University of Teesside - Staff Development Policy

STAFF

DEVELOPMENT

CODE OF PRACTICE

Endorsed by Staff Development Committee on 1 July 2011

PURPOSE

Teesside University believes that its staff are its most important and valuable resource and seeks to create an environment which attracts, develops, motivates and rewards all staff through initial and continuing professional and personal development opportunities which are accessible throughout their careers.

This ‘code of practice’ expresses the commitment of the University to provide these opportunities for its staff in order to support the development and implementation of key University policies and strategies.

SCOPE

A wide range of learning and development activities are provided to enhance the knowledge, skills and behaviours of all staff in order to meet the priorities of the University, Schools / Departments and individuals.

This ‘code of practice’ therefore encompasses all aspects of learning and development within the University, including those which are organised and delivered centrally by the Department for Learning Development (DfLD) and that which is developed and delivered by Schools and Departments for their own staff or staff from other Schools and Departments.

PRINCIPLES

• All staff should have access to appropriate opportunities for initial professional development and continuing professional development regardless of age, disability, employment status, ethnic origin or gender.

• Learningand development should be directed towards the support of University and School / Department plans and priorities and relevant to the needs of staff for their employment at the University.

• Learningand development is a continuous process.

• Staff and managers take a shared responsibility for learning and development

• Learningand development is continuously reviewed and evaluated.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Vice Chancellor’s Executive is responsible for allocating appropriate, planned and managed resources for the provision of learning and development.

• Management at all levels are accountable for ensuring the implementation of the aims of this ‘code of practice’.

• Deans and Directors are responsible for the planning, management and evaluation of resources for learningand development within their School / Department.

• DfLD is responsible for the management of the University’s central staff development budget resource and for the development and provision of centrally co-ordinated learningand development workshops, services and activities, aimed at all staff.

• Staff Development Committee are responsible for reviewing the coherence and application of the relevant staff development priorities within the HR Strategy on behalf of the University.

• Focus Groups are used to identify and plan learningand development opportunities collaboratively with DfLD in order to reflect the particular needs of staff groups.

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

• The annual School / Department Learning and Development Plan will identify the staff development needs arising from the annual Development Plan. This will also refer to PDR outcomes and define the actions to be taken within the School / Department from its own resources and those actions which require the support of the University.

• The annual Personal Development Review (PDR) process willprovide all staff with the opportunity to identifyindividual learning and development needs that result from School / Department objectives and professional and personal priorities.

• The University, through DfLD, will provide a range of advice, guidance and consultancy services and resources to support the implementation of the Staff Development Code of Practice.

As part of this, DfLD will provide a wide variety of learning and development workshops and activities which reflect identified needs at a University, School / Department and individual level.

• A variety of delivery methods will be used to ensure all learning and development is flexible, reflective of context, cost effective and utilises appropriate learning methods and resources.

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