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Background
Secondment of staff to
CEDR Secretariat
March 2014
This document details the objectives of, and arrangements for, the secondment of staff from NRAs to the CEDR Secretariat. Secondment benefits the seconded staff, the sending NRA as well as CEDR. The purpose of a Secondment is aligned with the professional expertise and career development objectives of the NRA staff member attached to the CEDR Secretariat. Secondments are for a fixed period of time and generally focussed on the completion of a specified project or otherwise further developing CEDR activities.
Submitted by:Steve Phillips, Secretary-General
Approved by:Governing Board, 2014
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Guidelines for secondment to CEDR
DEFINITION OF SECONDMENT
A secondment is the planned and voluntary transfer of an individual from one post to another for a time-limited period, for the purpose of developing new skills, knowledge or experience, before returning to the original post or into a planned new role.
SECONDEE
A member of staff from any discipline and any stage in their career. However the selection will be done through CV and motivation letter to meet the needs of the tasks during the secondment.
SECONDING ORGANISATION
The employee of the secondee. This can be a NRA or other related national organisation, or other recognised institution approved by the GB (eg European or international organisation).
HOST
CEDR Secretariat in Paris and/or Brussels as determined by the task
TERM
Secondments are flexible, variable in length, usually 6-12 months depending upon the circumstances and the need to complete a specific piece of work e.g. project.
FINANCING AND FACILITIES
The seconding organisation will cover all salary, taxes and accommodation costs of the secondee. The travel costs of the secondee for home visits will be borne by the seconding organisation.
The CEDR Secretariat will provide;
-travel and expenses costs for business travels approved by the Secretary-General
-a personal working area to the secondee including a desk, a PC and all the necessary working tools for the smooth implementation of the secondment.
BENEFITS OF THE SECONDMENT
A well-managed secondment offers the potential for benefits for all parties involved; namely the
Seconding Organisation, the Secondee and the CEDR secretariat.
a) Seconding Organisation (eg NRA)
-Developing the professional networking among the NRAs, the European Commission and other European/International organisations
-Benefiting from a better knowledge transfer
-Maximise the benefits of extensive networking before and after the secondee returns
-Good learning platform for the development of new collaborations
-Profile of the organisation in European/international cooperation
-Enhanced employee motivation when they return
b) Secondee
-Enhancing the professional networking among the NRA and other organisations, the European Commission and other European and international organisations
-Opportunity to achieve clear objectives in a time-limited period.
-Understanding the “European” point of view
-Demystify the European and international organisations
-Learn to perform in challenging new situations
-Find it valuable to maintain the contacts and networks they have built.
-Get a higher professional recognition among his department
-Personal and career development through enhancement of managerial, professional, technical and interpersonal skills by applying these in a different environment.
-Increased motivation through widening of perspectives and experiencing different concepts, values, priorities and cultures.
-Developing languages (especially English and French) and communication skills
c) CEDR (the host)
-The cost-effective acquisition of specific expertise and skills
-The ability to undertake a particular project not otherwise possible
-Fresh thinking and new approaches to organisational problems or development
-Benefit from the services of ‘temporary’ employees
-Develop personal links with the NRA and/or the department of the secondee
-Enhance knowledge transfer and facilitate information exchange
-Transfer CEDR knowledge to the institute through the secondee
-Boost the CEDR spirit and identity
THE PROGRAM
The tasks for the secondee will be developed in close consultation with the CEDR Secretariat and the contact person for the institute.
As example:
-Preparing conferences, workshop, training, scanning tour etc
-Tendering and contract management
-Establishing contacts with relevant stakeholders
-Promoting information exchange
-Execution of dissemination strategy activities
-Attending relevant conferences, workshops
-Working on the website
-Working on specific Task Group activities
-Supervising report preparation and publication
BEFORE THE SECONDMENT
CEDR will organise a briefing package for the secondee, providing background information on the organisation, functions of the host workplace, duties and responsibilities of the post, office procedures, accommodation, etc.
DURING THE SECONDMENT
As a general principle the Secondee will be expected to adopt the practices of the Host organisation and those policies and procedures which relate to normal day to day working, such working hours, will apply. The Secondee will be expected to comply with local sickness and absence reporting procedures and the Host will be responsible for informing the Institute when the level or length of absence gives cause for concern.
If there are any problems identified regarding the secondment, all three parties should meet to review the placement and decide whether it should continue. Should any party wish to terminate the secondment they may do so by giving an agreed period of 2 weeks’ notice
EVALUATION OF SECONDMENT
At the end of the secondment, the CEDR Secretary-General will organise a review with the secondee to elicit what has been learned from the secondment.
To help improving the quality and efficiency of the secondment, the secondee will receive an evaluation form to assess the secondment.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
The host employer will be responsible for the Employer’s Liability Insurance and have a
duty of care under the relevant Health and Safety legislation for the secondee.
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