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VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
JOB DESCRIPTION
Director of Human Resources
Danes Hill School & Bevendean
1. About us
1.1 Danes Hill School is widely recognised as one of the leading co-educational day
preparatory schools in the country. Situated in 55 acres of beautifully landscaped rural
grounds in the village of Oxshott, Surrey, the school has capacity for 880 pupils and is divided
into four sections.
1.2 The first three years of school – for the Mini Transition, Transition and Receptionchildren
- are together called the Early Years and are situated at Bevendean. Bevendean is Danes Hill
Pre-Prep school and it is where we help all children to take their first learning steps in a caring,
sharing, safe and confident environment with its own section Head and teaching cohort.
1.3 The Main School is divided into the Lower School (Years 2 and 3), Middle School (Years 4
and 5), and Upper School (Years 6 to 8), each with its own section Head, assemblies and
traditions. Children are su p p o rt e d an d n u rt u re d w it h in their particular section of
the school,and this sectional subdivision ensures that the school never feels overwhelmingly
big.
1.4 At Danes Hill, we aim to take every child in our care on a most extraordinary journey, and
one which nurtures the talent and provides the skills and experience to last a lifetime. Our
size enables us to provide a uniquely broad curriculum as well as specialist staff. Danes Hill
pupils thrive, achieving success on the sports field, in the examination hall, or wherever their
talents lie. Testament to this is the fact that in 2021, Danes Hill pupils were awarded 46 Senior
School scholarships. We are also an inclusive school, where every pupil is equally important
to us. The development and nurturing of the individual is the focus of our environment at
Danes Hill. Art, Drama, Music & Sport are all renowned strengths of the school and pastoral
care and learning support are also key components of this holistic environment. Every pupil
is encouraged to make the most of the wealth of opportunities available to them.
1.5 The school currently has 135 staff (FTE), comprising the teaching cohort of 128, and a
further 7 in-house support staff. Much of the core support services (technology, grounds
maintenance, transport management, catering and cleaning) are all outsourced to 3 rd party
providers.
1.6 We believe the most valuable asset we have is our people. Our people-investment
strategy is geared towards nurturing, supporting, training and the development of every
single member of the workforce, whatever their role.
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
Page 1 of 6VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
2. The role
2.1 The Director of HR role is a newly-created position and it follows an independent
review carried out by the governors in the Spring/Summer of 2021. The post-holder will
report directly to the Head and assist both the Head and senior team by providing
professional in-house HR advice and support across Danes Hill school and Bevendean, and
in an active leadership capacity with the design, strategic development and operational
implementation of the HR strategy and all HR projects and policies.
2.2 The post-holder will support a broad remit of existing and future projects and
improvement initiatives. They will ensure the ongoing tracking of project milestones and
communication with relevant stakeholders whilst also adhering to global HR best practice.
2.3 The post-holder will deliver HR operational excellence across the School. They will
ensure day to day HR operational services are delivered efficiently, effectively, to a high
standard and continue to meet the needs of the school.
2.4 The post-holder will draft the people development strategy, and this will inform
the annual budget (including allocations for training and other people-related initiatives)
3. Scope of requirements:
3.1 Employee Relations
a) To contribute to effective employee relations by supporting appropriate employee
engagement strategies and maintaining effective relationships with line managers,
staff, and employee representatives.
b) To manage Employee Relations casework as directed by the Head.
c) To coach and mentor line managers in employee relation matters.
d) To provide mediation to staff & line managers within an employee relations context.
3.2 HR policies, operations & projects
a) To have ownership of all HR-related policies and procedures, including Staff Handbook
and all induction training programs and compliance
b) To undertake HR projects and produce management reports as directed by the Head
c) To actively drive continuous improvement of the HR provision, identifying areas for
improvement and leading and delivering improvement initiatives.
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
Page 2 of 6VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
d) To oversee and facilitate the smooth running of the HR administration function by
managing and supporting an experienced Finance & HR assistant who currently
operates the payroll system, and carries out the pre-employment compliance process,
maintenance of the single central register (SCR), preparation of contracts of
employment and contract amendments, leaver paperwork and annual HMRC
declarations and statutory documentation.
e) To participate and represent HR in broader School working groups/initiatives, such as
promoting the benefits contained within the Occupational Health & Wellbeing policy.
f) To repare all HR documentation in relation to the employee lifecycle, such as
employment offer letters, contracts, contract amendments, and leaving letters.
g) To create a rolling audit of staff sickness absence, following up on paperwork such as
fit notes or return to work interviews.
h) To design new performance review systems for all support staff, and work closely with
the Deputy Head responsible for Performance Review system for teaching staff.
i) To maintain the cycle-to-work scheme and other benefit schemes for all staff.
j) To lead on the introduction and management of an Employee Assistance Programme.
