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Frequently asked questions

Benefits

Where can I find more about Benefits?

I want to know more about Employee Discounts?

I want to know more about work life balance and time off?

I want to know more about Health and Wellbeing?

I want to know more about Work Life Balance?

I want to know more about Travel Benefits?

I want to know more about Professional Development?

I want to know more about Financial Benefits?

What local discounts are available for Employee?

How can I access further information on all benefits available to Walsall Council employees?

There is now a quick link on the HR intranet pages which allows employees to navigate directly to all of the information regarding their benefits.  The main page has been refreshed to improve the visibility of the benefits available by categorising each topic and allowing employees to digest this information more easily. 

We are also working on an employee benefits SharePoint page which will go live shortly, which will enhance the visibility of all employee benefits.  Further updates regarding this page will be communicated to staff in due course. 

Do we have a Employee Assistance Programme?

I'm a Manager of an employee who may require additional support and assistance, what guidance or information do you have for me?

Do Walsall Council offer employee health care benefits?

Paycare are a Health Cash Plan provider who offer a range of plans relating to optical, dental, chiropody and professional therapy cover, as well as MyPocketGP and a range of other benefits.  Premiums are deducted from employees’ wages accordingly and there is the option to also add your partner onto the policy.   

For further information, visit the Paycare website where you will also find FAQs. 

Where can I find more information about Eyecare vouchers?

I'm a manager (new or promoted), what tools are available for me?

I’d like to know more about the Cycle Scheme for Walsall?

I have previously worked in emergency services or education, I believe I am eligible for a Blue Light Discount?

You can apply for this direct with Blue Light Card.  You can find out if you are eligible and apply for this by following this link  - Blue Light Card Registration

When are Benefits refreshed?

New benefits are introduced throughout the year and will be published on the benefits pages.  We are working on a process where you can suggest new benefits and feedback on current.

How long do I have to work at Walsall Council before I get a long service award/payment?

Once you have completed 20 years (unbroken) service with WALSALL COUNCIL you will receive a one-off payment of £125. This is paid to employees (regardless of the hours worked) via payroll (attracting tax and national insurance contributions as applicable).

What is the limit on the Annual Leave purchase Scheme?

Annual Purchase Scheme is limited to 20 days annually.

You can find more information and the application form and process here 

Is the annual leave purchase scheme a salary sacrifice?

Its not a salary sacrifice in terms of legislation but as its a reduction to gross pay tax &NI are only taken on the reduced pay

What gym membership discounts are available to Walsall Council employees?

Employees receive a 15% discount on Walsall Council gyms; Oak Park, Bloxwich, Darlaston and Walsall Gala.  This includes All inclusive, Gym and Swim, and Family monthly membership packages.   

Visit the link below to access the discount code and further information Walsall Leisure :: Member Sign-up Walsall Council 
 

Is staff parking available to Walsall Council employees?

Staff parking is available to Walsall Council employees on Hatherton Street staff car park and any other publicly accessible Walsall Council pay and display car park (except Ward Street Car Park) - the maximum time limit of 4 hours on short stay car parks will apply.  Employees should only be using their permit on working days. 

Staff can apply for a digital parking permit by selecting the below link and following the instructions - Staff parking 

The digital permit is currently free of charge. 

Do Walsall Council employees have access to national discounts?

Yes, Kaarp Benefits is a dedicated voluntary benefits scheme for local authorities.  Visit the Kaarp website where you will find a large range of special offers and deals.  The Council are currently exploring options around expanding this range further

What do I do if I have any questions regarding the employee benefit Car Leasing Scheme?

Please refer to the Tusker FAQs

What do I do if I need further information on the employee benefit Tusker Car Leasing Scheme?

If you need to raise a question for the employee benefit Tusker Car Leasing Scheme then please raise a Helpdesk Ticket using the Employee Benefits queue.

How to raise a Helpdesk Ticket

Tusker Car Leasing Benefit - What is Benefit in Kind tax?

Please find more information in the following video What is Benefit in Kind tax?

Tusker Car Leasing Benefit scheme: How does it work?

For more information please view the video Tusker Car Leasing Benefit Scheme

Who is eligible to apply for the Tusker Car Leasing benefit?

Eligibility: All employees can apply (excluding the below) 

  • Any employee employed on Teachers T&Cs,  
  • IR35 and casual workers.
  • Voluntary aided and Foundation schools  
  • Eligibility for the car leasing scheme will also be subject to financial checks.

When employee leaves Walsall Council, can they continue their arrangement through another LA/directly with Tusker?

Employees who leave Walsall Council can only novate their existing vehicle where their new employer has a Tusker scheme in place. As per the FAQs, where an employee leaves the council due to resignation, redundancy etc, they can hand the vehicle back at no cost, providing it is after the three month exclusion period

What happens if I resign, retire, relocate, TUPE or am made redundant during the term of my car lease agreement?

