How I work

The services I offer are provided on a personal basis that require me to establish a relationship with your organisation and the key manager or trustee with whom I work. My advice therefore will be specific to your organisation and the situation as it is presented.

I do not:

• Operate a call centre
• Use a script of frequently asked questions
• Place you on hold for lengthy periods of time
• Pass you from one adviser to another
• Lose your paperwork
• Provide advice in my own bests interests rather than yours
• Advise an organisation in a manner inappropriate to their aims, objectives or ethos

I do:

• Provide support and advice that is tailored to your organisation and the specific difficulty you may be having
• Offer personal contact via telephone, email or fax, with ME, whenever you need it
• Attend meetings, hearings or interviews where necessary
• Offer support, advice and essential information via email, telephone, or face-to-face
• Listen and ensure I understand your situation before I advise
• Research carefully the law relating to the particular problem
• Work in way designed to be as cost effective as possible for your organisation

Consultation can be undertaken in any area associated with staff employment and management. Advice and support are available in the following areas:

Recruitment
Legal requirements of recruitment, equal opportunities, job advertisements, shortlisting, interviewing, selection, providing feedback and writing 'safe' references.

I can advise with regard to any stage of the process or take part in your recruitment process as an impartial member to ensure the procedure is fair and most importantly legal.

Ongoing employment
I can advise on any matter arising from ongoing employment. I provide support, advice and guidance with; probationary matters, including creating and operating probationary procedures, terminating contracts for unsuccessful probationary employees; disputes over terms and conditions or requests to vary terms in the case of flexible working applications; all issues related to absence, whether it be due to sickness, long-term health problems, disability discrimination matters or unauthorised absence.

Discrimination
I am a very experienced adviser with regard to issues relating to discrimination, whether it be sex, race, disability, age, etc. Advice and support is available with individual management issues, staff or team difficulties, equal opportunities in recruitment, training or promotion, or organisation wide difficulties.

Discipline and dismissal
I can offer a unique style of one-to-one support for managers or trustees faced with difficult employment matters that may require disciplinary action or may be at risk of ending in dismissal. I support managers or trustees stage-by-stage through this difficult time, from investigation to the post-dismissal appeal. Where appropriate, I give support, reassurance and professional legal information, that gives you the confidence to act in the manner necessary and to know that you acting fairly and, above all, within the law.

I also prepare compromise agreements for organisations, which are tailored for your specific requirements in the circumstances.

Grievances
I provide the same level of support to managers or trustees who are dealing with grievances from staff members or complaints from service users. I am able to carry out the investigation and, where necessary, interview staff.

Investigation is a very important stage in grievance, disciplinary and dismissal matters. To be able to show that this crucial stage has been carried out by a totally impartial, professional consultant will be of great benefit should your organisation's ultimate decision be challenged.

Find out more
The above is a brief description of the type of work I am able to undertake for organisations. If you have a difficult situation at work, a very important staff management decision you need to make, if you need clarification of the law before you are able to act, or are in need of support and advice with regard to a workplace matter, then please contact me