Line manager resources

As a line manager, you play a vital role in your team's success, and having the right tools, resources, and knowledge of key policies and processes is essential to providing effective support.

This page brings together links and key information to help you in your role. Your dedicated HR Business Partner is also available to support you with any HR issues – please do get in touch with them if you have any queries.

General useful resources

• Common HR queries (FAQs) – for all staff on annual leave, pay, pensions, family friendly support, etcetera
• HR A–Z  -  guidance, policies, procedures (and related forms) for most staff related matters
• Staff Wellbeing Hub - health and wellbeing support
• Pay grades and on-costs - salary grades and associated costs
• Finance pages – Payroll,  Pensions, Procurement, i-Buy, financial coding etc
• Helpdesk - to request support for ITS, Estates, Finance and Corporate Systems

Staff Infobase

Staff Infobase is the University’s self-service HR and Finance system. It can be used to:

• Manage personal information
• Process annual leave and overtime
• Record and manage sickness absence
• Use iBuy and other finance functions
• Submit and view Post Approval Forms (PAFs)

We’ve developed a series of short video guides (approximately 1 to 2 minutes each) to help you navigate essential HR and payroll functions within Staff Infobase:

• Introduction and logging into Staff Infobase
• Dealing with a worklist item
• Setting up vacation rules
• Viewing the HR dashboard (absence data, appraisal and mandatory training compliance etc)
• Viewing absence calendars and leave balances for your team
• Viewing absence summaries and entering compassionate leave
• Approving a sickness closure
• Completing a Return to Work interview
• Managing sickness absence (when staff have exceeded sickness absence triggers)
• Entering KIT and SPLIT days
• Viewing personal Information (including you team’s address/ contact details)
• Completing a PAF (Post Approval Form)
• Answering a PAF query

Additional Staff Infobase user guides are available in the HR A-Z webpage under ‘S’. 

Appraisals, training and development

Supporting your team’s development is a key part of your role. Every member of staff should have a yearly appraisal, carried out towards the end of the academic year between the months of June and August. For new starters, you should ensure an appraisal (including objective setting and any agreed development) is carried out within a new starter's first six months, regardless of the length of probation.

• Organisational Development - resources, training and support available for all staff including support on conducting appraisals
• Actus - online platform for appraisals, objectives, development, career aspirations and probation records
• Linked In Learning - free access for all LJMU staff to over 16,000 online courses

Management Training (LEAD Programme) - Training for you as a line manager

Organisational Development provides the LJMU LEAD (Leadership Enhancement and Development) Programme. This flexible programme supports the skills, knowledge, and mindset of current and future leaders, combining practical tools with opportunities for reflection and networking.

Core Management Workshops (mandatory for new line managers)

Delivered by HR Business Partners, these sessions focus on practical HR tools, soft skills and awareness of key HR policies. They should be completed within your first 6 to 12 months (or used as a refresher). These courses are open for registration.

• Managing People at LJMU (introductory session – ideally start here)
• Recruitment and Selection Training with Hireserve demonstrations (mandatory for all staff involved in recruitment)
• Supporting Attendance and Wellbeing
• Effective Career Development and Performance Management at LJMU
• Resolving Workplace Conflict

Hiring new staff or taking part in recruitment and selection

When recruiting new staff, you’ll find helpful advice, templates and guidance here:

• Recruitment and selection – step-by-step guidance and templates
• Induction checklist - to support a good onboarding experience
• PAF (Post Approval Process) – guidance on submitting a PAF. To supplement this, you can also watch the short “how-to” video in the Staff Infobase section above.

Other key working arrangements

Sickness Absence Reporting- It is essential that sickness absence reporting requirements are clearly communicated to staff at the earliest opportunity. Staff must report any sickness absence directly to their line manager before they are due to start work on the first day of absence. To support your role in managing sickness absence, line managers should undertake the Supporting Attendance and Wellbeing training and familiarise themselves with the Sickness Absence Policy You HR Business Partner can support you through these processes. 

Hybrid Working - The university allows hybrid working for many roles, and you should familiarise yourself with the Hybrid Working Guidance to understand how this operates in practice and to ensure you are supporting our staff and the student experience.