If an employee Resigns, is made Redundant, Retires, is Relocated or is transferred to a new employer after a 3 month Exclusion Period, they can hand back the vehicle with no Early Termination Charge due. See Tuskers FAQs for more information.

What happens if I take Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental or Adoption Leave during the term of my car lease agreement?

Whilst the employee’s pay is enhanced, salary sacrifice reductions will continue until the employee’s pay reaches statutory level. See Tusker FAQs for more information.

What happens if I am off long-term sick during the term of my car lease agreement?

Whilst the employee’s pay is enhanced, salary sacrifice reductions can continue until the employee's pay reaches statutory level. See Tusker FAQs for more information.

For the Car Leasing benefit - What cover is offered for other life events?

Employees will be protected as standard should any of the following unfortunate events occur:

• The death of the employee or their Domestic Partner

• The employee or their Domestic Partner suffering from a Terminal Illness

• The employee or their Domestic Partner suffering disablement or mental illness

• The employee or their Domestic Partner losing their sight

• The employee or their Domestic Partner suffering physical separation of one or more limbs at or above the wrist or ankle

• The employee or their Domestic Partners driving licence being withdrawn by the issuing authority for medical reasons

For the Car leasing Benefit - What happens if I receive a speeding/parking fine and how these are applied/processed?

Parking fines, fees or penalties, speeding fines, bus lane fines, congestion charges and any other fines issued to you during the term of the Agreement, are the employee’s responsibility and if incurred will be recharged to them along with an administration fee.

If you do not pay these amounts, then Tusker will pay them on your behalf and will recharge this cost to you together with an administration fee of £10 plus VAT (deducted from the employee’s net pay). If, as registered keeper of the vehicle, Tusker receives notification of any speeding fine or non payment of a fixed penalty notice, Tusker will charge an administration fee of £10 plus VAT for dealing with such notification. These charges form part of the employee’s Salary Sacrifice Agreement.

What happens if I am dismissed, lose my license (driving convictions), Reduce my working hours or have a career break during the term of my car lease agreement?

Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, the employee agrees to meet all associated costs. If their circumstances change due to reasons within their control, they will be liable to pay an Early Termination Charge to return the vehicle early. See Tuskers FAQs for more information.

What information do I give when I register on to the Tusker portal?

You will be asked for your employee number. There is no need to enter your National Insurance number or email address as these are not required

I'm a casual member of staff, am I eligible for the car leasing benefit?

No, casual members of staff are not eligible for the car leasing benefit

I'm a fixed term member of staff, am I eligible for the car leasing benefit?

If you are on a fixed term contract, your contract of employment must be for a longer period than the proposed Salary Sacrifice Agreement. If this is not the case, you are not eligible to receive the car leasing benefit

I am in my probation period can I apply for Tusker Car leasing benefit?

No, you must have completed the 6 month probation period before being able to apply.

I have read all the information about the Car Leasing benefit and still have queries. Who should I contact?

For any further further queries please raise a Helpdesk ticket in the Benefits queue Raise a Helpdesk ticket

With regards to claiming car mileage expenses - where can I find the Reimbursement of Expenses Policy?

Where can I find the recordings of the Tusker drop in sessions and the questions and answers that were given?

What do I do if I have any questions regarding the employee benefit Shared Cost AVCs (MyMoneyMatters)?

Please refer to the MyMoneyMatter FAQs

What do I do if I need further information on the employee benefit Shared Cost AVCs?

If you need to raise a question for the employee benefit Shared Cost AVCs then please raise a Helpdesk Ticket using the Employee Benefits queue.

How to raise a Helpdesk Ticket

I'm in my probationary period, am I eligible for the Shared AVCs benefit?

Yes, those within their probationary period are eligible for a Shared Cost AVC

I'm a casual member of staff, am I eligible for the Shared AVCs benefit?

No, casual members of staff are not eligible for this benefit

I'm a fixed term member of staff, am I eligible for the Shared Cost AVCs benefit?

Yes, if you are an existing LGPS member, you are eligible for the Shared Cost AVCs benefit

How do I set up MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) for MyMoneyMatters Shared AVCs benefit??

I have read all the information about Shared Cost AVCs and still have queries -who should I contact?

Please raise a Helpdesk ticket under the Benefits queue Raise a Helpdesk ticket

Who is eligible to apply for the Shared Cost AVCs benefit?

Eligibility: 

  • All employees on LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) can apply, excluding the below: 
  • Any employee employed on Teachers T&Cs, 
  • IR35 and casual workers.  
  •  Eligibility will also be subject to financial checks.

Access

How do I log into OneSource if I have a Walsall.gov.uk email and a council laptop/tablet?

  • You simply need to access the OneSource login page and click the Company Single Sign-On button which will log you into your account.
  • Do not enter a username and password as this will not work. 

 

 

 

 

 

How do I log into OneSource if I am using a non-Walsall.gov.uk email?

