This page provides useful employment information for Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) and their members.
PCCs and their responsibilities as employers
As independent charities, PCCs are responsible for their own employment decisions and actions.
ACAS produce a guide for small employers entitled: “Employing people: a handbook for small firms”. This offers useful advice on matters relating to employment.
Find out more
Information and advice for small organisations relating to the payment of wages can be found on the ACAS website at www.acas.org.uk
Health and Safety
The HSE website has advice on health and safety matters, risk assessments and accident reporting’ - www.hse.gov.uk
Other sources of advice include:
The Parish Resources site has guidance on employing staff, working with volunteers, and health and safety.
The Government’s advice to employers through the Business Link website: www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people.
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) which aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. Their website is: www.acas.org.uk
Acas provide a free and confidential helpline for support and advice about any kind of dispute or query about relationship issues within the workplace: employment rights and rules, best practice or advice about a dispute.
The helpline is available Monday-Friday 8am-8pm - 08457 47 47 47.
Changes to PAYE in 2013
On 6 April 2013 the reporting arrangements for employers operating Pay As You Earn (PAYE) changed. Employers are now required to provide Real Time Information (RTI) – to notify HMRC on each occasion that payment is made to an employee.
To help determine the tax status of individuals within your church, the Diocesan Secretaries Liaison Group has put together a short guide for PCCs, which can be downloaded below.
HMRC also provides guidance for ‘local religious centres’ on employment tax issues for PCCs not registered with HMRC and seeking to employ an individual below the national insurance lower earnings limit:
Further information and advice is available from the Parish Resources website: www.parishresources.org.uk/people/paye.
Auto Enrolment
The Pensions Act 2008 introduced new rules for workplace pensions in the UK. These changes affect every workplace and make sure that every worker will have a chance to save for their retirement. Under the new rules, every employer will have to give their workers the opportunity to join a workplace pension scheme that meets certain standards.
Further information can be found at the Pension Regulator website:
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk
The Government has set up NEST who provide employers with access to workplace pensions. Further information can be found at:
www.nestpensions.org.uk
The Church of England Pension Board has produced a factsheet with frequently asked questions, which can be found at:
Church of England Pensions Factsheet
Safer Recruitment and People Management
The requirements in the Safer Recruitment guidance must be followed for the appointment of all roles within a Church body that involve substantial contact with children and/or vulnerable adults, for example, members of the clergy authorised to officiate, Readers/Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs), lay workers, youth workers, employees and volunteers.
View the the Safer Recruitment and People Management guidance, templates and resources.
Line managers or anyone involved in the recruitment of Church Officers* (employees, elected members, and volunteers) are required to complete these 3 Church of England Safeguarding Training Courses, in this order:
If you have any questions about Safer Recruitment please contact The Diocesan Safeguarding Team by emailing safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org or calling 01245 294438 or 01245 294490