Information for New Staff General Information The School of Social Policy is part of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Birmingham and consists of three departments, Health Services Management Centre (HSMC), Institute of Applied Social Studies (IASS) and the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC). Together they offer postgraduate and undergraduate education and research and knowledge transfer services. The Head of School is David Stephenson. More information about the work of each of the departments and their staff is available on the departmental websites.
College of Social Sciences School of Social Policy Health Services Management Centre Institute of Applied Social Studies Third Sector Research Centre
Personal Professional Development Induction The University has website especially for new members of staff at: http://www.hr.bham.ac.uk/induction You will be invited to an induction event run by Academic Practice and Organisational Development (APOD). For further information, go to: GEN106 Introduction to the University -
Mentoring At an early stage of your induction, your manager or supervisor should discuss any appropriate development that you, as a new member of staff, may need. This might include courses for skills, leadership etc, or shadowing colleagues for example. A mentor may be appointed to help you to settle in and understand the University. More about mentoring
Probationary Personal Development Plans & Probation Follow the link below for further information for new staff, including arrangements for Probationary Personal Development Plans (PPDPs) and probation for academic staff. More about probation
Staff Development Review for Academic and Academic-Related Staff The University requires that each member of academic teaching staff takes part in a staff development review interview every two years. However, for probationers there must be an interview in each year of probation. Initial staff development interviews for research staff will be carried out 9 months after entering the University’s employment. Further interviews will be held at two-yearly intervals or more frequently if requested by either party concerned. Each member of academic-related staff is required to take part in a staff development review interview once in every calendar year. Staff Development Review interviews normally take place during the period January to April. It is the responsibility of the interviewee to prepare a document for discussion, to be provided to the interviewer at least ten days before the interview. More about academic staff development reviews
Performance and Development Review (PDR) Scheme for Support Staff The PDR scheme is a combined performance and learning/development scheme (including performance-based pay) for support staff. Details on this Scheme and information about available training can be found at: More about the PDR scheme
Health and Safety (including Fire Training) Health & Safety The University of Birmingham, as an employer, is committed to providing and maintaining a healthy and safe working environment for all its employees, students and any other people who may be affected by its activities. The overall responsibility for ensuring implementation of this policy lies with the University of Birmingham ie the University Council and the ViceChancellor as its Chief Executive. Health and Safety guidance is available at: https://intranet1.bham.ac.uk:8443/hr/wellbeing/worksafe/documents/guidance/hsguidance.asp x School of Social Policy Health & Safety Coordinator – Sue Alleyne – based in Park House and Muirhead Tower College Health & Safety Officer (c/o Donna Willmetts) – based in Muirhead Tower School Health & Safety code of practice (pdf)
Fire Training It is a University requirement that all new staff have to attend a fire training session in person. Please contact Melanie Ashfield, m.ashfield@bham.ac.uk or ext 45817 to book yourself onto one of these courses which are held at 11am - 12 noon or 2 - 3pm on the first Wednesday of every month.
ID Cards ID cards are required for access to most departments in the University (eg the Main Library, Munrow Sports Centre, etc) and are used for access by car onto the main campus through the barrier system. They are available from: Security which is at the back of the Aston Webb Building (opposite the rugby pitch). It’s not necessary to phone in advance, but may save you a wasted journey (x 45628). You will need to take with you: - letter of appointment - documentation with payroll number Visiting staff need to take a statement on letterhead from the Head of Department confirming bone fide application.
IT IT Equipment IT equipment will be provided for work purposes in accordance with the College of Social Science’s IT current strategy and all users must comply with General Conditions of Use of Computing Facilities (pdf) Support and maintenance for IT is provided locally by the School of Social Policy IT team who work as a part of College wide IT support team and provide service and support which is consistent across the whole college. Outdated PCs and laptops will be replaced in accordance with College’s rolling replacement policy and be funded from College strategic IT budget. Other IT outdated equipment like printers and scanners will be replaced on a per need basis and will be funded from the college operational IT budget allocated to each School and managed by the relevant School IT Manager.
