People and
Culture
People and
Culture
LDBS People and Culture
Comprehensive support for Church of England schools dealing with HR issues
Additional services are also provided through our partner Grow Education Partners. There is more information below about our services, or view or download the brochure.
“Our fully qualified People and Culture team brings together expertise from across the education sector. When you require HR advice, you need a speedy response. Our personalised approach means schools enjoy unlimited email and telephone support with same-day response for urgent situations including parental complaints.”
HR Support
Enabling children to thrive is the mission of LDBS Church schools; to achieve this, they need hard-working and committed staff. The People and Culture team at LDBS is here to help Church schools foster a motivated staff team. We understand the standpoint of Church of England schools in interactions with their local authorities and communities. We also have a special breadth of experience, as we support schools across 18 boroughs.
Through our core service we support you with:
Unlimited general phone and email advice
Up to 90 minutes’ legal advice in relation to any personnel matter
Specialist HR support when forming and reviewing partnerships, federation and academisation options
Regular personnel updates
Regular training sessions
Advice about the London Living Wage and its accreditation process
Liaison with unions and local authorities
Grow Education Partners
We offer a more comprehensive HR service through Grow Education Partners. Costs range from £839 to £6,069 p.a. depending on school size. The service includes:
Employment law
Discipline and workplace resolution procedures
Managing organisational change
Performance, capability and attendance management
Dealing with parental complaints
Establishing effective working relationships with trade unions
Terms and conditions for teaching and non-teaching staff
Negotiation of settlement agreements
TUPE in relation to outsourcing services and organisational change
Audits of single central records and personnel files
Preparation of documentation for, and attendance at, hearings
Preparation of contracts of employment
Advice in relation to health and well-being support
Payroll services through our preferred supplier
Occupational health pay-as-you-go service through one of our partnerships
Free access to HR training courses
Recruitment
Recruiting skilled and motivated staff, who embrace your culture and expectations, is critically important for the success of any school. Our professional support can help you with the practical realities of the recruitment and onboarding processes.
Our support includes:
Strategic support from the beginning to the end of leadership appointments, including advising and attending interviews for senior leadership recruitment
ECT recruitment initiatives including links with our Outstanding LDBS SCITT
Brokering Executive Headteacher appointments for Partnerships and Federations
Advice about Visa, sponsorship and QTS requirements for overseas teachers
Exit interviews
“Processing some 450 DBS applications every year is one of the ways that we help you to make sure Church schools are safe places for everyone.”
Grow Education Partners
We offer a more comprehensive Recruitment and Selection service through Grow Education Partners. It costs £450 per year and covers:
Unlimited adverts in The Guardian online and LDBS website
Template application packs and job descriptions for school leaders
Candidate social media search for shortlisted school leaders
Psychometric testing for shortlisted school leaders
Further support is available as follows on an ad hoc basis:
Psychometric testing for other positions: £95 per candidate
DBS checking service and counter-signatory service: £44 per candidate
LDBS is registered with the Home Office as a Visa Sponsor for Skilled Worker Visa applications (for experienced teachers). Student Visa applications (for student teachers) and applications for teachers switching to a Skilled Worker Visa from a Student Visa: £600 per application plus Home Office fees. (link to visa page)
Conflict resolution
Sometimes things go wrong. If they do, we are here to help. Schools are welcome to contact us with concerns about disputes or conflict. Through the core service we provide telephone advice. We have a number of trained mediators who can provide an informed but independent approach to support you to resolve conflict or disputes. Mediation support is included if your school buys our comprehensive HR service through Grow Education Partners. Other schools are very welcome to contact us for prices.
Headteacher appraisal
Schools are required to appoint an external adviser for guidance, support and consultation on establishing headteacher appraisal objectives. This support add-on will provide you with a Grow Performance Manager to ensure that your headteacher appraisal is carried out in line with current regulations.
As a supportive and developmental statutory process, your headteacher’s appraisal process should underpin your school’s ambition for continuous improvement. All of our Performance Managers are accomplished education professionals or have previously been headteachers with extensive experience of working with governing bodies and headteachers. After meeting with the headteacher and the panel, they will help formulate clear objectives that are appropriate to your school’s context, your headteacher’s level of experience and meet the requisite criteria of Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Time-Bound. This is part of the packages of support provided by our Grow Education Partners.