Managing induction

What do we mean by staff induction?

Induction is the process used to orientate new colleagues to an organisation and a new role through a variety of planned activities and support over a defined period. This aligns with the probationary period which is normally nine months for academic staff and three to six months for all other staff. Line managers should confirm the length of a new member of staff's probationary period at appointment.

Induction should be undertaken by all staff new to NTU. Colleagues already working at NTU who take up a new role should undertake a modified version of the full programme depending on their existing knowledge, skills and experience.

For whom are these induction resources most relevant
For any manager across NTU planning a new colleague's induction programme:

• see the Managers' Guide to Planning Staff Induction which outlines what to do, and select the checklists most appropriate to your new colleague.

For new staff, and all existing staff who would like an update:

• The Guide to Professional Services at NTU provides a summary of all services available with links to relevant sites on the NTU webpages.
• The Organisational Chart shows the range of Schools and Colleges and members of the Senior Management Team.
• A further organisation map of all services and departments at NTU is currently under development.

Resources:

• Managers' Guide to Planning Staff Induction
• Essential checklist to help develop a programme of items that any new starter will need to know.
• New Managers' checklist outlining the additional information any new manager will need to know.
• Academic Staff Checklist of additional items relevant to new academic staff.
• Guide to Professional Services is for all staff. It highlights where to find key information and support.
• Organisation map of Schools and Colleges
• NTU Strategic Plan - Details NTU's mission, strategic aims, strategic platforms.
• NTU University Calendar where you can find information about key university events and activities.

Are these the only resources we should use?
These are designed to provide you with the basics and with relevant NTU-wide information, which you can then supplement / customise with additional resources specific to your local team, department, School or College. Additional NTU wide resources will be developed as required – and should you have any resources you would like to share with others across NTU, we can include them in this resource. Please email us with details.

What informs our approach to professional development in this area?
Managers are expected to plan and ensure full induction is carried out to enable a new starter to experience a smooth transition and perform effectively in their role quickly.

Based on research carried out by the CIPD we have developed an induction framework of resources to help managers plan a programme that meets a new colleague's needs as defined by their role. These resources are designed to be used flexibly to ensure a programme that meets each individual's needs is developed.

NTU-wide induction events

• New Staff Induction: checklist of essentials for all new staff
  A short one hour welcome event is available to all new colleagues. It is an opportunity for the Vice-Chancellor to welcome new appointees to Nottingham Trent University. He will speak about the University’s mission and strategic aims and outline recent achievements and successes.
• Managers planning induction
  A short two hour course Managing Induction helps line managers to design and plan induction programmes for their staff. The new colleagues induction programme will also include details of any additional local School, College and department events.

Your feedback on induction resources
We welcome any feedback on these resources, including updates or amendments. Please email CPLD enquiries.

Last revised November 2012