This modular programme (6 day) is designed to provide SME owners / managers with the basic skills and knowledge needed to build and manage a small team effectively and within the law. This programme may be taken as a whole or in individual modules. Objectives: By the end of the programme participants will: • Understand their basic obligations with regard to employment law • Have an understanding of the records they are required to keep for employees • Have the knowledge and tools to facilitate the decision to employ • Be equipped with the knowledge and skills to make sound hiring decisions • Understand the basics of team dynamics and their role in leading a team • Have some knowledge of performance management methods • Be able to run meetings effectively • Have the skills and knowledge to handle conflict situations constructively • Understand the procedure when considering redundancies Programme Outline / Modules: • NERA & Employment Law in practice – the basics o Employment Compliance Environment o NERA – what is happening now o NERA and the future of employment compliance o Key recording requirements o Impact and penalties • Making the decision to employ staff? o How do you know the time is right? o How do you get the right person? o Your obligations to them o Their obligations to you – what to expect o What if it doesn't work out? • The recruitment and selection process o Defining your needs o Sourcing candidates o Interviewing and your business o The planning phase o Getting the information you need o Closing the interview o Making the decision • Leading your team o Qualities of an effective leader o What is a team? o Roles and responsibilities o Benefits of building an effective team o Team performance and skills • Performance matters o Why have a process to manage performance? o Overview of the process o Benefits of performance appraisal o Communication skills o The appraisal structure and preparation o The Discussion o Problems that arise • Effective Meetings o Meetings – what and why o Making meeting work for you o Meeting types o Roles and responsibilities o Leading a meeting • Dealing with conflict o Conflict in context o Resolution roles o Strategies for handling o Different styles o Outcomes • Redundancy – what you need to know o Redundancy legislation – an overview of requirements o How to get redundancies right the first time o Learning from emerging trends | 
