Job summary
Please note the PayScale currently in use in Agenda for Change 2023/2024. We will update the 2024/2025 PayScale once confirmed.
Are you passionate about employee relations and committed to fostering a compassionate, fair, and people-centred approach? We are looking for an experienced Employee Relations Lead to join our dynamic Operational HR Team.
In this pivotal role, you'll tackle complex cases, offer guidance and support to the operational HR team, and oversee the progression of all ER casework, ensuring timely resolution and a compassionate approach to every case. You'll also collaborate closely with other HR teams to embed learning from casework into everyday practices and ensure our policies remain current and effective. You will also line manage our Central Services People Management Team and ER Coordinator, while overseeing the work of our external casework investigators.
You'll be confident in providing high-quality, consistent, and proactive specialist advice, advising senior leaders, and driving improvements in both policy and practice. You should be an expert in employment legislation, with a talent for coaching and developing teams to approach employee relations with empathy and fairness.
You'll be based at London House, Bracknell with the requirement to travel across Berkshire to other Trust premises as necessary, although you will spend the majority of your time working from home.
Main duties of the job
Expert Guidance: Provide specialist employee relations advice on all casework, including disciplinary, early resolution, and Freedom to Speak Up matters. Analyse complex situations and interpret policy and employment legislation to recommend the best course of action.
Leadership: Line manage the Central Services People Management Team, oversee the ER Coordinator, and manage the pool of external casework investigators, ensuring consistent quality and adherence to Trust standards.
Casework Management: Oversee all employee relations cases, ensuring timely resolutions and identifying any obstacles. Ensure thorough documentation of all casework activities and prepare regular performance reports based on complex data analysis.
Collaboration: Work closely with the HR Lead for Business Partnering and Policy & Transformation teams to ensure learnings from casework are integrated into day-to-day practices and support the development of improved employment policies.
Culture Development: Lead initiatives to create a compassionate, people-centred approach to casework, aligned with the Trust's values and principles of a just and learning culture.
Coaching and Development: Enhance the HR team's technical expertise while fostering their ability to coach managers and staff on addressing and resolving people issues effectively and compassionately.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire.
We value diversity and are proud to be a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.We work hard to create an inclusive environment where you'll be supported by friendly and professional colleagues to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
We welcome people who share these values to come and work for us.
Benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
-
Degree or equivalent knowledge gained through a combination of study, employment or other experience.
-
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 7 diploma or equivalent HR qualification or experience.
-
Recent experience of the management of complex employee relations casework in an advisory or investigation role.
-
Significant experience of working in a HR team, providing advice and support on policy interpretation and employment legislation.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call Tracey Slegg on 07824 821844 or email: Tracey.Slegg@Berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Interview will be held on 11th Sept 2024
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:
-
Degree or equivalent knowledge gained through a combination of study, employment or other experience.
-
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 7 diploma or equivalent HR qualification or experience.
-
Recent experience of the management of complex employee relations casework in an advisory or investigation role.
-
Significant experience of working in a HR team, providing advice and support on policy interpretation and employment legislation.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call Tracey Slegg on 07824 821844 or email: Tracey.Slegg@Berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Interview will be held on 11th Sept 2024
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent knowledge gained through a combination of study, employment or other experience.
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 7 diploma or equivalent HR qualification or experience
Previous Experience
Essential
- Recent experience of the management of complex employee relations casework in an advisory or investigation role
- Significant experience of working in a HR team, providing advice and support on policy interpretation and employment legislation
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of employee relations, including current best practice
- Expert knowledge of current and impending employment law and ability to apply to the working environment
- Exceptional interpersonal, influencing and communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain communication, both verbally and in writing, to all levels of staff about complex and difficult matters and in sometimes difficult situations
- Ability to advise on both informal and formal approaches to resolving individual performance, conduct and grievance issues, based on sound knowledge
- Ability to identify key issues and problems in a situation and to plan a logical sequence of actions appropriate to achieve objectives
- Ability to cope with competing and conflicting demands, working well under pressure
- Confident in response to challenge, with an ability to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others
- Ability to prepare written reports and present information to a range of audiences, dealing with questions and challenge.
- Ability to facilitate formal meetings involving different professions and levels of seniority.
- Advanced IT skills, with an ability to navigate around various systems and software packages, such as Excel, Word and Adobe.
- Ability to work autonomously under own direction, demonstrating accountability for own work.
- Ability to focus for prolonged periods where the work requires attention to detail and high degrees of accuracy.
- Ability to work flexibly as required, with the ability to travel independently to Trust locations to fulfil the requirements of the post
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- Degree or equivalent knowledge gained through a combination of study, employment or other experience.
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 7 diploma or equivalent HR qualification or experience
Previous Experience
Essential
- Recent experience of the management of complex employee relations casework in an advisory or investigation role
- Significant experience of working in a HR team, providing advice and support on policy interpretation and employment legislation
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of employee relations, including current best practice
- Expert knowledge of current and impending employment law and ability to apply to the working environment
- Exceptional interpersonal, influencing and communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain communication, both verbally and in writing, to all levels of staff about complex and difficult matters and in sometimes difficult situations
- Ability to advise on both informal and formal approaches to resolving individual performance, conduct and grievance issues, based on sound knowledge
- Ability to identify key issues and problems in a situation and to plan a logical sequence of actions appropriate to achieve objectives
- Ability to cope with competing and conflicting demands, working well under pressure
- Confident in response to challenge, with an ability to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others
- Ability to prepare written reports and present information to a range of audiences, dealing with questions and challenge.
- Ability to facilitate formal meetings involving different professions and levels of seniority.
- Advanced IT skills, with an ability to navigate around various systems and software packages, such as Excel, Word and Adobe.
- Ability to work autonomously under own direction, demonstrating accountability for own work.
- Ability to focus for prolonged periods where the work requires attention to detail and high degrees of accuracy.
- Ability to work flexibly as required, with the ability to travel independently to Trust locations to fulfil the requirements of the post
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
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).
