The Canford Schools Group is a growing family of leading independent schools, employing around 600 staff across our community.  As we continue to grow, we are seeking an enthusiastic and proactive HR Officer to join our HR team in providing a professional and effective human resources service across the School.

 

Reporting to the HR Operations Manager, the successful candidate will work closely with managers and employees to offer day-to-day HR guidance and support across the full range of HR activities This is a varied generalist role supporting the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment and onboarding, managing employee relations cases, coordinating appraisals and staff development, supporting wellbeing initiatives, and ensuring HR systems and records are accurate and compliant.  A strong working knowledge of employment law is required to ensure compliance in all HR activity.

 

The successful candidate should be approachable, collaborative, and able to build strong working relationships with all stakeholders.   Flexibility, a good work ethic, professional discretion, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines are essential. Experience in a similar HR role is required, and a CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification is desirable.

 

This is a full-time role, Monday to Friday, 08:30–17:00 (with one hour for lunch). Some flexibility may be available for the preferred candidate. Please note this position is a full-year position.

 

In return, Canford offers a generous benefits package, including 38 days holiday per annum (inclusive of bank holidays), a contributory pension scheme, BUPA Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work scheme, discounted membership of the Sports Centre and Golf Club, and free lunches during term time.

 

If you would like to find out more about this position, we would be keen to hear from you.  For an informal discussion about the role please contact Sonia Bawden, HR Operations Manager on 01202 847231 / email recruitment@canford.com.

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

JOB TITLE: Human Resources Officer

 

REPORTS TO: HR Operations Manager

OVERALL PURPOSE

The Canford Group employs in the region of 600 staff and the role of the Human Resources department is to provide a professional and effective HR function for all member schools ensuring that all practices are compliant with Safer Recruitment, Safeguarding Children, other compliance and legislative requirements.

 

Reporting to the HR Operations Manager and working closely with colleagues in the HR Team, the HR Officer will support Heads of Departments and Line Managers across the Canford Group in the full range of HR activity. Responsibilities include supporting the HR team in leading recruitment processes and safer recruitment checks, providing advice and guidance on day-to-day employment matters, supporting employee relations and wellbeing initiatives, managing appraisals, assisting with training and development, and ensuring HR systems and records are accurate and compliant.

 

The role is key in helping the Canford Group maintain best practice in people management while creating a positive and supportive experience for staff throughout their employment.

 

KEY TASKS

 

Recruitment activity

·     Prepare adverts, liaising with HoDs, advertising agencies and marketing department where necessary and upload details to Access Recruit and social media as required.

·     Ensure recruitment documentation is up to date eg. Job Descriptions, Person Specs etc and Access Recruit is updated

·     Manage the recruitment process ensuring that applicants are notified at every stage using Access Recruit

·     Ensure that references are requested at the appropriate stage (eg prior to interview for teaching staff and at offer for support staff)

·     Arrange interviews and organise interview schedules, ensuring that applicants receive relevant information prior to interview, also that they are advised in advance of the interview process.

·     Supporting managers and assisting in interviews as required

·     Collate feedback from interviews and retain evidence that safer recruitment procedures have been followed.

·     Liaise with the HR Operations Manager and Head of HR with regard to successful candidates, confirming teaching appointments with the Headmaster

·     Working closely with the HR Assistant and HR Administrator, manage and oversee the preparation of offer letters and contracts and ensure that these are sent out as a priority

·     Working closely with the HR Assistant and HR Administrator and using Access Screening manage the process of ensuring all safer recruitment checks are in place prior to an employee’s start date (to include DBS check, online search, references, prohibition checks, overseas checks, prohibition from management checks)

·     Updating the Single Central Register (SCR) with starters, references and other checks.

·     Ensure that My Canford is up to date with all starters, checking that all relevant fields have been completed prior to payroll deadlines.

·     Liaise with HoD on successful candidate, preferred start date etc.

·     Ensure that new support staff receive onboarding information and follow up as necessary.

·     Conduct new staff inductions sessions (to include the New Teaching Staff pre-start visits and induction day at the start of each academic year)

·     Ensure that paper and electronic files are signed off in accordance with the safer recruitment process

 

Employee relations

·     Monitor staff absence, ensuring that absences are recorded correctly on My Canford adding Statement of Fitness for Work notes as required

·     Run monthly absence reports and flag any concerns to the HR Operations Manager / HoD

·     Support Managers as required attending meetings with employees (eg Interviews of Concerns, flexible working requests, first stage formal meetings, redundancy consultations etc) and ensure an accurate record of the meeting is kept

·     In conjunction with the HR Operations Manager and Head of HR, support Heads of Department and Line Managers dealing with any disciplinary, capability and grievance issues including conducting investigations.

