HR Business Partner / People Partner

As a People Partner at Athena Care Homes, you will be responsible for providing comprehensive and hands-on HR support to assigned care homes and their leadership teams.

This role is a fixed term position, providing immediate support to the business for an initial 3-month contract with potential to extend.

About Athena Care Homes:

Athena Care Homes is an award winning, family-owned business operating seven residential nursing homes in East Anglia where care and compassion runs through to our very core.

At Athena we celebrate everyone as an individual. Whether that’s delivering authentic care, supporting our team to make moments for our residents and their loved ones, or whether that’s learning and growing together.

About the role:

The People Partner will provide hands-on HR support to our 7 care homes and their leadership teams. This key role focuses on employee relations, offering expert guidance while ensuring compliance with employment legislation. You'll also help drive People Team initiatives and contribute to wider strategic projects that support a positive workplace culture.

Contract:

This position is a 3-month fixed term position initially, with potential to extend further in the interim and on to a permanent position with an immediate start date.

Salary:

£45,000 per annum FTE

Shift Pattern:

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Location:

Central Office, Russel House, Basildon, Essex, SS15 6TF – we are offering a hybrid working model with 2 days per week on-site.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide practical, expert guidance on complex ER issues, including disciplinary, grievance, performance, and absence management, ensuring compliance with employment law and company policy.
• Collaborate with care home leadership to align HR strategies with operational needs, supporting workforce planning, talent development, and organisational change.
• Lead or support strategic HR initiatives across areas like talent management, reward and recognition, diversity and inclusion, and HR operations.
• Champion initiatives to enhance culture, leadership capability, team effectiveness, and employee experience.
• Promote consistent application of policies, maintain accurate HR data, and use insights to inform decision-making and enhance engagement across care homes.

Training, Skills & Experience Required:

• CIPD Level 5 is required, but CIPD Level 7 is highly desirable.
• Proven recent experience in a HR or People Business Partner role is essential, and experience in a similar healthcare environment is advantageous.
• Experience supporting complex employee relations cases end to end is essential.
• Up to date knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice is essential.

What we can offer:

• Fully comprehensive induction.
• Competitive salary.
• 25 days of holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• Free Blue Light Card & access to the Blue Light discount platform.
• Refer a friend scheme.