Secondment Policy - January 2023

16. Managing the Secondment Arrangement

Day to day line management responsibility of the secondee is held with the line manager in the host department/employer.  Where the employee is seconded to an external organisation, the overall management of the seconded employee remains the responsibility of the Authority.

If issues of discipline, capability, sickness absence, behavioural standards or grievance occur during the secondment period the host department/organisation must ensure that issues of concern are discussed with the employee and the substantive department at the earliest opportunity.  It is the line manager from the substantive department’s responsibility to invoke the appropriate Authority procedure.

It is important that the line managers from the parent and host department meet with the secondee on a 3 monthly basis to review the secondment during the secondment period.  This will enable clear communication, the agreement of objectives during the secondment, the support to be offered to the secondee and to ensure any concerns can be addressed at the earliest opportunity so parties benefit from the secondment experience.

If a restructure or redundancy situation arises that impacts on the seconded employee’s substantive post, it is the line manager from the parent department’s responsibility to ensure the employee is communicated and consulted on the implications in line with the Authority’s Restructuring or Redundancy Policy.