HR Assistant

The details of this role are as follows: 

Working hours: 16 hours a week. Days to be discussed at interview.

Contract Type: Part-time (Permanent) 52 weeks per year -  5.6 weeks annual leave including bank holidays.

Salary: £14,116 per annum (£33,086 FTE)

Start date: Immediate

Probationary period: 3 months

Reporting to: Principal – Stuart McWilliams

Purpose of Role:

The HR Assistant position is responsible for delivering a comprehensive, professional and confidential HR service across the school, supporting the full employee lifecycle and ensuring that HR practices are effective, consistent and compliant with current UK employment legislation, safeguarding requirements and relevant education-sector regulations.

Working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team, line managers and employees, the HR Assistant provides practical advice and guidance on HR policies, procedures, employee relations, recruitment, performance management, employee wellbeing and organisational development.

Responsibilities of the role are including but not limited to;

Recruitment:

· Manage the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, appointment, onboarding, contractual changes, probation, employment documentation and leaver processes.

· Coordinate applications, shortlisting, interview scheduling and candidate communications.

· Ensure HR recruitment and onboarding processes follow the school’s safer recruitment procedures and applicable statutory guidance.

· Assist with the organisation of staff induction, professional development and internal training sessions.

· Prepare and publish job advertisements across appropriate recruitment platforms.

· Liaise with hiring managers to confirm vacancies, job descriptions, person specifications and recruitment requirements.

· Manage pre-employment checks, ensuring that all required checks are completed and appropriately recorded before employment commences.

· Complete Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and other required safeguarding checks in accordance with current statutory guidance and the school’s safeguarding procedures.

Absence Management, Wellbeing and Payroll:

· Input absence data into the School’s MIS.

· Liaise with the payroll / finance team to ensure accurate and timely processing of starters, leavers, salary changes, contractual variations and other employee changes.

· Assist with the administration of statutory family leave, sick pay and other employment-related payments in conjunction with payroll.

· Support managers in addressing wellbeing concerns and maintaining regular communication with employees.

· Refer employees with wellbeing concerns to our Employee Assistant Programme and WOF fund, for further support.

· Respond to employee queries relating to pay, benefits and contractual entitlements, referring technical payroll matters to the appropriate specialist.

· Produce absence reports and highlight patterns or concerns to appropriate managers.

· Coordinate occupational health referrals and workplace adjustments, where appropriate and authorised.

HR Administration and Employee Management:

· Attend employee relations meetings to provide HR support and take accurate, impartial and confidential notes.

· Monitor and maintain the HR email, forwarding emails to the relevant member of the team and/or responding to emails accordingly.

· Maintain the Single Central Record (SCR), where this responsibility has been assigned to HR, ensuring records are accurate, complete and available for inspection.

· Maintain confidentiality while recognising that safeguarding concerns must be reported appropriately.

· Monitor key compliance deadlines, including probation reviews, fixed-term contract end dates, right-to-work follow-up checks where applicable, and other employment-related requirements.

· Assist with monitoring working time, annual leave, dependents leave, flexible working requests and other statutory employment entitlements.

· Assist with internal audits, inspections and compliance reviews.

· Coordinate mandatory training, including safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and other relevant training and record appropriately.

· Maintain accurate HR information systems and electronic filing structures. Ensure HR systems and records are managed securely and in accordance with data protection requirements.

· Support workplace investigations by coordinating meetings, gathering relevant documentation and maintaining appropriate records.

· Escalate complex, high-risk or sensitive employee relations matters to the appropriate senior leader or external HR adviser.

· Promote early resolution of workplace issues and constructive communication between employees and managers.

· Advise on probationary issues, performance concerns, conduct, capability and workplace conflict.

· Complete allocated cover support i.e.: break duty, lunch duty, kitchen or Reception cover where needed.

This job description outlines the principal responsibilities of the HR Assistant and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties.  The postholder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and the operational needs of the school.  The job description will be reviewed periodically in consultation with the postholder to reflect changes in the school’s needs, legislation and HR responsibilities.

Experience, Knowledge & Qualifications:

Essential

· Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel and Outlook.

· Excellent administrative, organisational skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

· Able to prioritise competing demands and manage a busy workload effectively.

Desirable

· CIPD Level 3 qualification and/or relevant HR experience within a school, college or other education setting.

· Knowledge of safer recruitment and education-sector safeguarding requirements.

· Experience maintaining or supporting the Single Central Record.

Skills & Personal Qualities:

Essential

· Works effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

· Demonstrates a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of staff, children and young people.

· Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive and professional working relationships.

· Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgement when handling sensitive information.

Desirable

· Proactive and self-motivated, with a willingness to take ownership of tasks

· Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to respond positively to changing priorities.

BENEFITS OF WORKING AT MICHAEL HALL SCHOOL

As part of our staff community, you can enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Free on-site parking
• Staff discount on school fees for eligible children
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Access to a range of retail and other discounts through our partnership with BrightHR
• Discounted staff lunches

Michael Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of childre