Email New members of staff that will be on the University’s payroll will be automatically allocated a central email address and logon username once they have signed the contract of
employment which now includes ‘General Conditions of Use of Computing Facilities”. Once the new member of staff has been issued with a payroll number by staffing services then they need to contact the IT support staff, who will set up the computer to receive email and to connect to the University’s internet services.
Training Courses The University’s Information Technology Training Centre (ITTC) http://www.skills.bham.ac.uk/courses provides free courses on all Microsoft packages, Internet services and other electronic information sources which are available across the University. Information on scheduled courses is circulated on a regular basis and enquiries can be made to Information Services (email: ITTC@contacts.bham.ac.uk ).
Reprographics and Use of University Corporate Image Design and print service and colour photocopying service Pauline Thorington-Jones (p.thorington-jones@bham.ac.uk ) in the College of Social Science Reprographics Department operates a design and print service and a colour photocopying service which is charged back to the appropriate department.
Printing Work is commissioned from the College of Social Sciences Reprographics Department or the University Printing Section.
Use of University Corporate Image Guidelines on the use of the University’s corporate image
Marketing, Web and Communications Marketing activities have an impact on everyone who has contact with the School of Social Policy and College of Social Sciences including university wide academic and support staff; past, present and future students as well as research funders and other key stakeholders. The variety of tasks included under the umbrella of marketing is therefore extremely varied, examples include:
Developing our online (web) profile; Creating communication and marketing plans to help you attract students, staff and research funders; Raising the profile of our academic expertise and achievements; Understanding and analysing market forces to help you develop new courses and opportunities for the school
The team also undertakes more "operational" tasks such as co-ordinating and assisting colleagues with online and print course/promotional materials, advertising and liaising with the College appointed Advertising Agency, open days, raising our profile through the use of media and building external relations; events (UK and international) and student liaison activities to assist with recruitment and conversion work etc. The team works closely with the University's central Corporate Relations team and can therefore provide direct access a variety of useful resources including the press office, central events team, online and internal communications teams.
Key contacts: College Marketing Communications Manager: Carrie Bennett Email: c.a.bennett@bham.ac.uk Tel +44(0)121 414 8885 Schools of Government and Society and Social Policy Marketing Officer: Paul Scott Email: p.scott@bham.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)121 415 1051 School of Social Policy Web Co-ordinator: Pam Newby Email: j.newby@bham.ac.uk Tel: +44(0)121 414 5724
Alumni Relations The College Alumni Relations (AR) team aims to build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with Social Science alumni around the world. The CoSS alumni body provides the College with a world-wide network of potential supporters and advocates therefore, it is imperative to develop an ongoing, regular and two-way dialogue with CoSS alumni to promote College/School successes, raise awareness of key research strengths and highlight graduate achievements. This will help to develop a sense of pride in the wider CoSS community, build affinity, encourage alumni to engage with the College and increase the reach and reputation of the College amongst prospective students, employers, collaborators and funders. By building an affinity with former students and identifying, developing and harnessing alumni support, we aim to raise the local, national and international reputation of the College, enrich the ‘Social Sciences’ learning experience and help to attract the most talented, bright and ambitious students to the College. By cultivating, thoroughly publicising and visibly stewarding alumni engagement, we hope to develop a culture of philanthropy that maximises alumni participation and makes alumni and current students aware of the power and impact of alumni contributions. Operationally, this means that we will:
continue to collect, clean and securely store alumni data in accordance with the data protection act initiate and maintain a purposeful and regular two-way dialogue with our alumni identify and promote graduate successes e.g. career profiles for brochures, web etc. develop alumni specific web content across the College identify and facilitate opportunities for alumni to become involved and engaged in the College support and develop alumni relevant events within the College promote and steward all alumni contributions, whether time based or financial
As an integral part of both the College and the Development and Alumni Relations Team (DARO), we aim to integrate with and build on central AR activity and provide a more bespoke and added value service for College alumni. We can also provide direct access to a variety of useful resources including the University of Birmingham Annual Fund, the Major Gift and Development Team etc.