  • You will need to have a council B2B account in place (see the next FAQ "How do I get set up with OneSource access if I don't have a Walsall.gov.uk email?" if you don't have a council B2B account). A B2B account is a basic user account that’s set up for users who don’t have a Walsall.gov.uk email address to allow access to OneSource.
  • Once a B2B account is in place, you should access the OneSource login page and click the Company Single Sign-On button. You will be prompted to follow the Multi Factor Authentication steps in order to validate your user account.
  • Do not enter a username and password into the main OneSource login page as this will not work. 

 

How do I get set up with OneSource access if I don't have a Walsall.gov.uk email?

  • As part of your onboarding process you should have been sent a B2B invite email. Check your emails and junk/spam/other email folders for a B2B invite email. This invitation email will expire after 30 days of receipt. Please note the invite will be sent from a Microsoft email address.
  • If this can't be found, or the link in the email doesn't work (these expire after 30 days), your manager should raise a helpdesk ticket requesting access to OneSource. The category “Access Request or Cannot Log In” should be selected when raising the helpdesk request.
  • Once the request has been processed you will receive an invitation email which you’ll need to accept to then setup your B2B account.  Guidance can be found here. Once complete this can be used to login to OneSource (see "How do I login to OneSource if I am using a non-Walsall.gov.uk email?").

How do I log in to OneSource using a Walsall.gov.uk email on a personal device?

  

  • Access the login page for OneSource and click the Company Single Sign-On button. You will be prompted to enter your Walsall.gov.uk email. You will then be asked to enter the password associated with your Walsall.gov.uk laptop login details.
  • You will then be asked to follow the Multi Factor Authentication steps.
  • If you are logging in via a personal device you will have access to your data only and so your screens in OneSource will look different.
  • Do not attempt to enter username and password details in the main OneSource login page. 

I have tried resetting my password but I'm not receiving an email with instructions. Why is this?

  • Username and Password login is not an option for employees. The button is still there, but attempting to login with username and password or to reset your password will not work.
  • Please use the Company Single Sign-On button to log in once your account has been set up and refer to the other FAQs if you are still experiencing issues. 

What if I’ve tried all of the above and still have problems logging in?

  • Speak to your line manager in the first instance as they will be able to support.

General

Here you will find your frequently asked questions about OneSource.  

What is OneSource?

OneSource replaced a number of current standalone systems and delivered a new state-of-the-art, single cloud-based system for the majority of our HR, Payroll, Finance and Procurement activities in the summer of 2020, with payroll going live the following year.

What is OneSource:

  • Walsall Council’s single integrated Digital system - One Source, this includes Finance, HR, Procurement and Payroll(Home), as well as several integrations to and from other Council systems.
  • OneSource is intuitive, easy to use and flexible, making it easier for everyone. It has benefited Walsall in a range of ways, including:
    • One System, One Login, One Source: everything in one place from your payslips and personal records to recruitment with a single sign-on.
    • Minimal paper forms: going digital saving you time and improving our Council compliance and security.
    • A user-friendly way to access self-service activities such as updating your personal details, overtime entry, expenses and real time reporting

We look to continually improve the OneSource solution, since going live with have relaunched the Helpdesk, replaced our recruitment solution with ORC (Oracle recruitment cloud), provided access to our school users and changes the approach to sickness absence.

What is self-service?

Self-service is about putting you, the employee, in control of your payroll, finance, procurement and HR needs. You will have access to manage your own personal information, view your payslips, review and update your own performance conversation and book on to training courses, plus many other things depending on your role in the organisation.

I am a line manager – how does One Source affect me?

As a line manager, One Source will provide you with greater control, functionality, and visibility to be able to do your job efficiently and to effectively manage your team. You remain responsible for ensuring the completeness and accuracy of the data held in the system, instigating any changes required and actioning approvals, including training requests.

How does OneSource improve the way we work?

Employees – A user-friendly way to access a range of HR self-service activities such as updating your personal details.

Line Managers – A user-friendly manager self-service experience that enables you to manage your team more effectively. There will also be a new way to access and update candidates, with better visibility of the recruitment process online.

Purchasers – A new look and feel to the way purchase orders are raised, and invoices are receipted. However, the business process will remain broadly the same.

Suppliers – Suppliers will have access to a self-service portal where they will be able to update their own details and have visibility of their purchase orders and invoices. This will reduce enquiries and automate processing.

 

For further information please look at our Impacts and Benefits page by clicking here.

How will I be supported?

How will I be Supported?

A host of training materials, self-help guides and how-to videos have been developed, covering many aspects of the system and its various modules. These can be found on the training and support page on the One Source web pages. These materials, alongside the FAQ's, should be your first choice for support.

If you're facing issues in OneSource

Contact the Helpdesk :Create a ticket in OneSource HelpDesk which will be directed to the relevant team for investigation depending on the category of your query. Details of how to use this function can be found in the QRG for How to Create Helpdesk Ticket 

Why do some of my screens look different in One Source?

From the 6th May 2025 there will be changes to the look and feel of some pages. This will start with Learn and Overtime, with the remaining areas impacted from August 2025.

