Hayfield Ltd Charity No. SC00436
 

18 - Staff Development and Training Policy

a - General Considerations

Hayfield Support Services is committed to the provision of Staff Development and Training for all paid staff.

The policy aims to help staff develop skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary to make a more effective contribution to Hayfield’s work.

In helping staff to make a more effective contribution to the work of the organisation, the policy further aims to confirm and emphasise Hayfield’s commitment to deaf people in particular.

Hayfield has identified the following objectives as necessary to achieve its Staff Development and Training aims and will:

• Monitor and maintain clear staff recruitment and selection procedures ensuring equality of opportunity in employment.

• Provide a comprehensive induction procedure for new staff.

• Develop, maintain and monitor structures and systems providing management support and evaluation for all staff [Staff Appraisal System].

• Maintain Staff Development & Training records for each member of staff.

Responsibility for Staff Development and Training rests with the appropriate Manager, who will ensure:

• The maintenance of confidentiality [with access to an employee’s Staff Development & Training record being available only to that individual, the immediate Line Manager and the relevant Departmental Manager].

• A co-ordinated and organisation-wide overview of and approach to Staff Development & Training.

• Effective implementation of Staff Development & Training through its strategic and operational plans.

Hayfield’s Director shall:

• Delegate to each Departmental Manager responsibility for implementing Staff Development & Training within his/her unit.

• Ensure appropriate training for each Departmental Manager to enable such delegation.

• Assume direct responsibility for the Staff Development & Training needs of Departmental Managers.

Responsibility for ensuring the implementation of Hayfield’s equal opportunities policy as it relates to staff development and training rests with the Line Managers/Depute Managers, Managers and Director collectively.

Responsibility for the induction of new staff and for supervising their introduction to job responsibilities shall:

• Rest with appropriate Manager [who shall be entitled to request support from other staff].

• Rest with the Director in the case of newly appointed Departmental Managers.

No individual will be excluded from training on the grounds of disability, gender, marital status, sexual  orientation, religious belief, political opinion, race or cultural origin, age or any other criteria which could be deemed to be discriminatory or divisive.

Training provision in Hayfield may arise from needs identified by:

• The Director.

• Senior Managers.

• Line Managers.

• Individual members of staff or groups of staff.

b - External Courses For Hayfield Staff

Hayfield Support Services will contribute to the cost of and will allow time off for certain approved external courses undertaken by staff. Some training is compulsory and is applicable to all Care Staff eg British Sign Language to Stage II level, First Aid training, Crisis & Aggression Limitation & Management [C.A.L.M.] training is also compulsory for all care staff and Management.

Hayfield may approve an employee’s participation in a specific course, subject to certain criteria being met.  This criteria will focus on:

• Relevance of training request to current job, and that the undertaking of such a course will directly contribute to improved performance by the employee.

• Employee’s length of service to Hayfield.

• Training previously undertaken at Hayfield’s expense, and time scale in relation to current request to undertake further study.

• Cost and duration of training course.

• Whether or not there will be an adverse effect on the organisation during the employee’s absence to undertake such study.

c - Course Selection And Funding

Choice of a suitable course may result from the identification of training needs by:

• The Director.

• Departmental Managers.

• Line Managers.

• Individual members of staff.

Where the Director, Departmental Manager or Line Manager believes a particular course will enhance job performance and the employee agrees, Hayfield will pay the entire cost of the course, and will allow the necessary time off if the course is held during working hours.

Where an employee wishes to undertake a course in a particular area of study, he/she should submit a letter of request to their Line Manager, who will in turn submit such request to the Departmental Manager. The Line Manager will be asked for his/her support or otherwise to the request made.

The final decision on approval of an employee’s participation in an external course and whether it is to be wholly or partly funded, rests with the relevant Departmental Manager and final authorisation from the Director must be given prior to the course commencement date.

The amount payable from Hayfield will be paid from the Staff Training Budget, subject to resources being available.

The maximum training allowance per year for each Department is revised annually by the Director and Senior Management Team. In exceptional circumstances, the maximum amount may be increased at the Director’s discretion.

d - Time Off

For approved courses available only during working hours – paid time off of not more than 1 day per week.

Courses attended outside working hours – no time off equivalent. However, in the case of compulsory courses undertaken at Hayfield’s request, the employee will be entitled to Time Off in Lieu and appropriate study leave.

Paid time off will be granted for the duration of the examination plus a day before the examination for preparation.

e - Records

When a Departmental Manager has given approval, by ensuring firstly the acquisition of a letter of request, a copy of the approved application will be kept as a training record in each employee’s file. [Sample copy of Training Request Form – Appendix VI].

f - Additional Information

Should an employee commence a course which is funded by Hayfield and thereafter fail to complete such a course, he/she will be asked to reimburse Hayfield for course fees paid.

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Staff Handbook and Terms & Conditions of Employment

HAYFIELD Limited 
Support Services with Deaf People   

Section 2

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