HR Officer (part-time) in Wimborne Minster

The Canford Schools Group is a growing family of leading independent schools, currently employing around 600 staff across our community. Following the successful recruitment of a full-time HR Officer, a further opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and proactive HR Officer to join our HR team working on a part-time basis to support in the provision of a professional and effective human resources service across the School Group.

Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, the successful candidate will work closely with managers and employees to offer day-to-day HR guidance and support across the full range of HR activities. This is a varied generalist role supporting the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment and onboarding, managing employee relations cases, coordinating appraisals and staff development, supporting wellbeing initiatives, and ensuring HR systems and records are accurate and compliant. A strong working knowledge of employment law is required to ensure compliance in all HR activity.

The successful candidate should be approachable, collaborative, and able to build strong working relationships with all stakeholders. Flexibility, a good work ethic, professional discretion, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines are essential. Experience in a similar HR role is required, and a CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification is desirable. This is a part-time role, working 22½ hours per week. Preferred hours of work are Monday to Friday, 09:30–14:30 (with 30 minutes for lunch) although flexibility may be available for the preferred candidate. Please note this is a full-year position.

In return, Canford offers a generous benefits package, including 38 days holiday per annum (inclusive of bank holidays), a contributory pension scheme, BUPA Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work scheme, discounted membership of the Sports Centre and Golf Club, and free lunches during term time.

OVERALL PURPOSE

The Canford Group employs in the region of 600 staff and the role of the Human Resources department is to provide a professional and effective HR function for all member schools ensuring that all practices are compliant with Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding Children, other compliance and legislative requirements. Reporting to the Head of Human Resources and working closely with colleagues in the HR Team, the HR Officer will support Heads of Departments and Line Managers across the Canford Group in the full range of HR activity.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the HR team in leading recruitment processes and safer recruitment checks.
• Providing advice and guidance on day-to-day employment matters.
• Supporting employee relations and wellbeing initiatives.
• Managing appraisals.
• Assisting with training and development.
• Ensuring HR systems and records are accurate and compliant.

The role is key in helping the Canford Group maintain best practice in people management while creating a positive and supportive experience for staff throughout their employment.

KEY TASKS

Recruitment activity:

• Prepare adverts, liaising with HoDs, advertising agencies and marketing department where necessary and upload details to Access Recruit and social media as required.
• Ensure recruitment documentation is up to date e.g. Job Descriptions, Person Specs etc and Access Recruit is updated.
• Manage the recruitment process ensuring that applicants are notified at every stage using Access Recruit.
• Ensure that references are requested at the appropriate stage.
• Arrange interviews and organise interview schedules.
• Support managers and assist in interviews as required.
• Collate feedback from interviews and retain evidence that safer recruitment procedures have been followed.
• Liaise with the HR Operations Manager and Head of HR regarding successful candidates.
• Manage and oversee the preparation of offer letters and contracts.
• Manage the process of ensuring all safer recruitment checks are in place prior to an employee’s start date.
• Updating the Single Central Register (SCR) with starters, references and other checks.
• Ensure that My Canford is up to date with all starters.
• Conduct new staff induction sessions.

Employee Relations:

• Monitor staff absence, ensuring that absences are recorded correctly.
• Support Managers as required attending meetings with employees.
• Support Heads of Department and Line Managers dealing with any disciplinary, capability and grievance issues.
• Deal with staff queries regarding employment matters.
• Conduct “three month check in” meetings as required.
• Conduct Exit and Stay interviews as required.
• Actively promote staff wellbeing.

Administration:

• Support the HR Operations Manager and Head of HR with the preparation and sending out of staff letters.
• Ensure that My Canford is updated accurately with any changes.
• Ensure that pay tables are maintained on My Canford.
• Support the HR team with organization of staff training and development.
• Completion of regulatory annual census information.

Disclosure & Barring Service / Safeguarding:

• Ensure DBS checks are in place for all new staff.
• Process and verify online DBS applications.
• Manage the support staff appraisal process.

System & Compliance:

• Ensure an up to date awareness of any changes in Employment legislation.
• Ensure that all staff recruitment is compliant with the safer recruitment requirements.
• Ensure that the interview process is carried out in line with safer recruitment requirements.
• Ensure that all HR activity is conducted in line with GDPR legislation.

Training:

• Support the team in the organisation of group training and events.
• Support HoDs in identifying staff training needs.
• Design and deliver training workshops.

Other:

• Support the Head of HR in any other HR activity as required.

No job description can fully cover all aspects of such an appointment and the responsibilities are likely to expand and evolve.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications:

• Educated to A-level standard or equivalent.
• CIPD Level 5 or similar proven experience.

Experience/Knowledge:

• Experience of managing recruitment activity.
• Record of managing employee relations matters.
• Experience of working as a generalist in a large organisation.
• Dealing with disciplinary and capability cases.
• Experience of managing grievances.
• Training & development, implementation of strategy.

Key Skills:

• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and to a high level of accuracy.
• Teamwork: ability to work as part of a small, busy team.
• Demonstrate a high degree of organisation and initiative.
• Ability to provide expert advice and support.
• Excellent IT skills.

Personal Qualities required:

• Organised, able to manage time effectively.
• Proactive and hard working.
• Good team player, flexible and calm under pressure.
• Discreet and tactful in all matters where sensitivity or confidentiality is critical.
• Friendly and approachable.

Circumstances:

• Ability to work full year.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and encourage applications from a diverse range of suitable qualified candidates. Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.