Employment

2.1 Employment

Policy statement

LGMS meet the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, ensuring that LGMS staff and volunteers are appropriately qualified, and LGMS carry out checks for criminal and other records through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with statutory requirements.

Procedures

Vetting and staff selection

• LGMS work towards offering equality of opportunity by using non-discriminatory procedures for staff recruitment and selection.
• All LGMS staff have job descriptions, which set out their roles and responsibilities.
• LGMS welcome applications from all sections of the community. Applicants will be considered on the basis of their suitability for the post, regardless of disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, age, marriage or civil partnership. Applicants will not be placed at a disadvantage by LGMS imposing conditions or requirements that are not justifiable.
• LGMS follow the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Ofsted guidance on checking the suitability of all staff and volunteers who will have unsupervised access to children. This includes obtaining references and ensuring they have a satisfactory enhanced criminal records check with barred list(s) check through the DBS. This is in accordance with requirements under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006) and the Protection of Freedoms Act (2012) for the vetting and barring scheme.
• Where an individual is subscribed to the DBS Update Service LGMS carry out a status check of their DBS certificate, after checking their identity and viewing their original enhanced DBS certificate to ensure that it does not reveal any information that would affect their suitability for the post.
• LGMS keep all records relating to the employment of our staff and volunteers; in particular those demonstrating that suitability checks have been done, including the date of issue, name, type of DBS check and unique reference number from the DBS certificate, along with details of our suitability decision.

• LGMS staff must complete LGMS Staff Suitability Declaration form every 6 months.
• LGMS staff are expected to disclose any convictions, cautions, court orders, reprimands and warnings which may affect their suitability to work with children – whether received before, or at any time during, their employment with LGMS. 

• LGMS obtain consent from LGMS staff and volunteers to carry out on-going status checks of the Update Service to establish that their DBS certificate is up-to-date for the duration of their employment with LGMS.

• Where LGMS become aware of any relevant information which may lead to the disqualification of an employee, LGMS will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of children. In the event of disqualification, that person’s employment with LGMS will be terminated.

Notifying Ofsted of changes

•  We inform Ofsted of any changes to our Registered Person (trustees/director(s)/owner(s) of our provision) and/or our manager.

Training and staff development

• Our manager and deputy hold the CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent qualification and at least half of our other staff members hold the CACHE Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce or an equivalent or higher qualification.
• LGMS provide regular in-service training to all LGMS staff – whether paid staff or volunteers.
• LGMS budget allocates resources to training.
• LGMS provide LGMS staff with induction training in the first week of their employment. This induction includes LGMS Health and Safety Policy and Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Policy. Other policies and procedures are introduced within an induction plan.
• LGMS support the work of LGMS staff by holding regular supervision meetings and appraisals.
• LGMS committed to recruiting, appointing and employing staff in accordance with all relevant legislation and best practice.

Staff taking medication/other substances

• If a member of staff is taking medication which may affect their ability to care for children, LGMS ensure that they seek further medical advice. LGMS staff will only work directly with the children if medical advice confirms that the medication is unlikely to impair their ability to look after children properly.
• Staff medication on the premises will be stored securely and kept out of reach of the children at all times.
• If LGMS have reason to believe that a member of LGMS staff is under the influence of alcohol or any other substance that may affect their ability to care for children, they will not be allowed to work directly with the children and further action will be taken.

Managing staff absences and contingency plans for emergencies

• LGMS staff take their holiday breaks when the setting is closed. Where a staff member may need to take time off for any reason other than sick leave or training, this is agreed with our manager with sufficient notice.
• Where LGMS staff are unwell and take sick leave in accordance with their contract of employment, LGMS organise cover to ensure ratios are maintained.
• Sick leave is monitored and action is taken where necessary, in accordance with the individual’s contract of employment.

• LGMS have contingency plans to cover staff absences, as follows:

Saracens Recruitment

268 Bath Road

Slough

Berkshire

SL1 4DX

01753 316316​​​​​​​ 

info@saracensrecruitment.com 

Worldwide Recruitment

4 Waterside Drive 

Slough

Berks 

SL3 6EZ

01753 306177

info@worldwideeducation.co.uk

Other useful Pre-school Learning Alliance publications

• The New Early Years Employee Handbook (2016)
• Recruiting Early Years Staff (2016)
• People Management in the Early Years (2016)