Head of Employee Relations

Job overview Are you an experienced Employee Relations leader looking for an opportunity to shape a modern, compassionate and effective service? We are seeking an exceptional senior people professional to lead our Employee Relations function. The successful candidate will act as the Trust’s senior Employee Relations expert, providing credible, pragmatic and legally robust advice to Executive Directors, senior leaders, clinicians and managers. You'll lead a skilled team and develop a proactive service focused on early intervention, fair and proportionate decision-making, mediation, restorative practice and just culture. You'll have substantial senior-level experience within the NHS or another large, complex and highly regulated organisation. You will bring expert employment-law knowledge, strong leadership skills and significant experience of complex case management, trade union partnership and organisational change. If you are a compassionate, credible and values-led leader who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, we would welcome your application. The pay banding of this role is subject to job matching. For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sandeep Karir, Deputy Chief People Officer [email protected] ***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.*** Advert Main Responsibilities • Lead the Trust’s Employee Relations strategy and service. • Advise on complex and high-risk employee relations cases. • Provide expert guidance on employment law, NHS terms and conditions and organisational risk. • Oversee Employment Tribunal matters and work with external legal advisers. • Build effective relationships with recognised trade unions and staff representatives. • Support organisational change, restructuring, consultation and TUPE. • Develop manager confidence through coaching, training and early-resolution approaches. • Use workforce data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement. Working for our organisation We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted. Detailed job description and main responsibilities PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 1. Strategic leadership · Provide strategic leadership for the Employee Relations function. · Develop and implement the Trust’s Employee Relations strategy and annual work programme. · Ensure ER activity supports the Trust’s People Strategy and wider organisational objectives. · Provide expert advice to the People Directorate and senior leadership on emerging employment relations risks and trends. · Develop a proactive ER model focused on early intervention, prevention and resolution. · Deputise for the Deputy Chief People Officer when required. · Represent the People Directorate at appropriate Trust committees, governance groups and working groups. 2. Complex employee relations · Provide expert advice on highly complex and sensitive employee relations cases. · Lead or oversee complex disciplinary, capability, grievance, dignity at work, sickness absence and conduct cases. · Advise on complex cases involving senior staff and clinical professionals. · Provide expert advice on employment law and legal risk. · Work with external legal advisers on Employment Tribunal claims and other employment-related litigation. · Prepare reports and advice for formal panels and senior decision makers. · Attend Employment Tribunals and provide evidence where required. · Ensure appropriate escalation of significant employment risks. For further information please see attached job description and person specification. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER. If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration. We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted. Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful. Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us. For Doctors Roles: Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles. In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team. We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee. Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these