This section provides information on key policies and procedures relating to employee conduct and behaviour.
Employees are critical to the delivery of EA’s vision, “to inspire, support and challenge all our Children and Young People to be the best that they can be” and therefore all staff are expected to conduct themselves to the highest standards.
Counselling Support
Inspire Workplaces - Workplace number is – 0808 800 0002 (available at any time)
Inspire Workplaces provides a confidential and independent counselling support service for all staff that is available at any time.
EA recognises that from time to time staff may require support in resolving personal or other issues which may impact on their working life.
Inspire Workplaces Leaflet pdf863.86 KB
Safeguarding
Further information on the EA Child Protection Support Service (CPSS) is available at:
Safeguarding and Child protection in Schools – A Guide for Schools is available on DE website using the following link (Section 5.5 – page 28 refers to dealing with allegations of abuse made against a member of staff)
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/safeguarding-and-child-protection-schools-guide-schools
EA have also developed a protocol for managing allegations relating to abuse of a child / young person made against EA staff in line with DE Circular 2015/13. The main purpose of the protocol is to clarify the roles of CPSS Designated Officers for Child Protection and HR in providing advice to EA Service Managers, School Principals and the Board of Governors:
DE Circular 2015/13: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/circular-201513-dealing-allegations-abuse-against-member-staff
Mediation
EA is committed to promoting a dignified workplace free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and victimisation. It is recognised that informal resolution, including mediation, at the earliest stage possible can be the most effective means to resolve issues and restore effective working relations between employees.
Further information on mediation is available from the Employee Relations team and in the LRA leaflet ‘mediation explained’: https://www.lra.org.uk/resources/leaflet/mediation-explained
Policies & Procedures
Joint Protocol
A Joint Protocol agreed with trade unions provides for situations when co-workers working for different employers have a grievance / complaint against one or each other.
Inter-Employer Joint Protocol (TNC 2011/7): https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/inter-employer-grievance-protocol
Disciplinary Procedures
EA employees are critical to the delivery of our vision, “to inspire, support and challenge all our Children and Young People to be the best that they can be”. Our employees are therefore expected to conduct themselves to the highest standards.
There may be occasions when concerns regarding conduct and behaviours need to be addressed and these procedures set out the process to be followed to deal with alleged misconduct, either informally or formally, in a fair and consistent manner.
Teachers (Partially Delegated Schools)pdf236.62 KB
Non-Teaching (Corporate)pdf685.87 KB
Grievance Procedures
Grievances are concerns, problems or complaints that an employee has about some aspect of their work.
It is recognised that there may be occasions when an employee wishes to raise concerns with management and these procedures provide the means to deal with such issues in a fair and consistent manner.
The procedures note that informal resolution at the earliest stage possible can be the most effective means to resolve issues.
Teachers GP (Partially Delegated Schools)pdf201.28 KB
Non-Teaching - GP (Fully Delegated School)pdf368.07 KB
Non-Teaching (Partially Delegated School)
The principles of the Teaching procedure for partially delegated school should be applied (see link above)
Non-Teaching Individual GP (Corporate) pdf79.63 KB
Dignity at Work Procedures
EA is committed to promoting a dignified workplace free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and victimisation. These policies outline examples of unacceptable behaviour and the procedures aim to resolve issues and to restore effective working relations.
These procedures provides the means to deal with such issues promptly, seriously, fairly, consistently and confidentially. It is recognised that informal resolution, including mediation, at the earliest stage possible can be the most effective means to resolve issues.
Supporting Effective Teaching & Leadership in Schools
These procedures are designed to assist in the provision of professional support to Principals or Teachers in instances where their work or aspects of their work is giving cause for concern and all informal measures have been exhausted.
The procedures provide a framework to ensure the concerns are dealt with in a fair, timely, sensitive and consistent manner with the aim of achieving effective levels of performance.
Toolkits
Toolkits related to this area are currently under development.
Contact Details
- Contact Employee Relations (Casework) team – Telephone: 028 9041 8012 or Email: ER-Casework@eani.org.uk