Service – A specialist HR advice service available to Members of the GP Care Network at discounted rates. If you have HR issues or want to discuss improving your HR infrastructure then call GP Care on 0845 625 2103 for a FREE INITIAL DISCUSSION.
So how does it work? GP practices, like many small businesses, are not sufficiently large enough to employ a full-time HR specialist. However, the risks and exposure to events such as being taken to employment tribunals or expensive disciplinary procedures exist and are very real.
At GP Care you have access to highly qualified and experienced HR professionals to provide an affordable solution to the problem of keeping up to date.
From as little as £255/month, your practice can have its own ‘retained’ HR department offering tailored guidance and support, giving you peace of mind that you are fully compliant and remain so on an ongoing basis. The advice focuses on the practical, identifying what you can do to resolve matters, rather than list what you can’t.
As soon as you join the HR retainer scheme you will be allocated a GP Care HR Specialist who will visit the practice and spend at least half a day with you conducting a full HR Audit. This will assess any areas of exposure or vulnerability. It will also give you the chance to get to know your allocated consultant and talk through any areas of concern. Areas which you may want to review include:
- Job descriptions/ Contracts
- Staff handbooks
- Appraisals and objective setting
- Staff selection/ promotion
- Maternity pay/ cover
- Staff relations
Continuing support will be provided by telephone and email, with a maximum of one half day surgery visit, six times a year.
In addition, GP Care can offer specific project work for the following areas:
- Change management: Particularly relevant if you are undergoing a period of high staff turnover or joining forces with another practice
- Staff appraisals: Often a weak area in management but critical in a successful practice
- Managing difficult people: This is more of a training workshop for front line staff and managers
- Recruitment: GP Care HR professionals will help with selection, interviewing and job description, where necessary running ‘assessment centre’ style activities and psychometric testing
Reference – One GP who has responsibility for HR in her Practice and who uses the retainer service has said "I have been really impressed with the service our Practice has received from the GP Care HR Team. It has been practical, helpful, and good value for money. It is reassuring to know that we can tap into some real expertise when we need it."
Cost – Services are provided on a 'retainer' basis or a 'pay as you go' basis and will be subject to the size of the practice and scope of the advice being sought. Retainers are currently £255 per month with additional support being provided at £127.50 per hour.
Provider – This Service is provided by GP Care's own in-house HR team, led by Linda Chick. Linda is a member of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the British Psychological Society, and has in excess of 35 years experience providing professional pragmatic HR support in commercially dynamic and challenging environments.
Action – If you are looking to improve your HR infrastructure to better protect your practice's interests and/or increase the efficiency of your team structure or you would like to discuss a particular HR issue to get some initial guidance, then please contact Linda Chick on 0845 625 2103 for a free initial discussion.
For further information please call GP Care on 0117 956 2100 or email us at info@gpcare.org.uk.
