Explore the New Additions to the Handsam Library

Updated Quick Guides and Policies

Handsam would like to make you aware of the new or updated Quick Guides you can now access through our Quick Guide Library. We respond to the needs of our customers, through safety issues we encounter on audits or direct requests for content on particular subjects when expanding our resources. This allows us to continue to grow our library around the direct compliance needs of our clients.

Resources to Support Staff Wellbeing

In a recent DfE bulletin, The Education Staff Wellbeing Charter shared how they can help support a whole-school wellbeing culture. The charter was co-created with unions, mental health charities, schools, and colleges to help you create strategies that protect, promote, and enhance staff's wellbeing and mental health.

Handsam has added their guidance to our resources which can be accessed using the term "Well-being" in the topic tag search bar of the Quick Guides Library.

NEW: RAS00 How to Write a Risk Assessment

Many of our clients have contacted us, asking about what they should include in a risk assessment and what exactly are control measures. This guide indicates what should be in a typical risk assessment with an example.

Making risk assessments in the workplace is covered by the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999. There is no law about how risk assessments should be done or recorded, although the HSE has issued guidance on these. By using the guidelines and the exemplar risk assessment below, you should be able to create a robust, comprehensive risk assessment for any activity.

UPDATED POLICY: ST01: Health and Wellbeing

This policy can be used to demonstrate that a school is aware of its duty to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of its staff, as far as reasonably practicable. It is also required to have in place steps to manage those factors that could harm staff members’ physical and mental wellbeing, which includes work related stress.

Although this duty extends only to those factors which are work related and within the school’s control, the school will also take a sympathetic and supportive approach towards employees whose health, safety and wellbeing may be adversely affected by factors outside of the workplace.

UPDATED: Finance Quick Guides

Many of our Finance Quick Guides have been significantly updated. They include:

  • FE16: Charity Trustees
  • FE19: Financial Audits
  • FE20: Schools Financial Value Standard

UPDATED: Managing Staff Quick Guides

Many of our Managing Staff Quick Guides have been significantly updated. They include:

  • ST02 Managing Staff Changing Contractual Terms
  • ST03 Model Job Description
  • ST04 Specified Work
  • ST05 Information and Consultation of Employees
  • ST06 Staff Travel Disruption
  • ST07 Induction of Newly-Qualified Teachers
  • ST12 Staff Handbooks
  • ST16 Tackling Cyberbullying Against Staff
  • ST21 Part Time and Fixed Term Staff: Points of Law
  • ST23 Education Support Partnership
  • ST24 Staff Responsibilities: Job and Person Descriptions
  • ST25 Chartered College of Teaching
  • ST26 Managing Staff Use of Social Media
  • ST27 Whistleblowing
  • ST28 Staff Welfare Review Checklist
  • ST29 Workplace Stress Questionnaire
  • ST30 Volunteering in Schools

UPDATED POLICY: ST10: Example Staff Leave of Absence

This policy details;

  • Leave of absence with pay;
  • Leave of absence without pay;
  • Jury Service;
  • Time off for Family and Dependants;
  • Examinations/Study/Training/Examining/Assessing;
  • Religion of Belief;
  • Reservists;
  • Severe Weather;
  • Time Off in Lieu (TOIL);
  • Medical and Dental Appointments;
  • Carers;
  • Compassionate Leave;
  • Domestic Emergencies;
  • Elective Surgery;
  • Extended Leave for Personal Reasons;
  • Fertility Treatment;
  • Discretionary;
  • Appeals; and
  • Monitoring and Review.

Find out more about our Quick Guides and Policies

The Handsam Quick Guides Library contains over 900 documents with all the relevant information, exemplars, checklists and guidance notes you need to ensure you're up to date, including all the DfE, HSE and other formal resources all in one place. It's unique!

Handsam also offers various different policies packages, including providing you with easy-to-use templates for you to tailor yourselves, reviewing your existing policies, or working with you to deliver fully bespoke policies for your school, college or MAT.

If you're not a Handsam client, or you don't buy our Quick Guides or one of our Policies packages, please contact us to discuss how we can help to keep your organisation compliant.