Clerking Formal Hearings

Clerks Conference – 4th June 2009

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Clerking Formal Hearings

• Introductions

• Aims of this session

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Roles

• The Clerk

• HR Adviser

• Governors / Headteacher

• Employee’s representative

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How many types of Formal HR

hearings can you think of?

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General Principles

• Policies

• Committees

• Confidentiality

• Impartiality / Conflict of Interest

• Time Frames

• Status of a hearing in the employment process

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Pre-hearing Arrangements

• Setting a date & time

• Suitable Venue

• Refreshments / Lunch

• Time of day

• Rooms

• Set up of the hearing room

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Distribution of Documents

• School Report & Appendices

• Letter of invitation to the employee

• Any papers submitted by the employee or their representative

• HR Adviser distributes agenda & decision grid with a covering letter of advice

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Appeal Hearings

• Papers likely to be the same, but there may be additional evidence

• Letter of outcome from first hearing

• Does not include a copy of the minutes from the first hearing (except grievances)

• Clean copies!

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The Hearing

• Formal

• Pre-hearing briefing by HR Adviser

• Tape recording

• Witnesses

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Taking Notes

• Note start and finish times

• Not necessarily verbatim

• Capture main points / Questions and answers

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And finally……………

• Send notes to the Chair of the Panel and the HR Adviser for approval

• Any comments on the notes by the employee can be placed on record

• Keep your handwritten notes

• All papers kept for a minimum of 6 months

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Any final questions……………….?