Public and Commercial Services Union

Personal case training forms part of the PCS trade union education programme. It is worth checking if your group is running any personal case training.

Training run by groups will contain the same basic content as regional courses but will also include specific examples of issues relevant to your workplace.

If your group/ national branch is unable to provide training, PCS regional centres deliver generic courses, usually run over 3 days.

The following list is not exhaustive, and more details of courses can be found by contacting the organising and learning services department at PCS HQ or check the learning pages for dates.

Handling personal cases

This course helps representatives to develop the skills to interview members, gather information around issues and identify and use relevant agreements and procedures within your workplace.

It also covers negotiating with management and contains a simple overview of the process of resolving cases.

Advanced personal cases

This training is targeted at reps who will be dealing with more complicated cases, including discipline and grievance cases, which could potentially lead to dismissal.

The course also covers misconduct, sick absence and capability issues, as well as giving guidance on legislative provisions.

Reps will learn how to use legal advice and assistance and will get an introduction to settlements and compromise agreements and the role of ACAS. Reps will also get an introduction to the processes for employment tribunal (ET) and civil servcie appeals board cases.

Employment law

This is targeted at experienced representatives. It aims to help reps to improve their knowledge and understanding of employment law including law on discrimination at work.

Reps will be able to apply employment law using case studies, and will gain a legal understanding of issues such as redundancy, TUPE and unfair dismissal. The course also covers time limits applicable to legal cases, and the jurisdictions that apply.

Tackling discrimination

As the course name suggests, this training focuses on dealing with discrimination and cases with a discrimination element.

It covers the law affecting discrimination on grounds of sex, race, disability, religion or belief, and will enable the rep to apply the law at work in both personal and collective cases.

Employment tribunals and advocacy

PCS provides this course for experienced representatives who have responsibility within branches, regions, groups or bargaining units for handling employment tribunals.

Delegates on the course will learn about the whole process, including applications to employment tribunals and civil service appeals boards, timescales, the preparation for hearings, and obtaining legal advice. It also covers advocacy skills including presenting the case, cross examination and closing the case.

Representatives will be made aware of the PCS Employment Law Toolkit, and will get the chance to practice their skills on actual case studies.