This is because Oracle are releasing Redwood which is a change to their UI (user-interface) to modernise and improve user experience.
Whilst it is not just a colour change, but a way to interact and consume information and is mobile friendly, fundamentally this shouldn’t impact your day-to-day use of One Source.

Any process changes will be update in the User Guides, these documents can be found in the training section under the appropriate area: Training and Support (this will be updated by 2nd May)

What is Redwood?

Redwood is a change to the UI (user-interface) to modernise and improve user experience.

Whilst it is not just a colour change, but a way to interact and consume information and is mobile friendly, fundamentally this shouldn’t impact your day-to-day use of One Source.

However, for those pages that have been affected user guides have been created or updated and will continue to be as changes are made.

What is My Team Activity Centre in the new Redwood screens?

This is a one-stop-shop for actions you're able to take in OneSource in relation to the employees you manage. 

What is My Activity Centre in the new Redwood screens?

This is one-stop-shop for actions you're able to take in relation to your own employee record in OneSource. 

Workforce Structures

Why have the position reference numbers changed?

The manually inputted ten-character reference numbers stem back to pre-2005 & have become obsolete.

The introduction of automatically generated position reference numbers are in line with One Source functionality and will follow the life cycle of all newly established positions with immediate effect, for the duration of their lifecycle. All previously allocated ten-character post numbers remain unaffected by this change.

Documents of Record (DORs)

What is a DOR?

DORs are a space against employee records in OneSource where documents can be held. These are locked down by strict security rules and employees, line managers, HR and Payroll teams will have different types of access to these documents depending on the document type.

Why can't I create my own DORs?

There is strict security held against each document type to ensure that only those that require access at an appropriate point in a process are able to do so.

Which DORs can my manager create?

There is a table within the How to View and Create DORs guidance doc which explains exactly who has which type of access to each document type.

Why aren't all of the fields populated against my DORs?

A lot of the document types were set up years ago and some of the fields won't be relevant to current processes. Please check the detail contained within the attachments that are saved against the DORs as these will be the forms that were completed as part of the associated process.

Sickness Absence Navigation - How do I find...

Sickness Absences Navigation - Where can I find....

This document is designed to help you find training, policies, updates, communications and other items related to Sickness Absences as quickly as possible

Sickness Absences Navigation - Where can I find....

Sickness Absence Input

My Employee has more than one role, what do I need to do if they are off sick?

Sickness for employees needs to be raised against each individual assignment, it is important that the right detail is captured at the job level​

I cannot see where I record working patterns?

There will no longer be the requirement to record individual days, just start and end.​

Do I impact my employee if I open or close their absence late?

Yes, you could impact their sickness trigger or pay. Sickness should be started and ended as soon as you are informed. This should be for all roles where the employee is sick in all jobs, or only the roles they are sick in, this includes casuals.

OneSource does not seem to consider my working patterns?

One Source does not hold working patterns and calculations are conducted on Calander days (pro-rated for part time).  This is for absence management only not sickness entitlement. 

My employee is part time, what should I record as start and end date for absence?

It is important to note that even if an employee only works half day or 0.25 day. the absence needs to be entered as a full day as it's a full day for that employee based on their working pattern. 

The same is considered with the length of time off. Managers need to seek clarity from the employee, when they would have been fit to return to work to determine to correct end date for the sickness. 

How does the sickness absence process work for an employee who has multiple assignments?

We record absences at an assignment level, which requires the line manager of each assignment to create an absence record in OneSource. 

On some occasions you may be sick in one job and not the other. The line manager of the assignment impacted by the absence should input the absence and end it.

Sickness Absence Reporting

What reports will be available to me as a line manager?

There is a new manager dashboard, this will show the open and closed absences under you in the hierarchy.  The total number of sick calendar days will be calculated to support you with identifying when an employee has met a trigger points.   This is adjusted based on the Employee FTE.

You can find out more about the trigger points for sickness in the Sickness policy and how to manage them in the sickness guidance can be found here.   

Why is there no absence reason in the Managers Dashboard?

Sickness reasons will only start being recorded in the new solution from September 2024, if you need information about a sickness reason before this time please contact HR where they have offline access to this information

Will we have access to sickness data for our areas as a line manager?

Managers will now have reports and dashboards to support them actively monitor absences in OneSource. Line Managers will no longer be driven by emails/prompts.

I'm a Senior Manager/Head of Department/Director, will I be able to view an aggregated view of absences across my area?

Corporate Dashboard will be available through your HR Rep for your directorate.  

Sickness Absence History 

As a manager, will I be able to see my employee’s sickness absence history for the last 12 months?

Yes, this information will be available under existing absences at employee level and in the managers dashboard

Sickness Absence Policy

Has the Absence Policy Changed?

Yes, this policy is found on the HR pages on the Intranet.  Here is a link to the new policy    

Have there been changes to the Bradford Factor Score Process for Sickness Absence?

