Senior HR/People Advisor

Job responsibilities

Provide advice and support to managers and employees on a wide range of operational people/ Human Resources issues ensuring that issues are dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.

Work closely with line managers to provide appropriate guidance and advice on all aspects of HR in line with the organisations policies and procedures.

Provide an effective employee relations service for the organisation including dealing with and managing all aspects of complex cases with contentious information which may be confrontational or disputed.

Be the HR representative at employee relations meetings/hearings eg, disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, performance. This includes undertaking investigations, attending hearings, giving evidence at hearing and/or meetings which includes analysis and interpretation of information which may be contentious, highly complex and sensitive.

Ensure regular updates are provided on the progress of employee relation cases and seek advice as required.

Provide workforce information to managers in a timely and accurate manner, eg sickness data including, analysing the information and advising managers of appropriate strategies.

Proactively manage sickness absence in line with the organisations Sickness Absence Management Policy, supporting managers to ensure quality and timely referrals to occupational health and informal and/or formal meetings/ hearings as appropriate.

As directed the Head of People and People Business Partners, take a lead role on specific areas of work including ongoing programmes of work and projects eg workforce reporting, wellbeing, ESR, recruitment, appointment of Board Members, staff survey.

Interpret, advise and coach employees on the application of terms and conditions of employment, ensuring compliance with the organisations policies and procedures and employment legislation.

Support with key deliverables in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace including reporting, mandatory submissions.

Deliver and assist the development of training sessions on people management skills and workforce related topics across the organisation.

Participate in job evaluation processes ensuring compliance with national guidance.

Take a lead role in supporting managers to develop job descriptions, providing feedback as necessary.

Contribute and support the design and implementation of policies/procedures and guidelines within service area and identifying and proposing changes to administrative policies/procedures and guidelines as require.

Support the People Business Partners and managers in relation to change management processes including TUPE, redundancy, redeployment etc providing appropriate guidance and advice.

Provide advice to managers on complex recruitment queries and ensuring recruitment processes are diverse and inclusive.

Be a proactive member of the Corporate People Team and identify implications and solutions to operational issues.

Produce specific workforce reports and briefing papers requiring analysis and using prolonged concentration and the appropriate computer, keyboard (hardware) and software packages, as required.

Develop project communication material including briefings, presentations and progress reports.

Work in partnership with Trade Union representatives on specific issues.

Undertake activities in relation to workforce audits, as required.

Support in responding to employment-related Freedom of Information Act Requests and Data Protection Act Subject Access Requests, as required.

Ensure robust and accurate records management processes.

Support with activities in relation to employee engagement such as attending or presenting information to the Staff Engagement Group and Staff Networks.

Support in relation to the development of HR related service specifications and associated processes.

Formal line management responsibilities of employees, as required.

Work on own initiative, at pace and often under pressure.

Gain co-operation and agreement from managers, using effective communication skills including a degree of negotiation, persuasion or motivation skills where appropriate

Make judgements on a range of issues relating to HR, using own expertise

Plan and manage own workload to weekly, monthly and annual timescales to ensure continuity of service.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in Human Resources Management or demonstrable experience of an equivalent level
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 5 qualification or equivalent level of demonstrable experience within Human Resources Management
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Working towards or willingness to work towards Level 7 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification or equivalent qualification

Desirable

• Chartered Member of the CIPD
• Coaching Qualification

Experience

Essential

• Generalist HR experience
• Provision of advice to managers on a range of areas including terms and conditions of employment and application of employment policy and legislation
• Experience of dealing with employee relations casework and organisational change processes
• Experience of practical problem solving including around complex HR matters
• Sickness absence case management
• Design and development of employment policy
• Producing and analysing workforce reports
• Electronic HR information systems

Desirable

• NHS experience

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Able to analyse and interpret complex workforce data to draw conclusions
• Attention to detail, able to work accurately, identifying and rectifying errors quickly
• Planned and organised approach with ability to manage competing priorities in order to meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to adapt communication style and content to suit the audience.
• Able to manage conflict in order to bring about positive outcomes
• Able to think analytically, anticipating obstacles and thinking ahead using analytical techniques to identify several solutions
• IT skills (Microsoft packages)
• Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Influencing skills

Desirable

• Training, presentation and facilitation skills
• Use of the NHS Electronic Staff Record
• Project Management skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and ensure a people focused response.
• Independently mobile in order to be able to work across a number of sites in West Yorkshire and travel as required.