Conditions of employment
More details are given in the Terms and Conditions that are sent to staff with their Offer Letter.
back to topSickness or Absence
The University regrets that it will not be able to pay you remuneration in respect of duties not performed as a result of sickness or absence (including public holidays and normal holiday absence). If you are unable to perform the required duties as a result of sickness absence, you may be entitled to statutory sick pay. The University reserves the right to terminate the contract giving appropriate statutory notice if you are unable to complete your duties within the required timescale.
back to topPension Facilities
The University does not provide access to an occupational pension scheme for residential schools staff. Therefore no contracting-out certificate is in place for this employment. The University provides access to a designated Stakeholder Pension provided by Prudential but there is no employer contribution to this arrangement.
Further details of the stakeholder pension referred to above may be obtained from the Pensions Manager, Human Resources, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA.
back to topTermination
Subject to the University's right to terminate the contract summarily without notice in circumstances of gross misconduct, the contract will end automatically on the end date. If the contract is for a duration of four weeks or more one week's pay in lieu of notice is due.
If termination of the contract by way of expiry of contract or otherwise would result in termination of your employment with the University, and you have acquired one year's continuous service with the University, then you will be invited to a meeting to discuss the dismissal. You will be offered a right of accompaniment to the meeting and will be advised of your right of appeal against the dismissal after the meeting.
Whether employment under this contract is terminated by you or by the University, payment will only be made for actual duties completed up to the date of termination.
Employment is strictly for the duration of the contract. If an identical or similar contract becomes available in the future all applicants will be considered on their merits.
back to topRetirement
The normal retirement date under this contract will be your 65th birthday.
Residential schools staff, who are also Associate Lecturers with the University, may continue to hold short term contracts as required by the Regional Director until their "intended retirement date" as provided under their Associate Lecturer contract.
All other staff will retire from the University in accordance with the terms and conditions of their substantive post.
back to topGrievance and disciplinary procedures
If you have any grievance arising from employment by the University at residential school, you should raise it with the course director in the first instance.
The University has an agreed procedure for dealing with the inadequate performance or misconduct of residential school tutorial staff. The University reserves the right to dismiss you from your residential school duties at any time during the school in accordance with the disciplinary procedures. The authority to dismiss is vested in the school director. If an appointment is terminated by the University, payment will be made only for duties completed unless, upon appeal, the validity of the dismissal is not upheld, when the balance of remuneration outstanding will be paid to you.
back to topEmployment with other organisations
The University considers it most important that residential school staff who are in employment elsewhere should be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that their contract with the Open University does not breach the terms and conditions of service under which they are employed.
back to topInsurance
The University is insured in respect of its legal liabilities to and for you. This cover does not apply to incidents arising outside the employee's Open University duties. The University does not insure loss or damage to personal property belonging to you.
If you are likely, in the performance of your duties, to use your private motor vehicle you must ensure that you are insured for the use of the vehicle in connection with your business, trade or profession.
If your motor insurance certificate does not specify cover for business use, you should check with your insurers before undertaking any journey on University business. The University reserves the right to request evidence of insurance cover before paying expenses to you.
back to topAccommodation for family and friends
Your family, spouses or friends cannot be accommodated by The Open University at residential schools; they may neither be given nor share rooms in the accommodation reserved by the University nor take meals in the catering areas set aside for residential school students and staff. Only if you're able to make a private arrangement with the host site, after first obtaining the approval of the host regional director, may families or friends be accommodated on site. Such an arrangement must be made at the staff member's own expense, and accommodation must be found separate from the quarters allocated to the residential school. In no circumstances will children be admitted to residential school areas; indeed, only persons on residential school business will be admitted to those areas. Most host sites bar animals and you should enquire in good time if you have reason to consider bringing a pet.
back to topAccommodation for teaching staff
Free board and lodging will be provided as necessary (see Duration of stay). Permission to be non-resident will be granted only in exceptional circumstances; please Contact us with your request.
back to topAdditional support needs
If you're likely to have any requirement for additional support at residential school(s), such as those in the following list, please complete questions 14, 15 and 16 on the application form.
- Ground-floor accommodation
- Car-parking permit (due to mobility difficulties for instance)
- Equipment such as a bed-board or a non-allergic pillow. Please state what you require
- An assistant*
- A special diet other than vegetarian. Please give details.
- Any other support needs. Please give details.
Such information will not prejudice your application. It may be used to assign you to a particular residential school (if there is a choice of venues). The sites vary in their suitability for different people, and it will help us to make arrangements similar to those made for students who have need for additional support. The booklet Meeting your residential school needs, available from any regional centre, may be helpful to you. It gives general information about the sites and about the equipment that The Open University has in stock.
