A guide to your first few weeks

After the interviews, the following happens:

• we check your references
• we carry out safeguarding checks if you are working with vulnerable people or sensitive data
• check medical records
• make sure you have the right to work in UK legislation

If these go well, as they usually do, we'll confirm your offer of employment, and agree your start date.

A new job and a new employer can be daunting, but there's always somebody here to help you. HR Express is the support service you can call at any time if you have questions.

So what do you need to know?

Induction

Your manager will have an induction checklist of things to discuss and show you during your first weeks with us. This should ensure that you understand your work environment and your main tasks, as well as introducing you to the organisation. Your manager will also order your ID badge and any IT equipment you need.

When you start, you can add your contact details to the staff directory. You will also find access to your online learning and HR system (MyHR) waiting for you. You can use MyHR to see all of your personal details, including payslips, time off and course bookings, and you can update your own records directly into the system.

If you work on your computer a lot, you should complete the display screen equipment online learning and assessment, and then take the other suggested online learning, including fraud awareness and the online induction modules.

Useful contacts

The people directory on our intranet (called izzi), is the main source of information. Here you can search for people by name, job or department to get the right contacts. Everyone's details show their managers contacts in case you need to reach other members of their team.

Finding your way around the organisation

There is an interactive map of our locations on izzi and each department has their own pages telling you who does what. Also, don't be afraid to just call and ask people! They'll be pleased to help.

Finding out about my employment

HR Online is our online system that gives you access to a wide range of services including: leave, absence records, training and appraisals. You will also find HR news, giving updates on work and employment issues, and easy access to HR policies and procedures.

Finding out what’s going on

IC News is our newsletter for staff. It is produced online each month, and you will receive an email whenever a new issue is released.

For up to minute news, there is always the intranet, izzi. Here, every team has their own news pages, and these are updated daily by staff. Izzi also has lots of self service transactions: from IT requests to annual leave bookings and updating your contact details.

There is also a core brief for managers. All managers receive this and should discuss the information in their team meetings.

When is is your birthday, you may get one of the monthly invites to the birthday breakfasts with the Council Leader. Here, you are invited to discuss the plans, priorities and challenges ahead in a frank exchange of views and ideas.