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    • Central Team Services

    Central Team Services – The Sovereign Trust

    Supporting our schools in their day to day management and administration is key to ensuring that children and their staff perform at their best. Leaders are free to lead teaching and the Central Team supports schools to run an efficient operation. Our Central Team has expertise in finance, HR, governance, premises, ICT and school business administration.

    Our Core offer to all Academies within our Trust includes:

    FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT

    • Monthly

    management Accounts

    • Internal and external audit

    • Budget monitoring and forecasting

    • EFSA compliance and regulatory returns

    • Bank reconciliations

    • Budget/ payroll reconciliation

    • Completion of 3-year forecast

    • Month end procedures

    • Latest guidance EFSA

    • Attendance at Trustees meetings when required

    • Prediction of income streams

    • Evidencing VFM procurement

    • Cash flow forecasting

    • Team training

    • Third party reconciliation

    • Staffing Scenarios

    • Invoice payment processing

    • Capital accounting

    • VAT reports and reclaims

    • Advice and guidance

    • Strategic financial management

    • Finance policies provided

    • Debt management

    • Financial best practice

    PAYROLL

    PROCUREMENT

    • Third party payments made to HMRC

    • Support and guidance

    • Payroll reconciliations completed

    • Support to ensure procurement compliance

    • Electronic payslips provided for all staff

    • Compliant tendering processes

    • Payroll checking reports

    • EFSA financial handbook compliant

    • Teachers’ pension end of year certificates

    • Central contracts register held at trust level

    • All pay queries dealt with centrally

    • School level support with purchases

    • Maternity and paternity pay

    HR SUPPORT

    • Dedicated HR advisor

    • Advice on Redundancies and redeployment

    • Attendance and reports for LGB meetings as required

    • Assistance with recruitment and advertising

    • Support and attendance at staff HR meetings

    • Liaison with LA's and other agencies as required

    • Staff absence and management

    • Staff issues including harassment, bullying and grievances

    • Occupational Health Advice and support

    • Job descriptions and person specifications

    • Latest guidance and legislation

    • Maternity and Paternity advice

    • All HR policies provided and updated

    • Allegations against staff support

    • Support with the TUPE process when converting

    • Staff well-being support

    • Job advertising

    • Child care vouchers

    • Coaching and mentoring

    • Support the DBS process

    • Dedicated employment solicitor

    • Human resource planning

    PREMISES/ HEALTH AND SAFETY

    • Outsourced H&S advisor

    • Assistance with management of legionella and asbestos

    • Audit visits

    • Procurement of contractors for major works

    • Regular inspections

    • Project management of site work

    • Guidance on latest regulations

    • Ensuring schools are compliant with statutory checks

    • All H&S policies provided

    • Sourcing suppliers for specialised equipment

    • Attendance at termly audit meetings with HS rep

    • Vetting of contractors and method statements

    • Advice on property and land matters

    • Liaison with grounds teams and maintenance

    GOVERNANCE AND CLERKING

    SCHOOL DATA SUPPORT

    • Clerking of Trustees meetings

    • Statutory data returns

    • Governor recruitment support

    • Support for termly census submission

    • GDPR DPO officer

    • Trust wide performance and tracking data support via a third party

    • Support annual skills audit

    • National curriculum assessment tools and data transfer support

    • Business interest register maintained

    		  

    BUSINESS SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

    ICT

    • Training and support of all school admin staff when required

    • Effective ICT infrastructure

    • Guidance on processes and tasks for all admin staff

    • Day to day support with any ICT issues

    • Newly converted schools support

    • Creation and management of school email addresses

    • Training on MIS relevant to the school and smooth transition to Trust MIS

    • Support with management of school websites to ensure compliance

    • Access to latest policies and guidance

    • Network safety and filtering
     

    • Hardware maintenance
     

    • Telephones and broadband procurement
     

    • ICT licences
     

    • Managed print support
     

    • Cybersecurity management and audits
     

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