*If you require an assistant at residential school (perhaps because you use a wheelchair or have impaired sight) and cannot bring your own assistant, the University may be able to supply one from its register of assistants. Accommodation, meals and travel expenses for assistants are provided by the University.
back to topDuration of stay
For one-week residential schools you will usually be expected to arrive before lunch on the Saturday and to leave at the end of teaching sessions on the following Friday (usually tea-time). For reasons of economy, staff are not encouraged to stay over the Friday night at the end of their residential school appointment. If you are appointed for two weeks you will be given full board over the Friday evening and Saturday morning between the two weeks and no expenses will be paid for returning home for the Friday night. The timetable for your school will be sent to you before the school begins.
back to topEligibility to work in the UK
You must be eligible to work in the UK. If you have not worked for The Open University previously, you will be required to provide proof that you are eligible to work in the UK in accordance with section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
Either one document from list one or two documents from list two are required.
List one
- A passport showing that you are a British citizen, or have a right of abode in the UK
- A national passport or national identity card showing that you are a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or of Switzerland
- A residence permit issued by the UK showing that you are a national of an EEA country or of Switzerland
- A passport or other document issued by the Home Office which has an endorsement stating that you have a current right of residence in the UK as the family member of a national of an EEA country or of Switzerland who is resident in the UK
- A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that you can stay indefinitely in the UK, or have no time limit on your stay
- A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that you can stay in the UK, and that, if you do not have a work permit, you are allowed to do the type of work that the University is offering you
- An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Office to an asylum seeker stating that you are permitted to take employment.
List two
- A document giving your permanent National Insurance number and name. This could be: a P45 or P60 issued by a previous employer; a National Insurance card; or a letter from a relevant government agency
Please note that temporary NI numbers (beginning with TN), and numbers ending in a letter from E to Z inclusive, are not valid for this purpose.
You'll also need any one of the following:
- A full birth certificate issued in the UK, which includes the names of your parents
- A birth certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or Ireland
- A certificate of registration or naturalisation stating that you are a British Citizen
- A letter issued to you by the Home Office indicating that you can stay indefinitely in the UK, or have no time limit on your stay
- An immigration status document issued to you by the Home Office with an endorsement indicating that you can stay indefinitely in the UK, or have no time limit on your stay
- A letter issued to you by the Home Office indicating that you can stay in the UK and that you are allowed to do the type of work that the University is offering you.
If you have not worked at The Open University before, you will not be able to begin employment until these checks have been carried out. Please ensure all documentation are originals - photocopies are not sufficient.
Workers from any of the European Union member states have a right to work in the UK, but nationals from Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungry, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia must obtain a registration certificate from the Home Office within a month of starting employment. To apply for a registration certificate, you will be required to complete an application form, enable the Residential Schools Team to take a photocopy and then send it with your contract to the Home Office. The University will receive notification direct from the Home Office. If you require further information, please Contact us.
- From 1 January 2007 Bulgaria and Romania will join the European Union, appointment offers for these nationals will be subject to Employees being able to satisfy Government work permit requirements.
back to topHealth and safety
Whilst working at residential schools, you must comply with appropriate legal requirements, the University's health and safety policy, guidance issued by enforcing authorities, host site health and safety arrangements, and instructions given by supervisory staff to ensure personal safety.
You must take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others affected by your actions. The course director must be informed of any situation that could be considered a serious threat to health and safety, or if there is a serious shortcoming in health and safety arrangements.
You should not undertake any task for which appropriate authorisation and/or training has not been received.
You must make yourself aware of local health and safety arrangements and emergency procedures, and must refrain from damaging, misusing or interfering with anything that has been provided for health and safety reasons.
There's more information in the Manual of Office Procedures for Residential Schools (MOP A3.3), held in residential school offices. You're encouraged to consult the manual for advice before you begin teaching.
back to topHealth care
Open University travel insurance
The Open University has arranged world-wide travel insurance, which includes medical cover, for all staff travelling outside of their country of residence on University business. This insurance also extends to provide coverage in respect of residential school staff. Further details will be provided with your contract.
Health care cover in the European Economic Area (EEA)
Staff resident in the EEA are also advised to bring a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them when attending a school outside of their country of residence. UK residents can apply for an EHIC at the Post Office, online at www.ehic.org.uk or by telephone on 0845 606 2030. The EHIC provides free or reduced-cost emergency treatment during your stay.
back to topSmoking
In accordance with the University's policy on smoking, all dining and teaching areas (including laboratories) at residential schools will be no-smoking areas. At some schools other public rooms will also be no-smoking areas, and this will be made clear in the venue information sent to you with your contract and by notices posted at the school.
back to topTeaching materials
You will not be reimbursed for the cost of hire or purchase or transport of teaching materials.