·     Deal with staff queries regarding employment matters, contract issues, pay queries etc.

·     Conduct “three month check in” meetings as required

·     Supporting the HR team by conducting Exit and Stay interviews as required

·     Actively promote staff wellbeing, working with other members of the HR team to develop and implement initiatives across the School to support and improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of employees.

 

Administration

·     Support the HR Operations Manager and Head of HR with the preparation and sending out of staff letters (salary changes, resignations, change of hours etc) and ensure Payroll are advised accordingly

·     Ensure that My Canford is updated accurately with any changes

·     Ensure that pay tables are maintained on My Canford and create pay models as required to support with the annual salary review process

·     Ensure that staff files are maintained and archived along with other ad-hoc administrative tasks as required

·     Support the HR team with organization of staff training and development – first aid, inductions, INSET etc

·     Completion of regulatory annual census information in conjunction with the Bursar’s Office and the Head’s Office

 

Disclosure & Barring Service / Safeguarding

·     Ensure DBS checks are in place for all new staff and where check not received prior to employee start date ensure a List 99 and Risk Assessments are carried out and recorded appropriately

·     Process and verify online DBS applications ensuring ID documents have been checked as appropriate

·     Notifying HOD’s when DBS disclosures are returned

 

Appraisals

·     Manage the support staff appraisal process using the appropriate systems

·     Set up staff on the School’s appraisal system

·     Offer support to Line Managers and staff in relation to the appraisal process and appraisal software

 

Systems & Compliance

·     Ensure an up to date awareness of any changes in Employment legislation

·     Ensure that all staff recruitment is compliant with the safer recruitment requirements and recorded accurately on the SCR

·     Ensure that the interview process is carried out in line with safer recruitment requirements and the ACAS code of practice.

·     Ensure an up to date awareness of any changes to the "ISI” and “National Minimum Standards” for independent schools.

·     Ensure that all HR activity is conducted in line with GDPR legislation

·     Support the HR OperationsManager with the management of the HR system, appraisal system and SharePoint

 

Training

·     Support the team in the organisation of group training and events eg. Inset Days, Child Protection and First Aid training.

·     Support HoDs in identifying staff training needs

·     Co-ordinate development needs with the HoDs via appraisals

·     Design and deliver training workshops, eg. Appraisals, Induction etc

 

Other

·     Support the Head of HR in any other HR activity as required – Pension switch, Pension auto-enrolment, TUPE, departmental re-structures, Standards Tracker, salary reviews etc

 

No job description can fully cover all aspects of such an appointment and the responsibilities are likely to expand and evolve.

 

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and encourage applications from a diverse range of suitable qualified candidates

Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 

Job Title:       HR Officer                                     Date: March 2026 Department:  HR	Essential/ Desirable
SELECTION CRITERIA
Qualifications
·       Educated to A-level standard or equivalent ·       CIPD Level 5 or similar proven experience ·       Relevant short courses – employment law, disciplinary processes etc.	E D E
Experience/Knowledge
·       Experience of managing recruitment activity ·       Record of managing employee relations matters ·       Experience of working as a generalist in a large organisation – 450+ staff ·       Dealing with disciplinary and capability cases ·       Experience of managing grievances ·       Training & development, implementation of strategy, TNA, central function ·       Running training sessions, eg managing absence, effective appraisals etc. ·       Management of policies and procedures	E E D E E E D E
Key Skills
·       Excellent communication & interpersonal skills: ·       Ability to work to tight deadlines and to a high level of accuracy ·       Teamwork: - ability to work as part of a small, busy team ·       Demonstrate a high degree of organisation and initiative ·       Ability to be robust yet tactful in chasing staff for responses/input to issues ·       Ability to be robust in ensuring that policies and procedures are adhered to ·       Ability to provide expert advice and support ·       Excellent written and spoken English ·       Excellent IT skills, Word, Excel and ability to use WCBS and other school systems	E E E E E E E E E
Personal Qualities required
·       Organised, able to manage time effectively ·       Natural affinity with attention to detail ·       Proactive and hard working ·       Good team player, flexible and calm under pressure ·       Discreet and tactful in all matters where sensitivity or confidentiality is critical ·       Sympathetic with the aims, objectives and values of an independent school. ·       Friendly and approachable	E E E E E E E
Circumstances
·       Flexible ·       Ability to work full year	E E