Did you know that the Members’ Services Team runs discussion forums on Teams for Caseworkers and those who have a management role in an MP’s office?
The Members’ Office Management Forum has a weekly meeting at 11:00 every Wednesday which is full of useful information and gives the opportunity to raise queries with representatives from the Parliamentary Digital Service, the Parliamentary Security Department, the Human Resources team, the House of Commons Library, the Vote Office and more. There are weekly guest speakers, including regular visits from IPSA. It also has a text chat facility for when you have quick questions to ask.
The Caseworker Discussion Forum hosts a monthly All-Staff Q&A which you can sign up for on ACT, and the text chat is always active.
If you would like to be added to either (or both) of these forums, please email MST@parliament.uk from your parliamentary network account, stating which MP you work for and your role in the office.
Join the Members’ HR Advice Service for this two-hour course. Suitable for new and existing Office Managers who would like to build knowledge and seek guidance to support them in their role of managing an MPs’ Office.
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 Date: Thursday 16 March 2023 Location: Online via MS Teams
Join the Members’ HR Advice Service for this two-hour course. Suitable for new and existing Office Managers who would like to build knowledge and seek guidance to support them in their role of managing an MPs’ Office.
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 Date: Thursday 19 January 2023 Location: Online via MS Teams
Following the recent publication of the Best Practice Guide on Whistleblowing (guidance for MPs as employers). The Members’ HR Team would like to invite you to join them for one of the upcoming familiarisation sessions that will provide information that sets out the way in which employees may raise a whistleblowing concern and how those concerns should be addressed.
The session will cover:
What is considered as a whistleblowing concern
How a whistleblowing disclosure is raised
The legal protection and requirements under whistleblowing law
The practical steps that should be taken to ensure a fair and thorough investigation
Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.
This session, aimed at MPs and their HR proxies, is run by the Members’ HR Advice Service to supplement the Best Practice Guide to Office Restructures.
The session will provide information about how to manage restructuring the office when you are considering reorganising your staffing resources to respond to changing priorities. It will cover employer responsibilities and provide practical advice about the best practice approach to managing the restructure process effectively. This will help you to ensure staff are treated fairly, properly consulted, and supported.
More information about the support available from the Members’ HR Advice Service will also be provided
The House of Commons Members’ HR Service has produced a Best Practice Guide to Recruitment and Selection.
It provides practical advice on efficient and effective recruitment practices. The guide aims to support Members (and their Office Managers) with the tools to attract and recruit people with diverse backgrounds, skills and abilities.
Even if you’re not currently recruiting, w4mp recommends that MPs and Office Manager take the time to read this very useful document.
Please note that links to the old Parliamentary intranet have been removed as of October 2023. Please use search on ParliNet to find relevant current details, if available.
The one on Recruitment and Selection provides practical advice on efficient and effective recruitment practices and support Members (and their Office Managers) with the tools to attract and recruit people with diverse backgrounds, skills and abilities.
Recruiting staff can be a rewarding experience, unfortunately, there are some common pitfalls if the process is rushed or not well thought through. There is also a legal requirement placed on all employers to ensure that recruitment practices meet the requirements of the Equality Act (2010). It is therefore important to ensure that your recruitment practices are not only deemed to be fair, consistent and transparent but that this is also the experience of the individuals going through your recruitment process.
The guide looks at the different stages of a recruitment process, which would normally include:
Identifying the role you need and how it will support the function of your office.
Putting an advert together and exploring various options to advertise your vacancy.
Best practice on selection methods.
Making the job offer, and the following checks that need to be carried out e.g. security vetting, employment references etc.
Although this is a guide to recruitment and selection, it is well worth reading it even if you’re not currently in the process of seeking a new employee. It contains a wealth of valuable information which could also be used to help you to carry out appraisals and self-assessments.
