In the recent Strategy Work Group’s report the BoG were asked to encourage organisational cooperation, focusing on exchanging skills in the best interest of the network. This document sets out the process in place for a temporary tranfer to a different staff possition within the network. This can be done by either:
- Temporarily leaving their current position and entering the secondment position.
- Remaining in their current staff position whilst also taking up the secondment position.
- Whilst the secondments are a great addition to the network they are only temporary. The secondments (and their extensions) should not be any less than 30 days and should not exceed 180 days. However the Executive Council can make an exception where they deem it necessary for an extension past 180 days to be done. Extending the secondment can be for a number of reasons which includes the following example; a project overruns. Staff members may only have 1 active secondment at any one time. If they remain in their current staff position, a break must be had between secondments (excluding extensions). The break between secondments must be no less than 180 days.
- Secondments where the staff member holds any current staff position with the following titles are prohibited; Assistant Director (ADIR), Director (DIR), Executive Assistant (EXAx), Executive Council (EXECx) and Governor (Gx).
- A secondment to a staff position with the following titles are prohibited; Assistant Director (ADIR/AD), Director (DIR/D), Executive Assistant (EXAx), Executive Council (EXECx) and Governor (Gx).
The following procedure must be followed when requesting a secondment:
- An email must be sent to the Executive Council requesting the secondent, in the email you must copy in the DIR/ADIR of your current staff positions and also the DIR/ADIR of the secondment position. You must include the following information:
- The position that you want to secondment to.
- The business needed to be done whilst in the secondment.
- The expected timeframe of the secondment.
- Whether you will be remaining in your current staff position(s) or whether you will be temporarily leaving his/her current staff position(s).
- The DIR/ADIR for both the staff members current position and the secondment position must reply to the email agreeing with the contents and approving the secondment. Please ensure that the Executive Council is copied into the email.
- The Executive Council will then action the secondment as requested. The Executive Council will maintain the ability to veto the secondment in exceptional circumstances.
- Secondments can end because:
- The business need no longer exists.
- By the end date of the secondment, if no extension is granted.
- By the end date of the extension, if granted.
- On the basis of performance by the individual staff member concerned.
- By the Executive Council for any reason deemed necessary
Here are some examples of the Secondment Programme:
A divisional AOAC wishes to take up a secondment to the FOC position of another division to get the department up and running whilst a new permanent FOC is being sought.
A business need exists here, and so long as no major performance loss is expected in the Div-AO department, the secondment can take place if the DIR/ADIR of both divisions agree.
A divisional WM wishes to take up a secondment with HQ DevOps to assist in implementing a new project
A business need exists here, and so long as no major performance loss is expected in the Div-WM department, the secondment can take place if both the DIR/ADIR of the DIV and HQ DevOps HQ agree.
A HQ department advisor wishes to take up a secondment with a division to assist in some projects that may be upcoming.
A business need might exist here, it is recommended that the projects are defined rather than a secondment being granted beforehand. So long as no major performance loss is expected in theHQ department, the secondment can take place if both the DIR/ADIR of Dept-HQ and Div-HQ agree.
A HQ department advisor wishes to take up a secondment with another HQ department to see what happens within that department.
No business need exists here, and unless a specific skill set is present within the staff member, this secondment will not be permitted. If there is a specific skill set, any secondment will need to make sure that no major performance loss in the current HQ department will occur and that both Dept-HQ DIRs/ADIRs agree.
A HQ department DIR wishes to take up a secondment as an EXA to work on a multi-departmental project.
EXA positions are prohibited from secondments so this temporary position transfer must not take place.