Casework
Have a workplace issue? Here's some guidance to support you....
Workplace issues can be scary, and we are here to support you, but it is important that you receive support at the correct level.
If you have identified a workplace issue, first of all - is there anything you can do?
This often applies when something is happening to do with staffing, curriculum, rooming etc, and the best first action would be to speak to either your line manager or head teacher. This can be hard and I can help you work out what to say, but you are the best person to start that conversation.
You can also contact Advice Line for general advice and queries.
This often applies when something is happening to do with staffing, curriculum, rooming etc, and the best first action would be to speak to either your line manager or head teacher. This can be hard and I can help you work out what to say, but you are the best person to start that conversation.
You can also contact Advice Line for general advice and queries.
Some things can't be tackled yourself, and that's absolutely fine - absence meetings, disciplinaries, risk assessments and phased returns.
In the first instance please contact your workplace rep. If you don't know who they are, please let me know and I can find them for you. Your rep will be able to help you with general support, low level meetings, and engaging with your head teacher or line manager where you need support in discussions.
In the first instance please contact your workplace rep. If you don't know who they are, please let me know and I can find them for you. Your rep will be able to help you with general support, low level meetings, and engaging with your head teacher or line manager where you need support in discussions.
Some things escalate beyond this, and is too serious or complex to be handled by a workplace rep, or they do not feel confident, or where you simply don't have a workplace rep. This is where you would contact doncasterbranch@neu.org.uk or use the contact form on this website, to reach out to the branch. I can support with everything from general advice to formal representation in workplace meetings. I can also help with electing reps, setting up member meetings and organisational matters. No question is a silly question, so please don't hesitate to email if you can't find an answer elsewhere!
And if branch can't fix it? We refer to the regional officers at the Yorkshire and Humber office, who will take the case from there. This includes casework for members who's school does not pay into the local facilities arrangement, any legal casework, and matters that generally cannot be reconciled at branch level. The branch officer would complete the referral and pass on any case files if this were to happen, and would talk you through the process of what to expect.
All of our caseworkers - at every level - operate in line with the NEU casework guidance. Lots of caseworkers will provide you with this guidance when they first contact you, but it is pasted below for your benefit.
CASEWORK GUIDANCE FOR NEU MEMBERS FROM BRANCH
This guidance explains how the Union provides casework support to members and provides information which will help gain the best possible outcome to your case. Please make sure that you have read and understand the information below.
1. Your Caseworker
a) Your caseworker will assess your case and advise you on how to achieve the best available outcome. In some cases, there may be more than one outcome available to you and it will be a matter for you to decide having been advised on the options open to you. Please note, your caseworker is an adviser not a friend and as such Union officers cannot undertake a counselling role. Counselling support is provided by the Education Support. For details, call 08000 562 561, text 07909 341229 or go to www.educationsupport.org.uk
b) You may be asked to provide a written chronology of the main events in relation to your case and any other relevant documentation such as the contract of employment, procedures, and correspondence with your school, employer or local authority. It is helpful if you can outline the relevant points with times, dates and witnesses if possible.
c) If a meeting is necessary, your caseworker will arrange this, but please bear in mind that their existing diary commitments may mean that it will not be possible to schedule meetings at short notice.
b) You may be asked to provide a written chronology of the main events in relation to your case and any other relevant documentation such as the contract of employment, procedures, and correspondence with your school, employer or local authority. It is helpful if you can outline the relevant points with times, dates and witnesses if possible.
c) If a meeting is necessary, your caseworker will arrange this, but please bear in mind that their existing diary commitments may mean that it will not be possible to schedule meetings at short notice.