Yes it has been replaced with a triggers based on Calendar Days.  3 instances of absence or more than 14 days within a 12 month rolling window.  The guidance for this can be found here    

Is there support for Managers for the absence policy?

What if I have an active warning in place under the old policy and have further time off work sick – which policy will I then be managed under and at what stage/step in the process will I be at?

Where current active warnings exist and have been issued under the old policy, these will still be valid under the new policy e.g. if an employee has an active first warning in place that has been issued at stage 1 of the old policy and returns to work on or after 2nd September, they will be subject to a step 2 review meeting under the new policy and likewise if an employee has an active second warning in place that has been issued at stage 2 of the old policy, they will be subject to a step 3 review meeting under the new policy.

Sickness Absence Pay 

How will employees be made aware of when their pay will reduce to half pay and nil pay when absent?

Notifications via email (replacing previous paper based letters) for the employee and line managers will be sent via One Source when an employee is near moving to half and nil pay. 

How will I be made aware of half and nil pay notifications if I'm off sick and have no access to my emails?

As part of the regular check ins and welfare checks a manager conducts during a sickness, the manager will be required to notify the employee of any notifications and changes to pay.

Sickness Absence Document Record 

Can the employee view the RTW Document of Record I have completed as a manager?

Notifications via email (replacing previous paper based letters) for the employee and line managers will be sent via One Source when an employee is near moving to half and nil pay. 

You will be able to access this via OneSource via Any mobile or smart device.

Family Friendly Absence

Can I see Family Friendly Absences?

The process for raising a new family friendly absence remains the same

You can view your own family friendly absences in the existing absence area in OneSource absence.  

Are there changes to family friendly leave process E.g. Maternity, Adoption Etc excl Paternity

No changes to starting the process, please refer to absence policy for more information on this. We have moved away from physical letters to notifications for Half and Nil Pay. There are some legislative changes to the Paternity Process and those are covered under the FAQ Question "How do I apply for Paternity"

I am going to take paternity, what is the process?

The Quick Reference Guide on how to create a Paternity and Paternity Extension can be found here - Paternity and Paternity Extension QRG

Paternity is covered in detail in the Family Friendly policy found here - Family Friendly Policy

I am going to take Career Break/Sabbatical, what is the process?

The Quick Reference Guide on how to create a Career Break can be found here - Career Break QRG

Career Break  is covered in detail in the  Leave and Time Off policy found here - Leave and Time Off Policy

I don't know the actual date for Paternity yet, do I need to go back and populate this after?

The actual Dates for the childbirth and paternity start and end date need to be populated by yourself or manager to ensure you are paid correctly.

Sickness Absence Transition 

Why am I seeing 2 absence start dates?

If the absence started before 1st September 2024, 2 start dates will be shown.  The original absence start date is the date that was entered in the older version of sickness and was carried over when we transitioned to Sickness Absence.

Sickness Absence Other 

I manage casual workers; do I need to record their sickness absence?

Yes, casual worker absences should always recorded.

I have an employee with sickness during maternity but I cannot add this absence as the maternity started before 1st September, what do I do?

Raise a helpdesk ticket - Helpdesk ticket requirements - Employee name, Assignment, Start date of Absence(for information only), End Date, Absence Reason.   HR will create the absence for you and it will be visible under existing absences but you will not be able to edit this.

What is sickness during maternity?

Sickness during maternity is an absence type in OneSource. Where employees have returned to work during their 39-week maternity pay period and are then off due to sickness during these 39 weeks, Sickness During Maternity should be selected as the absence type. 

If you need more information on this, refer to the sickness policy.

Sickness Absence Training 

Sickness Absence Helpdesk 

I am a Line Manager, I have entered a Sickness Absence and I believe the entitlement is incorrect?

Raise a helpdesk ticket and select the Absence queue.  This ticket will be picked up by one of the HR operations team and they will respond.  

For more information on how to raise a helpdesk ticket, follow this guide or watch this video on how to raise a service request

Recruitment

I always forget how to undertake recruitment as I rarely recruit – how can One Source help me?

We have broken the recruitment process down into multiple segments and each of those have a supporting QRG or Video to walk you through the process.  You can find these in the OneSource Training area here - Training and Support

How do I access ORC?

ORC is only available to Hiring Managers.  If you have the role of Hiring Manager in OneSource, you will see a Hiring tile under My Team.

If you want to review an internal job, from your Oracle front page go to Me, and select the Internal jobshop tile

Do I need to do anything to get access to ORC?

No, ORC (Oracle Recruitment Cloud) forms part of your current One Source application. 

If you are Hiring Manager, from your Oracle front page, My Team – Hiring 

If you want to review an internal job, from your Oracle front page, Me – Internal jobshop 

Sign In (oraclecloud.com) 

Where can I get support or help from?

Digital & Change Champions will be available to help support and guide 

If you need further support please raise a helpdesk ticket 

Support & guidance (inc FAQs) will be added to the OneSource Intranet before go live 

Home (walsall.gov.uk) 

Why does the screen look different when I access the hiring tab?

