APPENDIX 3
Review of Human Resources function

Objective of the review

To review the HR function, structure and allocation of HR staff across the Council and make recommendations on changes (whether structure, practices or allocation) which would improve the effective use of HR staff when benchmarked against best practice organisations in the public and private sector.

Scope of the Review 

The Human Resource function of the Council includes traditional HR activities, Learning and Development and payroll.  The review should examine the structure and capacity of these activities.

Terms of Reference

1.	To seek to rationalise our existing functions by effectively deploying existing resources, eliminating duplication and identifying efficiency savings;

2.	To undertake a gap analysis of what needs to be done to achieve best practice in people management;

3.	To examine the optimum balance between a central and devolved service so as to achieve an effective and efficient service

4.	To identify what resources are required for the County Council to achieve best practice.  This should take into account any resources released from point 1.

Anticipated Outcomes

•	Current HR structures and practices should be assessed across the people management agenda with best practice in both the public and private sectors;
•	The work should take into account two Best Value reviews that have already explored certain aspects of the HR function, the agenda set out in the Council’s Raising our Performance documents, and should consider areas of weakness identified through various other internal and external reviews.  It should also explore the scope for improving performance by making better use of the Council’s new Management Information System (SAP) and through Business Process Re-engineering;
•	The views of stakeholders should be obtained.  Key stakeholders include Directors, Business Managers, HR Managers, the Executive member for HR, service managers, operational HR staff and the unions.
•	The review should be completed by the end of November 2003.  We would expect to receive a comprehensive report of research findings based on feedback from key stakeholders; an analysis comparing Oxfordshire County Council’s HR function to those in other organisations recognised as best practice examples in HR, from both the public and private sector; recommendations for improving the effective use of HR staff.

Project Sponsor:  John Jackson, Director for Resources.

Project Manager: Glen Watson