2. Confidentiality
a) All the information you provide is treated as confidential and sensitive personal information and is processed and stored in accordance with data protection legislation. No information in relation to the conduct of your case will be disclosed or used without your permission. Only in circumstances where we reasonably believe that you may cause harm to yourself or others would any personal information be provided to others e.g. the police or if disclosure is required by law.
b) Our duty of confidentiality to you means that we cannot discuss your case with a relative or friend or anyone else seeking to act on your behalf unless you have provided written authorisation for us to do so
c) Your case file will be held in accordance with the NEU Privacy Policy https://neu.org.uk/neu-privacy-policy. Should you require copies of papers from your file, please ask your caseworker for these as soon as your case is concluded.
d) You should not input confidential, sensitive, or identifying information relating to your case into publicly available AI tools, as this may risk disclosure of your personal data or case details
a) All the information you provide is treated as confidential and sensitive personal information and is processed and stored in accordance with data protection legislation. No information in relation to the conduct of your case will be disclosed or used without your permission. Only in circumstances where we reasonably believe that you may cause harm to yourself or others would any personal information be provided to others e.g. the police or if disclosure is required by law.
b) Our duty of confidentiality to you means that we cannot discuss your case with a relative or friend or anyone else seeking to act on your behalf unless you have provided written authorisation for us to do so
c) Your case file will be held in accordance with the NEU Privacy Policy https://neu.org.uk/neu-privacy-policy. Should you require copies of papers from your file, please ask your caseworker for these as soon as your case is concluded.
d) You should not input confidential, sensitive, or identifying information relating to your case into publicly available AI tools, as this may risk disclosure of your personal data or case details
.3. Withdrawal of Casework Assistance for Your Case
There are some limited circumstances in which the Union may withdraw casework assistance. These include if you:
a) cease to be a member of the Union or have not paid your subscription in accordance with the Union rules:
b) have been advised your case has no reasonable prospect of success;
c) fail to cooperate with the union officer allocated to your case;
d) ignore our advice and/or act contrary to our advice and/or act without recourse to your union officer;
e) use or instruct a third party for the purposes of advice or representation in relation to the conduct of your case;
f) allow someone such as a partner acting on your behalf to act in a way that interferes with the conduct of your case by your caseworker;
g) have been advised that the continuance of your case may subject you to harm or other detriment;
h) deliberately withhold, omit or misrepresent any matter in relation to the facts or the conduct of your case;
i) failure to disclose the use AI in preparing documentation for use in your case, and failure to cooperate with reasonable requests from your caseworker in relation to AI use.
j) use abusive language or behaviour towards any union officer or other person connected with your case; your behaviour to others involved in the case is racist, sexist, disablist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or in any other way offensive and contrary to the Union’s equal opportunities policies or the Union’s Code of Professional Conduct.
There are some limited circumstances in which the Union may withdraw casework assistance. These include if you:
a) cease to be a member of the Union or have not paid your subscription in accordance with the Union rules:
b) have been advised your case has no reasonable prospect of success;
c) fail to cooperate with the union officer allocated to your case;
d) ignore our advice and/or act contrary to our advice and/or act without recourse to your union officer;
e) use or instruct a third party for the purposes of advice or representation in relation to the conduct of your case;
f) allow someone such as a partner acting on your behalf to act in a way that interferes with the conduct of your case by your caseworker;
g) have been advised that the continuance of your case may subject you to harm or other detriment;
h) deliberately withhold, omit or misrepresent any matter in relation to the facts or the conduct of your case;
i) failure to disclose the use AI in preparing documentation for use in your case, and failure to cooperate with reasonable requests from your caseworker in relation to AI use.
j) use abusive language or behaviour towards any union officer or other person connected with your case; your behaviour to others involved in the case is racist, sexist, disablist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or in any other way offensive and contrary to the Union’s equal opportunities policies or the Union’s Code of Professional Conduct.
4. Complaints About the Conduct of Your Case
a) The Union aims to provide a high level of casework support and legal assistance to members. However, if you have concerns about the conduct of your case, in the first instance you should bring it to the attention of your caseworker. If this does not resolve your concerns, you should email the Regional Secretary at Yorkshire&humber@neu.org.uk providing details of your concerns.
5. Declaration
By accepting Union casework assistance, you will be taken to have agreed to these terms unless you let us know otherwise.
By accepting Union casework assistance, you will be taken to have agreed to these terms unless you let us know otherwise.