With the latest update, you'll now see a Recruitment Activity Center page, this new landing page provides a centralised view of your recruitment activities as a Hiring Manager. To view your requisitions, you will now need to click the "Requisitions" tab located at the bottom of the page.

What is the new panel on the right hand side of the screen?

The panel on the right is the Navigation Panel. It helps guide you through the requisition creation process by:

- Displaying the different sections of the requisition form.

- Allowing you to jump directly to specific sections (this only works after completing the mandatory fields within the requisition first)

- Showing your progress as you complete each part.

This feature is designed to make the process more intuitive and efficient.

How do I create a new requisition in the updated system?

You can refer to the quick reference guide CREATING A REQUSITION

Can we identify on the Internal Job Shop page, which jobs are internal only?

Yes, this is a dropdown on the filter.

If you applied as an external candidate and then become an internal candidate will your details have been updated to reflect your Walsall email address?

Yes. Everything is seamlessly linked.

Once the application has been submitted, does the Hiring Manager receive an instant notification? At the same time as Recruitment team?

Yes. The Recruitment team see it first and then they release it. Once release, the Hiring Manager sees the notifications through a bell icon and they will also receive an email.

When creating an Oracle Recruiting Cloud requisition, the system can’t find the post number I want to recruit to – what should I do? I am a hiring manager.

Oracle Recruiting Cloud allows hiring managers to recruit to positions within their own hierarchy (as defined on Fusion). If as a hiring manager you are unable to find the position on Oracle Recruiting Cloud then we recommend checking that the post does indeed report to you on Fusion. Any inaccuracies should be explored with the One Source structure team.

All managers can view their DIRECT occupied and vacant positions via the One Source Homepage > 'Me' Tab > 'My Dashboard' Icon.

If the post is an indirect report, then the manager who should be seeing it as a direct report needs to repeat the earlier mentioned process to obtain the post number.

If the issue still persists, then it will need to be raised as a One Source Help Desk Service Request by the manager (details of how to raise a Service Request can be found here)

*Managers will need to ensure their structures are correct in the first instance in order to go ahead with recruitment.*

Overtime (OTL)

How will OTL work for people with multiple assignments?

  • End user will pick the appropriate assignment they have completed the overtime against
  • System will auto select the correct cost code

What is submitted via OTL?

  • Paid overtime claims
  • Casual hours worked
  • Sleep in pay
  • Stand by claims
  • Bank holiday enhanced payments

If a colleague has multiple assignments and works at varying sites, how will OTL know which site to pay them from?

The OTL submission is sent to your line manager based on the role that was selected - this could be different people.

How do casual workers get paid?

Casual workers would submit all working shifts via OTL in One Source.

Who from a management level can approve?

Line managers only.

If the line manager that receives the time card is not an authorised signatory, then it is that line managers responsibility to forward the time card on.

Is approval on a weekly basis?

Each time cards cover a 7 day period. 

Employees can create and submit time cards on a weekly basis, however the manager can approve on a monthly basis if they find that easier. Overtime will continue to be paid 1 month in arrears.

What isn't submitted as Overtime in One Source?

  • Unpaid hours would need documenting in a spreadsheet and sent to payroll.
  • Holiday pay on overtime – spreadsheet to payroll
  • Paper time sheets for regular hours

Can I group my overtime and submit?

Overtime should be claimed when it is worked as per our policy.  If you group overtime together and submit in bulk it will have a financial impact on your pay as it could increase your pension contribution for the month paid.

I'm Grade 8, am I able to submit Overtime through OneSource or do I need to complete the form?

Payroll and HR are looking at this as a OneSource improvement, but it will require a pay policy change in order for this to be achieved. So in the meantime, paper forms are still required.

I wasn't aware I could claim Overtime, I have been claiming TOIL as an alternative, are there exceptional circumstances where I can claim?

Overtime can be paid in exceptional circumstances and depends on the needs of the service. It is covered in the HR Pay Policy - found on the HR pages under Pay Policy Statements

If managers can approve overtime/absences on OneSource could WALTER be moved over to OneSource?

This is currently a Phase 2 consideration for OneSource.

Learn

Why can't I find a course through the search?

Why can't I book (enrol) onto an offering (date)?

The process to find an offering has changed so please view our updated QRG on how to enrol. You may also be able to join a waiting list for a date. Where there are no offerings showing, there are currently no dates arranged so we will try to signpost you to alternative learning.

Why has my learning status not been updated against a course?

Classroom course attendance is normally updated once a validated register has been completed. If you attended more than 7 working days ago, raise a helpdesk ticket on One Source so that this can be investigated. However, a new function to mark your own attendance as completed may have been enabled on the course. Check out our QRG for more information. Issues with completion of eLearning should be raised through a helpdesk ticket on One Source.

As a manager, can I see what learning my team are booked on or have completed?

