Orientation Programme for Newly Appointed Staff

The aim of orientation is to help staff assimilate into their new role and surroundings as quickly as possible. Orientation is provided by UCC in three ways; i.e. local level introductions by the school/department, via an on-line web-portal and at a session organised by the Staff Wellbeing and Development (HR).

Participant Group: All Staff

Frequency: Once a Month & Orientation Cafe twice yearly (In light of COVID-19, the Orientation Cafe is temporarily postponed)

Dates: TBC

Duration: TBC

Facilitator: Department of Human Resources

Overview

Orientation aims to introduce new staff to the University, its structures, procedures and community.

Aims:

• To familiarise all new staff with the UCC policies and practices, staff benefits and supports governing.
• To provide an opportunity for new staff to network and establish supportive relationships.

The twice annual Orientation Cafe compliments & completes the regular Orientation programme. Participation is required within twelve months of commencing employment in UCC.

The Orientation Booklet for New Staff is available via the Orientation web-portal and is an essential resource for new staff; designed to provide information for the first few weeks in UCC.

At a local level, new staff should receive support from their Head of School/Department/Discipline, Department Manager and colleagues to develop a more detailed understanding of the work of the department and their job role.

The opportunity to identify any training and development needs should also be facilitated. To this end, a suggested “Local Orientation Checklist” has been included in the Orientation web-portal  and Schools and Departments are encouraged to customise this to local requirements.

Content

• Welcome & Overview of University Structures  & Governance
• Staff Benefits & Supports
• Payroll & UCC Financial System Briefing
• Policy on the Employment and Career management structure for Researchers
• Briefing from your Local HR Manager

Health and Safety Training & Orientation

(Note: The following Health and Safety requirements must be completed in advance of attendance at Orientation)

It is a requirement that newly appointed employees complete the following Health and Safety training as part of orientation.  To enable speedy completion, this Fire Safety and Workstation Ergonomics module is offered online. 

Newly appointed employees must also read the Health and Safety Office’s booklet, Overview of Safety, Health and Welfare at Work at UCC. 

For more information please see the Orientation site.

HR Orientation for Newly Appointed Heads

Participant Group:  Newly appointed Heads of Schools/Heads of Departments/Heads of Units

Dates: For programme topics, dates & times, please see below

Duration: 5 x 2 hour sessions 

Location: via Microsoft Teams

Facilitators: HR Managers

Programme Topics & Dates:

Overview:

This programme run by UCC HR Managers is designed to introduce newly appointed Heads to the full range of HR policies and procedures which are relevant to their role in addition to exploring the role and responsibilities of the Head in relation to the following areas:

• Staffing and Recruitment
• Performance Management
• Leave Management
• Handling Conflict
• Staff wellbeing and Support 

This programme has been developed based on feedback from newly appointed Heads on their requirements to be most effective in the HR aspects of their role.

It offers the opportunity to meet Heads from other areas of the University and to find out about the various HR supports that are available to them during their Headship.

Each participant is offered follow-up coaching as part of the programme.

Participant Feedback includes:

"Thank you for a very useful programme. It has definitely helped me in my Headship role."

"The information on university processes, regulations and supports was very useful to me as a new Head."

"I gained an insight into the challenges of leadership in university management, assertiveness skills as well as a new network."

To book your place, please email traininganddevelopment@ucc.ie

Updated: Nov '20