Weds 25th Feb 2026 – Employment Law Basics
Weds 11th Mar 2026 – Recruitment and Day-to-Day Management
Weds 25th Mar 2026 – Managing Conflict and Difficult Situations
at 6-7.30pm on Zoom
£20 per session / £50 for the package of three (invoice to councils after the course/s)
Your council’s responsibilities as an employer can’t be understated. It’s crucial to understand the processes and procedures that a council should embed for the successful and lawful employment of staff and to be ready to deal with any potential difficulties. This training will help build or consolidate your knowledge and will hopefully inspire you to make sure your council has all the relevant HR processes in place.
The training is a package of 3 online (Zoom) sessions and is suitable for both councillors and clerks/HR staff. Bookings for all 3 sessions as a package is encouraged but separate bookings for the individual courses is also possible.
Session 1: Employment Law Basics
Weds 25th Feb 2026 6 – 7.30pm
- Why employment law matters and the costs of getting it wrong – examples of tribunal cases which are increasing and financial awards for sex discrimination and unfair dismissals
- Key legal obligations: Written statements, national minimum wage, working time regulations, pensions, local govt salary scales
- Understanding discrimination: Protected characteristics, direct/indirect discrimination, harassment, victimisation
- Essential HR policies and confidentiality in HR matters
- What’s on the horizon: Employment Rights Bill highlights
Session 2: Recruitment and Day-to-Day Management
Weds 11th Mar 2026 6 – 7.30pm
- Recruitment essentials: Job adverts, descriptions, person specifications, selection/interviews, probationary periods
- Setting up an HR committee (chair as employee contact point)
- Managing the basics: Holidays, breaks, sickness absence
- Flexible working requests (establishing council approach)
- Appraisals and performance management
Session 3: Managing Conflict and Difficult Situations
Weds 25th Mar 2026 6 – 7.30pm
- When things go wrong: Overview of disciplinary and grievance procedures
- The unique challenges for councils: Employee-councillor complaints, “multiple boss” risks, small team dynamics
- Conducting fair investigations
- The importance of consistency and documentation
- Knowing when to seek external advice
- Restructures
- Redundancies
- Capability issues
OUR PRESENTERS will be
Durham County Council’s HR team
For booking on individual courses
Book here for Session 1 Employment Law Fundamentals Weds 25th Feb 6pm
Book here for Session 2 Recruitment and Day to Day Management Weds 11th Mar 6pm
Book here for Session 3 Managing Conflict and Difficult Situations at 6pm
Bookings for all 3 sessions as a package is encouraged but separate bookings for the individual courses is possible. When booking the package, a council can send a different person to each course and we don’t need to know for certain at the point of booking who they are. We would expect you to inform us, with email contact details, at least 48 hours prior to each course.
COSTS:
£50 for all 3 sessions
£20 for an individual session
Invoices to councils afterwards
Please note
Registration and cancellations will close 48 hours before each course. After this time all live bookings will be charged whether the person attends or not, but non attendees will be sent the presentation.
Please note that when booking, the Zoom link for the training will appear on the confirmation screen and participants are advised to save this, although the Zoom link will also be sent out a few days before the event.
Participants are asked to ensure that they are named in Zoom, so that they are identifiable.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Should you require any further information or have any queries please contact us at cdalc@durham.gov.uk.