The School has decided to open a Voluntary Leavers Scheme, available to staff from 18 July 2011, on a time-limited basis. Further details of the launch can be viewed in a letter to staff from LSE Director, Judith Rees| (PDF).

Outline of scheme

It is not a redundancy scheme and is not targeted at any one group of staff, division or department. Rather, the LSE Voluntary Leavers Scheme is broad brush, flexible and open to all.

Eligible members of staff who leave under this Scheme receive a generous financial package. Further details of the Scheme can be found here| (PDF). We have created a Ready Reckoner |(EXCEL) to help colleagues estimate what they may be eligible to receive through the Scheme, together with a flowchart| (PDF) to help colleagues understand the process followed, and a set of frequently asked questions| (PDF - Updated 30th September 2011).

In addition, eligible staff will be given flexible credits to access Career Transition Support for a period of six months once their application has been approved.

Career transition support (Updated)

We are offering a Career Transition Support| (PDF) programme as part of the LSE Voluntary Leavers Scheme 2011 and have partnered with an organisation called Chiumento to offer this support to staff.

Chiumento is a specialist career transition consultancy, with over 16 years' experience delivering programmes to staff at all levels within organisations. They have worked with a number of universities in the sector including Cambridge, Oxford, and Warwick. Their approach is to design programmes which are 100% tailored around each individual's needs. Since its creation in 1994, Chiumento has helped thousands of people take the next step in their career.

In LSE's Career Transition Support Programme, each person will have access to the following core elements:

Face to face diagnostic meeting with a Chiumento consultant
Access to Chiumento online - for a period of 6 months
Access to Chiumento Adviceline - for a period of 6 months

In addition, staff will be provided with a number of flexible credits they can use in order to access a wide range of elements to develop their own personalised programme. This includes workshops, coaching support and practical advice and guidance, giving individuals total flexibility in the design of their own programme.

The feedback Chiumento has received from clients shows their programmes are regarded as very positive and highly flexible. Individual user feedback has shown that people are very appreciative of what they recognise as 'bespoke' to them.

Please see Career Transition Support| (PDF) for full information.

Further information and key dates

The Scheme is voluntary on behalf of the individual and discretionary on behalf of the School. Colleagues should note that only cases of mutual benefit will be approved.

If you would like HR to prepare an estimate for you or if you wish to ask a question regarding the Scheme, please email us at hr.vl@lse.ac.uk|. Any request will be treated confidentially. We aim to respond to you, wherever possible, within 48 hours. Alternatively you can contact your HR Partner|.

If you are interested in submitting a formal application, please complete an application form| (WORD) and send this to your Head of Department / Head of Service.

The key dates are set out in the table below:

Activity	Date
Scheme Launched	18 July 2011
Closing date for application to be submitted to HoD	18 November 2011
HoD and HR Partner consider cases and submit to HR	By 2 December 2011
Cases considered by Voluntary Leavers Panel	From 1 August - 9 December 2011
Latest time decisions communicated to staff	By 16 December 2011
Latest leaving date	16 March 2012

Please note:

The dates above are subject to change
Colleagues should note that the terms of and this Scheme itself are completely discretionary and non-contractual
Any estimate provided is an estimate and should not be taken as an offer that can be accepted
Any application is not guaranteed to be approved
The School reserves the right to amend the Scheme and its terms at any time, without notice

HR who's who