A-Z Policy Directory

Recruitment and Selection Policy

Policy

DOCUMENT DETAILS

Document Owner Human Resource Services
Approval Date 23 March 2021
Release Date 19 April 2021
Compliance Date 19 April 2021
Review Date 1 March 2022
   

introduction and context

INTRODUCTION

Policy in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) is developed to support the implementation of consistent and comprehensive practices to guide quality Catholic learning and teaching in systemic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.

Policy is developed within the context of documents and frameworks. These include:

CONTEXT

Recruitment and selection practices are critical in ensuring that Catholic schools are staffed by the most appropriately skilled, knowledgeable, qualified and competent staff. Succession planning is key to ensuring sustainability of the organisation and the recruitment and selection of staff plays an important role in this.

The recruitment and selection of staff is based on the core principles of:

  • evidence-based and procedurally fair decision making
  • open and transparent declaration of conflicts of interest and
  • student-centred decision making.

This Policy has been developed to comply with the NSW/ACT Catholic Systemic School Employees Enterprise Agreement, as negotiated, and supports school staff in meeting their compliance obligations according to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW).

EXPECTATIONS

It is expected that CEDoW staff will take all reasonable measures to comply with this Policy.

The CEDoW Recruitment and Selection Policy must be implemented in conjunction with the following policies where relevant: 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Human Resource Services is responsible for the management of recruitment, selection and employment processes for Principals, Assistant Principals, Religious Education Coordinators as well as staff of the Catholic Education Office (CEO).

The Head of Human Resource Services:

  • manages the recruitment process and chairs interview panels for Principals in consultation with the relevant Head of School Improvement Services
  • manages the recruitment process and chairs interview panels for Assistant Principals in consultation with the relevant Head of School Improvement Services and the Principal.

The Leadership and Professional Growth (LPG) Team Leader or delegate:

  • manages recruitment process and chairs interview panels for Religious Education Coordinators in consultation with the Head of Catholic Life, Education and Mission Services and the Principal
  • supports schools with recruitment processes for Senior School Support Officers and Middle Leaders (2 and 3 point) in consultation with the relevant Head of School Improvement Services
  • provides support for the recruitment of other school staff on request.

Human Resource Services:

  • manages the recruitment processes for CEO Staff in consultation with the relevant Head of Service
  • makes announcements to CEO and school communities for staff appointed to Senior Leadership Positions.

The Recruitment and Payroll Services (RAPS) Team:

  • supports CEO and schools with recruitment processes for all teaching and non-teaching positions.

Human Resource Services:

1   APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION COORDINATORS

PRINCIPALS MUST:
1.1

adhere to the CEDoW staffing formula when discerning the nature of the position to be advertised

1.2

adhere to the CEDoW Leadership Recruitment Procedure

1.3

liaise with relevant Human Resource Services personnel throughout the recruitment process

       
STAFF MUST:
1.4

apply for suitable positions using the CEDoW online recruitment tool

1.5

provide accurate and certified documentation in relation to:

  1.5.1 qualifications
  1.5.2  employment history
  1.5.3 addressing advertised essential criteria
       

2   APPOINTMENT OF MIDDLE LEADER (2 AND 3) AND SENIOR SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICER POSITIONS

PRINCIPALS MUST:
2.1

adhere to the CEDoW staffing formula when discerning the nature of the position to be advertised

2.2 adhere to the CEDoW Leadership Recruitment Procedure
2.3

liaise with Leadership and Professional Growth Team personnel to support the recruitment process and to chair the panel as appropriate

         
STAFF MUST:
2.4

apply for suitable positions using the CEDoW online recruitment tool

2.5

provide accurate and certified documentation in relation to:

  2.5.1 qualifications
  2.5.2 employment history
  2.5.3 addressing advertised essential criteria
       

3   APPOINTMENT OF OTHER SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS

PRINCIPALS MUST:
3.1

adhere to the CEDoW staffing formula when discerning the nature of the position to be advertised

3.2 adhere to the CEDoW School Staff Recruitment Procedure
       
STAFF MUST:
3.3

apply for suitable positions using the CEDoW online recruitment tool

3.4

provide accurate and certified documentation in relation to:

  3.4.1 qualifications
  3.4.2 employment history
  3.4.3 addressing advertised essential criteria
       

Procedure

 

CEDoW School Staff Recruitment Procedure

CEDoW Leadership Recruitment Procedure

CEDoW CEO Staff Recruitment Procedure  [in development]

 

Implementation

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION policy IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

POLICY RELEASE

  • The Recruitment and Selection Policy was released to schools on 19 April 2021 (following consultation with principals at the March 2021 Principals' Business Meetings)

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

  • Schools are expected to have full implementation of the Recruitment and Selection Policy and relevant Procedures specified in the Policy by 19 April 2021.
  • Any school that determines they are not able to implement all Expectations at any time must contact the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy.
  • Schools’ compliance to the Policy expectations occurs through the CEDoW Compliance processes.
  • Additional compliance processes may be utilised if concerns are raised about the quality of recruitment and selection processes at the School or Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) level.

POLICY MONITORING

  • Personnel in Human Resource Services are responsible for providing advice to the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy of any changes to compliance requirements.  
  • A formal evaluation process of the Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedures will be conducted in March 2022.

POLICY PUBLICATION

  • The Recruitment and Selection Policy and Procedures is published on the CEDoW website on the Policy Directory.  The Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy will be responsible for ensuring the Policy’s version currency and accuracy.
  • Schools should contact the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy for any clarifications regarding Policy and Procedures.
  • Schools should contact Human Resource Services for support in the implementation of any aspects of the Policy.

Legislation

Anti-Discrimination Act 1977  (NSW)
https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/act/1977/48

Fair Work Act 2009  (Cth)
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2017C00323

 

Related Links

NSW Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/teacher-accreditation/how-accreditation-works/guide-to-accreditation/professional-standards

 

Support material

Resources to support the implementation of this Policy is available to schools and teachers

CEDoW Recruitment and Selection Support Material  which is inclusive of:

CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Advertising Requirements
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Panel Composition
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Interview Process
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Role of Panel
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Interview Schedule
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Candidate Assessment
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Ranking and Recommendation
CEDoW Recruitment and Selection: Chair Interview Run Sheet

REferee forms

Referee Report Form (Non-Teaching and New Graduates) – download here
Referee Check Form (Teaching) – download here

POLICY SELF-ASSESSMENT

The Recruitment and Selection Policy School Self-Assessment is provided to support schools in their implementation of all Policy expectations.
Download the School Self-Assessment here [Download as a Word doc, or complete the self-assessment in Google doc format by selecting 'Open with Google Docs' then going to File > Make a Copy]