Management of probation

Governing strategies

  • Statutory employment requirements
  • University Terms and Conditions of Employment
  • University policies and procedures
  • HR Strategy

Level of service

Human Resources will:

  • Provide timely information to Colleges regarding probationary staff.
  • Advise Colleges on contractual and statutory rights of staff during their Probationary period.
  • Manage a process requiring Colleges to provide written statements on new employees’ probationary performance.
  • Support Colleges where new employees do not meet performance standards during the probationary period.

Key indicators

Key indicators for this activity are:

  • Mid and final probationary reports are submitted by Colleges on all new appointments.
  • New employees receive confirmation of appointment following a satisfactory final review.
  • Action plans are agreed and implemented for new employees who do not meet performance standards during the probationary period.

Performance targets

Subject to the Dependencies below:

  • 95% of probationary reports will be sent to Colleges at least four weeks prior to date of probationary review.

Key contacts

  • HR Business Partners
  • HR Recruitment and Administration Manager

Redress

Complaints about aspects of the service should be made to your College HR Business Partner in the first instance. In the event that the customer/client remains dissatisfied following informal discussion with the HR Business Partner, the issue should be raised in writing with the Director of Human Resources who will normally respond within 5 working days.

Dependencies (Colleges)

To operate effectively in this service area, Human Resources requires:

  • Colleges to monitor the performance of new employees and provide regular feedback in between formal probation reviews.
  • Colleges to formally review the progress and performance of new employees at the mid and final probation reviews and to return the necessary paperwork to Human Resources.
  • Colleges to advice their HR Business Partner at the earliest opportunity of any concerns about a new employee which may lead to their probation not being confirmed.

Dependencies (external and other Professional Services)

Human Resources goals in this area may be affected by:

  • the availability of the appropriate Deputy Vice Chancellor (for academic probations).