Staff Development
Induction Checklist for Managers
Members of staff new to SOAS will need guidance, support and information in order to
establish themselves quickly as an effective member of the School community.
The head of department (academic department or support services) is responsible for
inducting new members of staff locally, but much of this process may be delegated to the
starter’s line manger. The delegated person should be clearly identified and will be
responsible for planning and leading the local induction.
The contents and extent of the programme will depend on the post and may vary. The
checklist below is designed to suggest general action points. There is a separate induction
checklist for the new staff member.
All new staff should also attend the central new staff orientation programme run by the
staff development office. Details of upcoming dates can be found on the staff development
web pages.
Name of new member of staff …………………………………………….……
Job title ……………………………………….
Start date…………………….
Person responsible for the local induction …………………………………
1
Staff Development Office
School of Oriental and African Studies, Room 472
E-mail – staffdevelopment@soas.ac.uk
Manager’s Induction Checklist
Done
[]
Activity / Task
Notes
Before Arrival
Consult with HR before the letter is sent.

Find out from HR about time of arrival
on the first day, who to report to etc.

Confirm date of next School induction
& book a place
Inform staff member on arrival date of
induction

Ensure all basic equipment / furniture
is in place to enable staff member to
perform duties (Estates)
Includes: stationery, office key, phone, name
plate on door (if necessary), diary
Identify and prepare any special needs
equipment and/or access etc.
Configure computer and set up email address
and password. Obtain password for other
applications / access to relevant drives / load
other programmes
All staff email to include job title, role, date of
commencement, name, area of responsibility
and/or a more specific email to relevant
Department(s)
Inform post room,
Allocate specific time in your diary for this
Ensure workstation is ready (IT dept)


Inform relevant staff / other
Departments about the new staff
member

Draft induction plan for the first day /
week

Arrange meetings with key relevant
staff
Prepare pack of relevant information
to read / review


Appoint someone in the Department
to be a mentor for the initial period of
employment
e.g. Dean, Head of Department / Service
Area,, Faculty Administrator etc – make
appointments as necessary
Include prospectus, academic staff handbook,
Departmental handbook(s), copy of job
description, list of staff in the Faculty /
Department, email addresses / internal
phonebook etc, roles and duties of other team
members, calendar of events, list of key post
holders
Make sure that the mentor has freed up some
time for this purpose and is aware of their role.
2
Staff Development Office
School of Oriental and African Studies, Room 472
E-mail – staffdevelopment@soas.ac.uk
Done
[]
Activity / Task
Notes
First day / week


Be there to greet the new member
of staff when they arrive.
Accompany member of staff to
obtain staff id card
Check relevant HR forms have
been completed; attend HR First
day meeting
Demonstrate use of phone and
voicemail




Introduce staff member to
colleagues
Introduce mentor (if assigned)
Introduction / tour of the building
Location of equipment


SOAS Web site
Discussion of the terms of
employment

Discussion of duties / job
description (included in probation
documentation)

Take letter of employment to library membership
desk to get ID card
Ask them also to contact the Payroll and Pensions
manager for advice on superannuation issues.
Include: picking up other phones (if on relay),
standard greeting when answering, dialling
internally and externally, calling the operator
Inform them of their own / colleagues extension
numbers
Should also include colleagues in other
Departments
An initial meeting could be arranged separately
with the new employee and mentor
Location of other Departments, canteen, toilets,
SCR, library, notice boards, student shop etc.
 Include fax, copier etc. Demonstrate how to
use equipment and any passwords / code
locks needed.
 IT systems – internet, intranet, use of
computers and email – policy
 Location of stationery supplies – how to order
it.
 Post – sending internal and external mail
Show how to navigate round the site and look for
key information; locate own web section/
department pages
Agree hours (start/finish times – bearing in mind
other team members). Tea/lunch breaks. Annual
leave/study leave. Procedures for reporting
absences, sickness, when a medical note is
required.
Ensure that new staff member knows what is
expected of them – discuss expectations and
standards, goals and objectives.
Set context within Dept/Faculty and within overall
mission of SOAS. An awareness of how their role
relates to the overall aims of the Dept/School.
A brief discussion of the annual cycle of events &
what happens at various points throughout the
3
Staff Development Office
School of Oriental and African Studies, Room 472
E-mail – staffdevelopment@soas.ac.uk
year. Upcoming events and tasks.

Discussion of the probationary
procedure and staff development
review

Allow time for reading of induction
pack


Discussion of health and safety
issues
Equal opportunities
First tasks



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Meetings with key staff members
(organised prior to arrival)
Governance
Allow time towards the end of the
week for an informal ‘progress
discussion’
Diarise probationary review dates and initial
weekly meetings to discuss progress; Outline
immediate training / development needs and
future staff development opportunities
Could include; prospectus, Dept/Faculty
handbooks, guidance for academic staff, policies
and procedures
Health and safety policy. Fire drills / location of
emergency exits / extinguishers, nearest first
aider.
Provide a copy of the equal opportunities policy
statement
Assign and explain first tasks, indicating where
information and help can be obtained
These meetings can help the inductee understand
the wider context in which they work and provide
network opportunities.
Discuss Department management & meetings /
School committees
How is it going?
First Month and Beyond



Schedule regular meetings to
discuss progress and clarify
objectives (part of probation
process)
Review duties / responsibilities to
ensure that they are still
appropriate.
Other Departments and their
relationships to the area of work.
Work is assessed and discussed - review
progress and provide constructive feedback.
These meetings will feed into the probationary
review procedure and future staff development
reviews.
Check whether the inductee has any specific
request regarding their job.
Discuss as necessary.
4
Staff Development Office
School of Oriental and African Studies, Room 472
E-mail – staffdevelopment@soas.ac.uk