PART 5Third Stage

Assessment following second stage meeting26.

(1)

Where a member has received a final written improvement notice, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date on which the period specified in accordance with regulation 21(6)(c) ends—

(a)

the line manager shall assess the performance or attendance of the member concerned during that period, in consultation with the second line manager or a human resources professional (or both); and

(b)

the line manager shall notify the member concerned in writing whether the line manager considers that there has been a sufficient improvement in performance or attendance during that period.

(2)

If the line manager considers that there has not been a sufficient improvement in performance or that the required levels of attendance have not been maintained, he shall, at the same time as he gives notification under paragraph (1)(b), also notify the member concerned in writing that he is required to attend a meeting (in these Regulations referred to as a third stage meeting) to consider his performance or attendance.

(3)

Where—

(a)

the member concerned has not been required to attend a third stage meeting under paragraph (2), or

(b)

the member concerned has been required to attend a third stage meeting under paragraph (2) but the panel did not make a finding of unsatisfactory performance or attendance at that meeting,

the member concerned may be required to attend a third stage meeting under paragraph (4).

(4)

If the line manager considers that the member concerned has failed to maintain a sufficient improvement in his performance or attendance during any part of the validity period of the final written improvement notice remaining after the expiry of the period specified in accordance with regulation 21(6)(c), he shall notify the member concerned in writing of the matters set out in paragraph (5).

(5)

Those matters are—

(a)

that he is of the view mentioned in paragraph (4); and

(b)

that the member concerned is required to attend a meeting (in these Regulations referred to as a third stage meeting) to consider his performance or attendance.

(6)

Subject to regulation 28, any third stage meeting which a member is required to attend must concern unsatisfactory performance or attendance which is similar to or connected with the unsatisfactory performance or attendance referred to in the final written improvement notice.