Often managers and other staff have to deal with difficult staffing issues. One of the most difficult jobs is dealing with disciplinary matters and in particular deciding on the fine line between negligence and incapability. The balancing act of being fair to students and also to colleagues is an uncomfortable one, but there may come a time when you need to use formal procedures to improve the situation.

This programme will allow any staff members who may find themselves in a position where they have to deal with disciplinary and capability issues to decide when to instigate formal procedures, to develop strategies to mitigate this situation and to put together a support programme – before it is too late.

The programme will be tailor-made to your own procedures in college but will normally include:

• Distinguishing between capability and disciplinary issues
• Addressing difficult behaviour in colleagues
• The formal and informal stages of the capability procedure
• Handling investigations related to disciplinary procedures
• Gross misconduct and suspension – and the role of college senior staff
• Handling dismissal regardless of the circumstances
• Supporting the rest of the team after a situation has arisen

  The programme is being developed so that it will be mapped to NVQ 5 management units.