Parish Toolkit

We provide general information to PCCs about employment and safeguarding matters and signposts to useful resources. However, we are unable to give detailed advice on complex matters which may need specialist advice.

To support you in your journey we have developed a parish toolkit. This toolkit is live and will be kept up to date and enriched with new material from time to time to reflect any employment law changes.

Should you require any further assistance please contact a member of the HR and Safeguarding team, their contact details can be found here.

Choose Section	Link	Heading (raw)	Main Heading	Keywords
Recruitment and selection	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment	Recruitment and selection	1. Recruitment and Selection
Defining the role	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/	Defining the role	1. Recruitment and Selection	Job description personal specification
Attraction	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#attraction	Attraction	1. Recruitment and Selection	advertising salary benefits
Recruitment process	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#process	Recruitment process	1. Recruitment and Selection	shortlisting, interviews, job offers
Contract of employment	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#contract	Contract of employment	1. Recruitment and Selection
General information	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#contract	General information	1. Recruitment and Selection
Fixed-term and temporary contracts	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#fixed-and-temporary	Fixed-term and temporary contracts	1. Recruitment and Selection
Zero hours and casual employees	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#casual	Zero hours and casual employees	1. Recruitment and Selection
Right to work	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#right-to-work	Right to work	1. Recruitment and Selection
Safer recruitment	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#safe	Safer recruitment	1. Recruitment and Selection	references DBS
FAQs	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#faqs	FAQs	1. Recruitment and Selection
Disability and long-term sickness	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#faqs	Disability and long-term sickness	1. Recruitment and Selection	s it ok for me to ask a candidate if they have a disability or have experienced any long-term sickness?
References	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#references	References	1. Recruitment and Selection	Can I request references prior to the interview?
Employing members of the PCC/congregation	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#pcc	Employing members of the PCC/congregation	1. Recruitment and Selection	I would like to employ a member of our PCC to do some bookkeeping for a few hours each week. Is this ok?
Ending fixed-term contracts	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#redundancy	Ending fixed-term contracts	1. Recruitment and Selection	member of staff has been on a fixed-term contract for 3 years and it is coming to an end in two months’ time, are they entitled to a redundancy payment?
Resignation and notice period	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/recruitment/#notice	Resignation and notice period	1. Recruitment and Selection	A member of staff has resigned but does not want to give their full contractual notice, can we insist that they do so?
Employing staff	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff	Employing staff	2. Employing Staff
Legal obligations	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff	Legal obligations	2. Employing Staff
Legislation	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#legislation	Legislation	2. Employing Staff
Payroll	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#payroll	Payroll	2. Employing Staff
Pension	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#pension	Pension	2. Employing Staff
Health and safety	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#health-safety	Health and safety	2. Employing Staff
Insurance	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#insurance	Insurance	2. Employing Staff
Employment Status	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#status	Employment Status	2. Employing Staff	(employees, volunteers, contractors)
Tax	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#tax	Tax	2. Employing Staff	exempt from PAYE
Employment rights	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#rights	Employment rights	2. Employing Staff
Volunteers	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#volunteers	Volunteers	2. Employing Staff
Expenses	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#expenses	Expenses	2. Employing Staff
Remuneration and benefits	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#remuneration	Remuneration and benefits	2. Employing Staff
Employment records, retention periods	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#records	Employment records, retention periods	2. Employing Staff	statutory and non-statutory requirements)
Statutory retention periods	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#statutory-retention	Statutory retention periods	2. Employing Staff
Non-statutory retention periods	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#non-statutory-retention	Non-statutory retention periods	2. Employing Staff
FAQs	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#faqs	FAQs	2. Employing Staff
Self-employment	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#faqs	Self-employment	2. Employing Staff	Our new parish administrator says they would like to be self-employed, is that ok? Our office manager runs their own business at weekends. Can they be self-employed in our parish too?
Organists	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#organists	Organists	2. Employing Staff
Casual workers	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#cash	Casual workers	2. Employing Staff	We run a bar and have a group of casual workers who work occasional shifts as and when required. They are self-employed and paid in cash, is that ok?
Worker status	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employing-staff/#worker-status	Worker status	2. Employing Staff	s there an easy way to establish the status of our workers?
Induction and probation	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/induction-probation	Induction and probation	3. Induction and Probation
Welcome	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/induction-probation/	Welcome	3. Induction and Probation
Probation period	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/induction-probation/#probation	Probation period	3. Induction and Probation	policy and process
Management, policies and procedures	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management	Management, policies and procedures	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Performance management	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/	Performance management	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Capability	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#capability	Capability	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Attendance management	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#attendance	Attendance management	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Grievance	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#grievance	Grievance	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Family-friendly policies	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#family	Family-friendly policies	4. Management, Policies and Procedures	family friendly
Development training	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#development	Development training	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Whistleblowing	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#whistleblowing	Whistleblowing	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
Disciplinary	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/management/#disciplinary	Disciplinary	4. Management, Policies and Procedures
End of employment relationship	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment	End of employment relationship	5. End of Employment Relationship
Leaver process	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/	Leaver process	5. End of Employment Relationship	(payroll, return of equipment, exit interview etc)
Resignations	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/#resignations	Resignations	5. End of Employment Relationship
Retirement	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/#retirement	Retirement	5. End of Employment Relationship
Protected conversations	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/#protected	Protected conversations	5. End of Employment Relationship	or without prejudice
Redundancy	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/#redundancy	Redundancy	5. End of Employment Relationship
References	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/end-of-employment/#references	References	5. End of Employment Relationship
Employment Legislation	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation	Employment Legislation	6. Employment Legislation
The Good Work Plan	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/	The Good Work Plan	6. Employment Legislation
Protection for agency workers	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#protection	Protection for agency workers	6. Employment Legislation
Holiday pay for those with irregular hours	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#holiday-pay	Holiday pay for those with irregular hours	6. Employment Legislation
Increase to statutory rates	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#rates	Increase to statutory rates	6. Employment Legislation
Parental bereavement leave	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#bereavement	Parental bereavement leave	6. Employment Legislation
New immigration system	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#immigration	New immigration system	6. Employment Legislation
Confidentiality and NDAs	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/support-services/human-resources/parish-toolkit/employment-legislation/#confidentiality	Confidentiality and NDAs	6. Employment Legislation
Employing ministers for children, young people and families	https://www.oxford.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/20210306-doc-support-services-parish-employment-of-children-young-people-family-minister-v02.pdf	Employing ministers for children, young people and families	7. Employing Ministers for Children, Young People and Families

Important update - Coronavirus (COVID -19)

For the latest Parish HR updates, please click here.

Parishes have been asking whether they should delay recruitment due to the coronavirus restrictions. We would suggest that you follow the Government advice about preventing unnecessary trips and wherever possible conduct interviews online. You need to balance being able to treat people fairly with ensuring everyone is safe. If you do conduct interviews online, you must still ensure that as part of the process you comply with the rules on Right to Work (and Safer Recruitment as appropriate) making sure you verify the individual’s identity.

Parish Resources
The Parish Resources site has guidance on employing staff, working with volunteers, safeguarding and health and safety.
ACAS
ACAS provides advice and template documents and has a helpline (0300 123 1100).
Health and Safety Executive
The HSE has advice on health and safety matters, risk assessments and accident reporting; and free resources are also available from John Truscott’s site.