3.3 Recruitment, Safeguarding and Supervision
All staff have a responsibility and duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of
pupils. Staff must be aware of the systems within the School which support safeguarding
and must act in accordance with the School’s Safeguarding & Child Protection policy
and Code of Conduct. Staff will receive appropriate child protection training which is
regularly updated
a) To manage all staff recruitment vacancies across Danes Hill and Bevendean, from
vacancy identification to completion of probation, ensuring best practice and legal
compliance.
b) To ensure the completion of appropriate employment and vetting checks and the
maintenance of the Single Central Register to ensure compliance with current ISI
regulations and annual Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) updates
c) To support with new staff inductions where appropriate, and support the DSL with
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
Page 3 of 6VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
Safeguarding induction training for all staff, contractors, and volunteers.
d) To ensure that managers who are engaging volunteers, casual workers, or freelance
workers are advised on the safeguarding vetting checks required, and ensuring these
checks are completed.
e) To be the single point of contact for suppliers of contracted staff at the school, for
example catering, cleaning, technology, grounds maintenance, contractors for
building works to ensure their compliance with required employee vetting checks.
f) To take an appropriate role on interview panels.
g) To carry out timely internal audits on the Single Central Register and personnel records
in Cascade in to ensure accuracy and completeness; and to carry out audits on
contractor vetting checks records. The Director of HR is responsible for ensuring that
KCSIE compliance is applied in checking the validity of information that contractors
provide re vetting checks.
h) To keep up to date with recruitment best practice, all relevant safeguarding legislation
(such as Keeping Children Safe in Education), and all school HR policies.
i) To carry out any task as reasonably directed by the Head.
4. Skills and qualifications:
Essential:
a) To be educated to degree level or equivalent in qualification or experience.
b) To have experience of working in a generalist advisory HR role (including all aspects of
recruitment).
c) To have experience of HR project management, reorganisations & restructuring.
d) To possess outstanding leadership skills and negotiating skills with the ability to
influence and persuade stakeholder groups.
e) To possess an understanding of safeguarding principles and safer recruitment.
f) To have an up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and its practical
application.
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
Page 4 of 6VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
g) To be diplomatic, approachable and able to build strong working relationships at all
levels.
h) To be pro-active, organised and possess excellent attention to detail skills.
i) To possess the ability to work with discretion at all times.
j) To have an ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
k) To possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong IT skills.
l) To possess a positive pro-active approach that includes a willingness to operate
collegially at all times; and “can-do” attitude and the willingness to “muck in” at all
times.
Desirable:
m) To be Chartered MCIPD or have equivalent experience.
n) To have experience of holding a similar post in the education sector.
o) To have previous experience of managing or supervising, coaching and mentoring staff.
p) To have experience of promoting and sustaining diversity and inclusion within
recruitment and retention strategies.
5. Hours of work:
Full-time 40 hours per week (possibility for part-time / flexible working out of term time)
6. Holidays:
25 days per annum plus 8 Bank Holidays; annual leave must align to the operational
requirements of the school.
7. Salary:
A generous, competitive salary is offered, dependent on skills and experience.
8. Benefits:
a) After one year’s probation, the part remission of fees for children of employees
(subject to independent financial assessment). Please note that remission of school
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
Page 5 of 6VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED
Danes Hill School, Leatherhead Road, Oxshott, Surrey, KT22 0JG
A company Limited by Guarantee registered in England No: 1194206. Registered Charity No: 269433
fees is not a contractual entitlement. The school governing body reserves the right to
vary the rate of remission or to withdraw it altogether.
b) Free daily lunches provided in the School dining hall.
c) Free parking on site.
d) Cycle to work scheme.
e) Private healthcare.
f) Stakeholder Pension Scheme.
g) Employee Assistance Programme (once established); an independent, free and
confidential advice service that can offer both practical advice and emotional support.
h) Policy for funding external professional development and training, and
reimbursement of relevant professional membership fees.
Revised draft 24 August 2021
Director of HR – job specification
September 2021
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