recruitment, change management, re-structuring, absence management, employment legislation, and performance management
• Ensure effective communication with all staff on relevant HR matters • Attend staff meetings and other meetings as required
• Ensure effective employment relationship management – seek to build and maintain trusting relationships with staff at all levels of the organisation, and promote a positive vision of HR within the Nursery School Employee Resourcing
• Participate in, and lead when required, on any organisational structure reviews
• Manage the recruitment of all staff, from authorisation through to start date taking the safer recruitment lead on recruitment panels when necessary
• Prepare appointment letters, contracts of employment and associated documentation for new employees
• Manage recruitment related budgets Other
• Oversee the preparation of contracts of employment/letters to employees to reflect changes in their terms and conditions
• Maintain and develop the exit interview process for support staff
• Liaise with Payroll Officer and Finance Manager as necessary

Promoting Safeguarding and welfare of children

• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people for whom you are responsible, and with whom you come into contact.
• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of, support and ensure equal opportunities for all.
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school.
• Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
• Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required
• Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.

This post is subject to Enhanced DBS clearance and reference checks.