Job summary
We are offering an exciting opportunity for a skilled and experienced HR professional to join our dedicated Employee Relations team, in the role of Employee Relations Advisor. Working in a small and supportive embedded workforce team, and supported by the Senior Employee Relations Manager, the ER Advisor plays a crucial role in providing advice and support to managers and employees across the Trust on a wide range of operational employee relations matters.
The ER Advisor will use their knowledge and experience to manage a caseload of routine employee relations issues including sickness absence management, disciplinary, informal grievances and capability processes. The ER Advisor will have access to the Trust's new HR case management system, to accurately document and track progress on their cases, to ensure casework is progressed in line with key performance indicators.
The Employee Relations team is instrumental in embedding the Trust's priority of supporting our staff, and the Trust's own Values - Together Safe, Kind, Excellent. This role offers an excellent opportunity to further develop your HR career in a fast-paced environment of an acute Trust, working in partnership with stakeholders and trade union representatives and influencing workforce outcomes.
Main duties of the job
To provide support and assistance on a range of employment related issues such as capability, disciplinary and grievance.
To robustly support case management of routine employee relations issues in collaboration with Employee Relations Managers and line managers across the Trust. To provide general HR advice on a range of issues such as maternity, adoption, paternity, career break schemes and annual leave.
Ideally, you will be CIPD qualified or have substantial proven experience working within an HR service managing a caseload, as well as be CIPD qualified. The ER Advisor role will suit someone with excellent communication skills, who is agile in their approach and able to translate service issues into proactive solutions whilst supporting and educating managers through our HR processes. You will need to be organised and able to prioritise to manage your own workload and respond to changing demands.
We would love you to join us and be part of our team based at the Addenbrooke's Hospital site, therefore if you want to know more about the role, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would be happy to have a conversation with you or answer any questions before you submit your application.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
The advert will close at midnight on 30 November 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on 12 December 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
The advert will close at midnight on 30 November 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on 12 December 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
- Level 5 CIPD qualification or equivalent relevant experience
- Evidence of relevant continued professional development
Desirable
- Additional relevant qualification at level 5 or above
Experience
Essential
- Substantial proven experience of working within HR advising on a wide range of policies and procedures in a large organisation without day-to-day supervision or direction
- Experience of coordinating multiple workplace activities (such as Employee Relations case work for example)
- Interpreting and applying employment law for use in employment cases
- Delivering a range of training on HR issues
- Working in an advisory capacity
- Working with different levels in the organisation including senior managers
- Working as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of working in an Employee Relations role
- Experience of working within HR in the NHS
- Experience of using NHS Electronic Staff Records System
- Experience of using an HR case management system
- Experience of managing conflict in the workplace
Knowledge
Essential
- Good working knowledge of current legislation
- Familiarity with the Equality Act 2010 and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Desirable
- Good working knowledge of NHS terms and conditions
Skills
Essential
- Strong ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing
- Approachability
- Ability to act on own initiative and also work as part of a team
- Ability to manage conflict
- Ability to prioritise, organise own workload and respond to changing demands
- Ability to work to deadlines and manage multiple demands
- Ability to establish credibility and rapport
- Ability to convey ideas and advice clearly and concisely
- Ability to explain and persuade others through written and oral argument and gain acceptance for issues that may be unwelcome or new
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Competency using Microsoft Office
- Ability to handle confidential issues and distressed people with sensitivity, tact and discretion
- Good analytical skills
- Ability to research, analyse, summarise and interpret data and act on these appropriately
Desirable
- Trained in Agenda for Change Job Evaluation
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the service requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
- Level 5 CIPD qualification or equivalent relevant experience
- Evidence of relevant continued professional development
Desirable
- Additional relevant qualification at level 5 or above
Experience
Essential
- Substantial proven experience of working within HR advising on a wide range of policies and procedures in a large organisation without day-to-day supervision or direction
- Experience of coordinating multiple workplace activities (such as Employee Relations case work for example)
- Interpreting and applying employment law for use in employment cases
- Delivering a range of training on HR issues
- Working in an advisory capacity
- Working with different levels in the organisation including senior managers
- Working as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of working in an Employee Relations role
- Experience of working within HR in the NHS
- Experience of using NHS Electronic Staff Records System
- Experience of using an HR case management system
- Experience of managing conflict in the workplace
Knowledge
Essential
- Good working knowledge of current legislation
- Familiarity with the Equality Act 2010 and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Desirable
- Good working knowledge of NHS terms and conditions
Skills
Essential
- Strong ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing
- Approachability
- Ability to act on own initiative and also work as part of a team
- Ability to manage conflict
- Ability to prioritise, organise own workload and respond to changing demands
- Ability to work to deadlines and manage multiple demands
- Ability to establish credibility and rapport
- Ability to convey ideas and advice clearly and concisely
- Ability to explain and persuade others through written and oral argument and gain acceptance for issues that may be unwelcome or new
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Competency using Microsoft Office
- Ability to handle confidential issues and distressed people with sensitivity, tact and discretion
- Good analytical skills
- Ability to research, analyse, summarise and interpret data and act on these appropriately
Desirable
- Trained in Agenda for Change Job Evaluation
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the service requirements
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)