All of you are Christ's body and each one is part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Lay Employment Advisory Info

This Lay Employment Advisory information and the Maternity Guidelines are intended for use by churches, circuits and districts within the Methodist church in Britain.

INTRODUCTION

Personnel Office graphic

The purpose of this pack is to help churches, circuits and districts in the recruitment and selection of employees and in the early stages of employment. The pack also identifies some of the issues that can arise during the employment relationship and offers advice on these matters.

As Christian employers, churches, circuits and districts are expected to operate ethically as well as within the statutory framework. Employees deserve to be employed competently and constructively. The pack takes account of good employment practice as well as current employment law.

You will find within the pack repeated advice to liaise with your District Lay Employment Secretary:

. at the start of all recruitment exercises
· over any subsequent employment issues which arise
· about any potential termination of employment.

The address of your District Lay Employment Secretary is normally to be found in the Synod Directory for your District or from Development and Personnel at Methodist Church House.

References to statutory regulations refer to mainland United Kingdom. Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have different and/or additional legislative provisions which are not included in this document.

The pack is based on previous information published by Methodist Church House and has been prepared by Development and Personnel at Methodist Church House with help from District Lay Employment Secretaries.

This online information will be updated as and when necessary. Hard copies of this information can also be obtained as a pack from the Personnel Office, price £6.50 plus VAT. District Lay Employment Secretaries will be notified directly of any changes.

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The information contained herein is believed to be accurate at the date of publication. Whilst every effort has been made to describe the law accurately, the purpose of this publication is not to advise as to how the law may be applied and interpreted. The Methodist Church, its governing body the Conference, the Methodist Council acting on behalf of the Conference, or any of the Connexional Team accept no responsibility for any loss arising out of reliance on the information contained herein.

FULL VERSION OF THE LAY EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY PACK

Download a full version of the Lay Employment Advisory Pack (April 2010) ( 5.4 MB Word doc)

CONTENTS LIST

Please note: the appendices relating to each of the following sections are listed in full at the end of this contents list

SECTION 1: The Role of the District Lay Employment Secretary (Pdf)

SECTION 2: Equal Opportunities (Pdf)

Topics covered: The Church Perspective : Equal Opportunity Monitoring : The Law on Discrimination

Appendices (Word docs)

2.1 Equal Opportunity policy
2.2 Offenders policy

Recruitment Cycle (Pdf)

SECTION 3: Exit Interview (Pdf)

SECTION 4: Recruitment Stage 1: Approving the Post (Pdf)

Appendices (Word docs)

4.1 Appointment pro forma

SECTION 5: Recruitment Stage 2: Preparing the Documents (Pdf)

Topics covered: The Job Description : The Person Specifiaction : Income & Expenditure estimates for the Funding of the Appointment : The Advertisement : Draft Letter of Appointment : Statement of Terms and Conditions of Employment : Acknowledgement Letter : Application Form : Residency Arrangement

Appendices (Word docs)

5.1 Example Job Description 1 – Lay Employee
5.2 Example Job Description 2 – Caretaker
5.3 Example Person Specification 1 – Lay Employee
5.4 Example Person Specification 2 – Caretaker
5.5 Blank Person Specification pro forma
5.6 Role profile requirements
5.7 Bank Holiday Calculation Sheet
5.8 Example application form
5.9 Example application form (minimum)
5.10 Equal Opportunities Monitoring form

SECTION 6: Recruitment Stage 3: Processing Applications (Pdf)

Topics covered: Responding to Enquires : Shortlisting : Planning for the Interview : Applicants with Criminal Record :

Appendices (Word docs)

6.1 Shortlisting scoresheet

SECTION 7: Recruitment Stage 4: The Interview and After (Pdf)

Topics covered: Preparing for the Interview : Interview Questions : The Role of the Chair - Checklist : Assessing the Candidates : References : Tips for giving Feedback to Candidates : Candidates with Disability : Record Keeping

Appendices (Word docs)

7.1 Interview scoresheet

SECTION 8: Recruitment Stage 5: Making an Offer of Employment (Pdf)

Topics covered: Verbal Offers : Conditional Offers : Start date : Written Confirmation : Written Statement of Terms and Conditions : Guidance Notes on the content of the Written Statement : Disclosure : Pre-Employment Checks

Appendices (Word docs)

8.1 Model letter of appointment – written statement to follow (long)
8.2 Model letter of appointment – with written statement (short)
8.3 Written statement of terms and conditions – minimum
8.4 Written statement of terms and conditions – full
8.5 Disciplinary and Dismissal procedure
8.6 Grievance procedure
8.7 Health and Safety procedure
8.8 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 – Spent and Unspent Convictions
8.9 Medical questionnaire

SECTION 9: Pensions (Pdf)

SECTION 10: Pay Issues (Pdf)

Topics covered: The National Minimum Wage : The Living Wage : Honoraria/Payments to Volunteers : Guidance for Local Pay Arrangements - Local Religious Centres : Income Tax : Sick Pay Calculations

Appendices (Word docs)

10.1 Setting a salary

SECTION 11: Residency Arrangements (Pdf)

Appendices

11.1 conditions of Residential Occupancy

SECTION 12: Information Specific to the Employment of Lay Employees (Pdf)

Topics covered: Accommodation : Circuit Review of Staffing : Use of Fixed Term Contracts : Terms and Conditions of Employment for Lay Employees

SECTION 13: Information Specific to the Employment of Children & Youth Worker (Pdf)

Topics covered: Issues to consider before recruitment : Providing support/management structure : Selecting the Line Manager
Job Description : Appointment of Qualified Workers : Terms and Conditions of Employment : Advertising
Information and Support Sources

SECTION 14: On-going Employment Issues (Pdf)

Topics covered: Managing Performance : Variations to Contracts : Termination of Contracts : Redundancy : Retirement : Giving : References : Maternity, Paternity, Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay : Request from Parents for Flexible Working : Lone Working

Appendices (Word docs)

14.1 Redundany Policy (template)
14.2 Statutory redundancy payment
14.3 Retirement Procedures
14.4 Model Letters Retirement
14.5 Retirement Pro-forma
14.6 Guidance: Risk Assessment for Lone Workers

SECTION 15: Other Employment Legislation (Pdf)

Topics covered: Data Protection Act : Working Time Regulations : Information Sources

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

Good Practice Guide: Holidays and holiday pay (Pdf)
Good Practice Guide: Performance management (Pdf)
Good Practice Guide: Managing Individual Redundancies (Pdf)
How to Conduct an Exit Interview (to follow)

Maternity Leave Guidance (Word doc)
New & Expected Mother Risk Assessement Form (Word doc)
Paternity Leave Guidance (Word doc)
Parental Leave Guidance (Word doc)
Adoption Leave Guidance (Word doc)

If you require any assistant with the above please contact the Development and Personnel Office on 020 7486 5502.

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Feedback & copyright

Methodist churches are free to use this Lay Employment Advisory Information for their own use. Any other organisations or individuals wishing to reproduce the material must contact the Methodist Church for permission. The material is copyright and cannot be used commercially without permission.

For further information contact the Methodist Church Development & Personnel Office
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR
Tel: 020 7486 5502