Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Executive (Human Resources) reported that on 12^th November, 2009, the Apprenticeships, Children, Skills and Learning Bill had received Royal Assent.  This formally established the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSNB) as a statutory body which would agree a pay and conditions framework for support staff in the maintained School sector.  Subject to ratification by the Secretary of State, agreements would apply to all maintained schools in England.

The role and remit of the SSSNB could have significant implications for School support staff.

Teachers would not be covered nor support staff employed under contracts incorporating the agreement of the JNC for Youth and Community Workers, the Solbury Committee and the JNC for Local Authority Craft and Associated Employees.  Any other employee whose contract of employment provided for them to work wholly in schools, including those employed by the local authority’s DSO/DLO, would be included.  There would be a facility for the parties locally to refer jointly to the SSSNB any questions or differences of interpretation concerning the inclusion or otherwise of particular employees.

The SSSNB was required to negotiate and seek to reach agreement on matters referred to it by the Secretary of State through the employers and Trade Unions.  Sides were also free to bring other matters to the negotiating table.

Initially the SSSNB was to focus on:-

-        The production of a core contract of employment to cover remuneration, duties and working time

-        The design of national job role profiles to cover core school support staff roles

-        The development and production of a method for converting those role profiles into a salary structure

-        A strategy that would effectively implement the national pay and conditions framework in all schools maintained by local authorities in England including a methodology to manage both transition and steady state

The Secretary of State has asked the SSSNB to submit to him any agreements on the above by 28^th May, 2010.  There would then be a period when the Secretary of State would consider the agreements before deciding whether to endorse them or refer them back to the SSSNB for reconsideration.

Consultations with support staff trade unions in Rotherham had been ongoing with a paper in the process of preparation to send out to all Schools.  The Human Resources Schools Advice and Guidance Team would be advising and assisting Schools on issues of implementation as they arose.  Staff from Council DSO/DLO operations, specifically the Cleaning and Catering functions, would also be within the remit of the new body.  The Human Resources Business Partners from the different Directorates involved would liaise to ensure a consistent approach was taken with regard to consultation and implementation of outcomes.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the changes which would arise from the remit of the new School Support Staff Negotiating Body be noted.

(2)  That consultation with Schools and directorates containing affected staff groups continue on an ongoing basis with regards to the implementation of the new Body.

(3)  That the report be referred to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services for information.