When a person books onto a course, a copy of the confirmation is also sent to their manager. You can also view the full learning records of your team, either against an individual or a particular course. See the QRG on this topic.

I cannot find the mandatory training; does it need to be assigned to me?

The mandatory courses should be assigned automatically to staff either on 1st April or their start date for new staff. It should appear under ‘my learning experiences’. Please raise a helpdesk on One Source if they do not.

How do agency and temporary staff access One Source?

Non-managerial agency and temporary staff can request access by completing the access request form.

Access Request Form

Interim managers should complete the HR user access request form as additional functions are required.

HR user access request form

I have completed an eLearning module several times but cannot get it to complete. How can I get this to complete?

We have prepared a  ‘resolving completion issues’ document, for reference. If these suggestions do not work, please raise a helpdesk ticket on One Source.

resolving completion issues document

Why won’t the eLearning launch or allow me to resume?

Firstly, try to access the course on another browser. Ensure you clear your browsing data history, cookies, cache. Also check that pop ups and redirects are showing as ‘allowed’, Try tapping on the course with laptop touchscreen then continue with keyboard/mouse.

If these suggestions do not work, please raise a helpdesk ticket on One Source including screenshots of any error messages that pop up.

Why haven’t I received a link to join a virtual course?

How can I provide evidence of completion of a course?

As part of ongoing improvements, we are adding certificates to our courses. In the meantime, you can now print off your learning records. See the appropriate QRG on this topic.

I am a manager, why can't I see my team's learning records?

By clicking on My Team, then Learning, you should see all your team's learning records. If not

  • Clear any filters (still not showing then ...)
  • Sign out of One Source by clicking next to your initials and choosing the option
  • Clear browsing data
  • Sign back into One Source and retry

Talent (Continuing Improvement Conversation - CICs)

Why do I need to undertake a Continuing Improvement Conversation (CIC) with my team?

The CIC process develops a two-way communication channel between the manager and the team member, promoting a healthier work culture and fostering a safe environment to voice ideas and thoughts. The personal development of all individuals is key to a successful CIC process, helping to develop feelings of being valued and intrinsic motivation, and consequently improving performance.

All Walsall Council employees should receive regular sessions with their manager as part of an ongoing performance management process, with a primary aim of retaining our workforce.

Further information on the CIC process is available on the OD Sharepoint Page

 

Can I complete the CIC on paper?

 

Why can’t I add a check in for my team members?

The CIC process is only applicable to Walsall Council employees. If your team member is a casual or contingency (agency) worker, you will not be able to add a check in. However, you should still have conversations with them about their health & wellbeing, performance and any support requirements.

Who completes the check in?

Only a manager can complete the questionnaire, and this should be done during the session or as soon as possible afterwards. Both a manager and employee can add notes against discussion items and goals.

Can an employee edit or delete their check in?

No, An employee cannot edit or delete their check in. They also cannot edit their questionnaire.

As a manager, how do I create and complete a check in?

Quick reference guides are available to show you how to add a check in and how to complete the documentation on One Source

Training & Support

I have changed manager/role, can my new manager see previous check ins?

Yes, check ins remain against you as an individual as a continuous record, and can be viewed by a new manager. However, they cannot edit or delete them.

What if I disagree with what my manager has written in my CIC?

At the session, you should agree with your manager what should be recorded in your CIC. If there is anything you disagree with, please discuss with your manager.

Can an employee add their own objectives?

Yes, both an employee and their manager can add objectives (now known as performance goals). The page on One Source has changed slightly but these can be added via the goals centre under CIC.

The option to add tasks has been removed, but notes can be added at any time to your check in to detail progress and/or issues.

How do I add an objective/goal?

QRGs are available for both manager and employee on how to add a goal. Training & Support

Further information on setting a SMART goal is available on the OD SharePoint page. OS Sharepoint page

I can see other tiles under CIC, am I able to use these?

We are currently investigating the full functionality of Skills and Qualifications, and Career Development. We do not use the Talent Ratings module as our approach has moved to ‘conversations’ with your manager rather than rating against our values and behaviours.

Health and Safety

Will Health and Safety be part of One Source?

Health and Safety reporting of accidents and incidents will continue to be run the same way but will be recorded in One Source from September 2020 so it aligns to the reporting periods.

Procurement

Has Redwood changed for all Purchasing screens?

No - Redwood pages are only affecting Self Serv Procurement - Raising a requisition

I can no longer withdraw a pending change request once the order has been generated?

This function can no longer be done by the requisitioner. You will need to raise a helpdesk ticket on the one source helpdesk, requesting for the Purchase order number to be withdrawn from the change request approval. The Withdraw functionality for a requisitioner will become available in future upgrade patch release (November 2025)

Has the process changed for approving a requisition?

No the process remains the same

Expenses and Car Mileage 

As an employee, how do I enter car mileage and expense claims?

Easy, just check out the quick reference guides and video guidance here.

As a cost centre manager, how do I approve car mileage and expense claims?

