Getting it Right –
Volunteers & Employment
Liz Geddes
Director of Human Resources
Diocese of Chester
liz.geddes@chester.anglican.org
01928 718834 Extn 240
Introduction
• Best practice
• Look to get it right on future occasions
• Undertake risk assessment on current
situations
• Verbal contracts exist in the absence of
written contracts or agreements
Resource available
• Just Employment document
• Funded by the Church Urban Fund
• Written on behalf of the Dioceses of
Chester, Liverpool and Manchester
• Available via Cufx website (suggested
donation)
• Available via Diocesan website – HR
section (free of charge)
Establish type of worker
• Employee on a Contract of Employment
• Self-employed worker on Contract for
Services
• Volunteer
Employee vs Self Employed
• Not the worker’s choice!
• Responsibility for Tax and National
Insurance contributions
• Employee benefits & statutory provisions –
paid holiday, eligible for sick pay,
maternity, paternity, adoption and family
emergency benefits, right to apply to an
employment tribunal
Employee test
• Control – who makes the decisions?
• Organisation test – extent that the person
is integrated into the organisation
• Equipment – does the employee provide
their own equipment?
• Service / person – can the service be subcontracted?
• See Inland Revenue website for
interactive guide – ESI tool
Organists
• Should be employees as default position
• Recent Case law
• Use RSCM contract template – can be
downloaded from website (for a fee)
Employees
• Recruitment in accordance with Equal
Opportunities policy – process should be fair
and transparent
• Occupational Requirement – is it determining
and proportionate? Employment Equality
(Religion & Belief) Regulations 2003
(subsequently amended)
• Responsibility of PCC as employer
• Formal paperwork
• Not a Trustee
Paperwork & Documents
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Contract of Employment
Job Description
Person Specification
Policies
Suggested templates available from
diocese & via Just Employment
• Payroll – comply with RTI (Real Time
Information)
Volunteers
• Essential to the operation of many
charities and projects
• Give their time freely
• Status – not employees
• Relationship should be non-contractual
• Receive re-imbursement of expenses
Volunteer Policy
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Introduction / Aims of the project
Ethos
Recruitment
Volunteer roles & responsibilities
Expenses
Induction & training
Supporting & supervising volunteers
Insurance and Health & Safety
Equal Opportunities
Confidentiality
Paperwork & Documents
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Non-contractual language
Set boundaries
Determines expectations
Defines commitment required
Volunteer role description
Person specification
Volunteer agreement
Checks
• Disclosure & Barring service checks (DBS)
offered free of charge for voluntary
positions
• NB. Do NOT offer a position subject to a
clear DBS Disclosure
• References
• Trial period
Expenses for volunteers
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Genuinely incurred
Necessary for the work
Wholly for the work
Adequately documented
Type of expenditure allowed free of tax by
the Inland Revenue
Getting it wrong!
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£££££££
Stress
Time consuming
Adverse publicity
Effect on Church Family members
Help available from Ecclesiastical
Insurance Group
Any questions?