Key contacts: College Alumni Relations Manager: Jade Maxwell e: j.e.maxwell.1@bham.ac.uk t: 0121 414 8432 Birmingham Business School Alumni Officer: Helen Boyle e: h.boyle@bham.ac.uk t: 0121 415 8437
E-Learning The CoSS E-Learning Team is made up of School-based and College-wide staff, and can offer help with WebCT, online assessment, video for L&T, technology for research, EBL, and many other forms of blended learning. We aim to support the following four themes of the University’s teaching and learning strategy: Promote good practice in teaching and learning, informed by current pedagogic research and innovation Introduce and embed the effective use of e-learning technologies and a virtual learning environment to support teaching and enhance the student learning experience Actively support the identification and dissemination of good practice Promote learning and teaching effectively within the University, as a core and high quality activity, and outside of the University
Key contacts: Joe Berry, College E-Learning Manager Joe is a University of Birmingham alumnus, studying Psychology at undergraduate level and then going on to earn an MSc in Software Development at Coventry before spending eight years in the web industry as a consultant developer. Joe joined the University in 2004,
supporting e-learning in the School of Education and the Business School. He now manages the College E-Learning Team, as well as being the Business School’s E-learning Manager, and (very) occasional goal-scorer for various staff 6-a-side football teams. Tel: 0121-415 8194 (Ext 58194) j.r.berry@bham.ac.uk Dee Partridge, E-Learning Manager, Social Policy In her role as E-Learning Manager for the School of Social Policy Dee is keen to capitalise on her experience and interest in creating resources for teaching and learning with a focus on enquiry based blended learning design. Between 2005 and October 2010 Dee was a member of the multimedia team at the Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health. This role incorporated a remit to create resources using Apple accredited skills with Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro. She was also responsible for teaching academics and students to develop skills to create and publish video based materials. Dee became a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) in October 2009. Tel: 0121-414 5734 (Ext 45734) d.partridge@bham.ac.uk
Finance Dave Robertson, College Finance Manager, is responsible for all budgeting and the reforecasting of the School finances to meet deadlines implicit within the University annual planning cycle. The School of Social Policy shares a finance manager (Mohammed Saeed email: m.saeed@bham.ac.uk ) with the School of Government and Society and he is responsible for managing the College accounts office and consolidating the School financial reports for presentation to the Head of School and Corporate Services Finance in accordance with set deadlines. The College Finance Office provides financial assistance for academic colleagues in the production of business cases on an ad hoc basis, whenever required in order to agree funding for additional resource or expenditure above that contained within the agreed budget. HSMC have a local finance officer, Sue McLean (s.l.mclean@bham.ac.uk), who works closely with academic colleagues, the School Finance Manager and the College Finance Manager in all matters requiring financial advice or assistance.
College Research Support Office (CRSO) Your College Research Support Office (CRSO) is here to help you with your external funding proposals for research and consultancy activities. We aim to take the administration out of applications with over twenty years of experience operating within the University’s systems as well as specific expertise in fundraising, commercial research and bid development in the team. Examples of the type of support we offer include:
Finding the best funder and scheme fit for your idea.
Advising on the call requirements (including any technical aspects), including drawing on past experience. Supporting your work through the internal approval systems. Providing examples of previous success and funder feedback. Setting you up with a peer reviewer. Discussing your resource requirements and organising your budget, including Financial sign off. Using online submission forms. Making sure any legalities are taken through the necessary University systems. Coordinating the relevant contracting arrangements upon award.
Please do get in touch with us as soon as you have an idea for a project or have seen a funding scheme of interest. Early engagement means that we can set up the overall application process to run effectively and create the best possible conditions for your success. Please see below for a brief overview of how we are structured and the best people to contact for your School:
Contact the team Carol Solley College Research and Knowledge Transfer Manager Tel: 0121 414 8884 (ext. 48884) Email: c.solley@bham.ac.uk David Evans Research and Knowledge Transfer Officer - Government and Society & Social Policy Tel: 0121 414 4978 (ext. 44978) Email: d.evans.4@bham.ac.uk Sonia Large Research and Knowledge Transfer Administrator - Government and Society & Social Policy Tel: 0121 414 7135 (ext. 47135) Email: s.j.large@bham.ac.uk HSMC Programmes IASS Programmes