Easy, just check out the quick reference guides and video guidance here.

Why does my reimbursable amount for mileage calculate as £0.00?

This happens when you use an invalid combination for the Vehicle Category, Vehicle Type and Fuel Type dropdowns.

 

Please refer to page 6 of the Expense Full Guide on the Training and Support section for a list of valid combinations.

How far can you go back to claim expenses?

The process is the same as what we use currently - the general advice is within 3 months.

What does the account code relate to?

The account code relates to the cost centre. The code can be updated, although staff must be advised not to change the subjective code (3rd part, 5 digits long) as this is defaulted based on the type of expense.

How is the approver selected?

The system will decide who the approver is based on the cost centre, so if this is changed then the approver may change as well. The user has no control over the approver, the system will select it automatically. If a different approver should be picking up the expenses there are options to achieve this, such as:

  • The approver reassigning the request.
  • The correct approver being added to the code at a lower value.
  • The cost centre approver setting up a vacation rule to expenses for specific staff are automatically redirected to the preferred approver.

How would I claim car mileage if the car is fully electric?

You can select the dropdown electric in when submitting your expense

All information can be found in the Expenses Policy and Guide -Expenses Training and Policy/Guide

How do I claim a business expense?

  Any expense that the council usually incurs to operate their services is classed as a business expense. This cannot be claimed via Expenses and needs to be reimbursed via One Source Accounts Payable. 

 Examples are Refreshments for a Council meeting or in the case of a social worker food for a child or purchases for a family. Wherever possible a purchase card should be used.

Please note: Office equipment is not a claimable expense. 

  • Where a purchase card has not been able to be used you will need to request your manager completes and sends a pro forma invoice Forms to Lindsey Loverock/Harvey Chima with evidence of the purchase (receipts) and will also require approval from a cost centre manager (authorised signatory)
  • You will need to provide bank account details for payment by BACS. If payment is to be paid to same bank account as your salary, then a screen shot of your bank details within one source is sufficient.
  • If you wish the money to be reimbursed to a different bank account, you will need to request a BACS form.

Payroll

Will my manager be able to view my payslip?

No, your manager will not be able to view your payroll slip as this is private information. However, if a manager happens to have role within HR/Payroll admin, then then they would be able to access the payslip of employees.

 

Even with this access, managers will not view payslips unless they have a valid reason to do so or consent.

How can I see my pay?

Payslips are online under the ‘Me’ tab. You can view and download your actual payslip, check the net pay and the bank account to which it’s being sent and view a graphical representation of your pay and deductions.

What are the Payroll cut off dates?

Payroll cut off dates and Pay dates can be found here - Payroll Timetable

Schools 

Process for staff without a Walsall Council email address

If you are a member of staff without a Walsall Council email address, please have a look at the B2B user guide that has been created and is available to access from the One Source Training and Support page, by clicking here.

How do I run my CFR reports?

You previously ran your CFR reports via Qlikview, you now access the same data within One Source, see the below quick reference guide on how to do this.

  1. Accessing School Reports

What can schools do in one source?

There are some traded services offered to schools which will vary.  All schools now have access to OneSource directly for Employee Self Service and Manager Self Service, as well as other things.  More information about the HR traded services for schools can be found on this page and the training and FAQ's for schools are available on the Schools OneSource Training Page which can be found here.

Helpdesk

What is the Helpdesk?

Helpdesk is a ticket management tool in OneSource.  It is a dedicated helpdesk to support you with any questions or help you may need relating to OneSource, this covers Finance, HR, Payroll and Procurement

There is an intranet post about Helpdesk which you can find here - OneSource Helpdesk

 

 

How do I Create a Helpdesk Ticket?

Here you can find the updated training guide for Creating a Helpdesk Ticket - Raise a Helpdesk Ticket (1)

Refer to the intranet communication for more information - OneSource Helpdesk

What Categories are there to pick from?

All of the categories which can be selected have been recently revisited and updated

They are listed in this communication - OneSource Helpdesk

How do I know where my ticket is in the process?

Your ticket will be updated and you will be notified in OneSource when it's back with you

Who do I contact with One Source related issues?

I'm struggling with my access/functionality, what do I do?

Before raising a service request via One Source Helpdesk, please follow the steps in the guide

Guidance for Loss of Functionality

Can I withdraw a Helpdesk ticket?

Open your service request up within OneSource and click on "Actions", there are options to delete or you could just add a comment in the messages for the support team informing them the query has been resolved and they will close for you

When creating a ticket, a chatbot feature would be helpful to help answer questions, is this going to be introduced in the future?

We are looking at bots and AI in future phases, this will  picked up as we explore OneSource continuous improvements

Who do I contact if I notice an issue in OneSource?

We have recently updated the categories for the Helpdesk.  If the issue you have noticed is related to a specific area you can select them from the categories.  You can find the list of categories in this communication - OneSource Helpdesk

Create a Helpdesk ticket and notify the relevant team!