Tel: (01624) 685820

The Corporate Services Division is responsible for providing the Department of Education and Children's human resources, administrative, legal and health and safety services, transport and media relations.

The key functions include:

• Developing and maintaining strategies, policies and procedures in line with Department priorities, legislative requirements and best practice
• Business planning
• Workforce planning, including leading the Department's restructuring, redeployment and redundancy programme
• Promoting communications between employees and management through joint consultative and negotiating committee
• Ensuring that the Department fulfils is statutory responsibilities, that Department legislation meets its requirements and producing draft instructions in respect of all new legislation required by the Department
• Monitoring the employment of children and ensuring compliance with the Employment of Children Regulations
• Issuing licences for children appearing in entertainment
• Providing advice, guidance and assistance to schools, services, Education Council members, school governors and members of the public on Department legislation, policies and procedures
• Business continuity planning
• Administering the Department's endowment funds
• Maintaining media relations
• Events organisation
• Providing transport for children with special needs
• Monitoring pupil attendance and working with schools in identifying and addressing pupil attendance issues. Handling prosecutions, where necessary
• Providing health and safety advice, guidance, support and training for Department staff, Education Council members and school governors and undertaking health and safety audits, reviews and accident investigation
• Managing and operating the Department's Professional Development Centre at Santon
• Providing school swimming services
• Providing modern foreign language advice and support for schools
• Project development
• Handling the Department's insurance responsibilities and processing insurance claims
• Arranging leasing contracts and the disposal of properties no longer required
• Organising exclusion hearings and appeals in respect of admissions and suspensions
• Handling official complaints against the Department, its services, schools and the College