Senior Employee Relations Advisor

One of the best things about working in the People Directorate at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is making a positive difference to someone's experience at work. Our people strategy at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust allows us to do that through our strategic priority to bring 'Joy at Work', emphasising engagement, equality, diversity and inclusion to ensure our people have a sense of belonging and fulfilment in their roles.

You will have proven experience in providing expert advice to managers on the full range of employee relations matters, including advising on casework. Previous NHS experience is not essential, as it is your ability to apply your understanding of employment law, support and coach our managers to identify risks and make sound people management decisions that will allow you to excel in this role. In turn you will gain valuable skills and development that will come from working in an NHS secondary care and acute setting as part of a friendly and supportive Employee Relations and HR Business Partnering Team.

Please note, this post may close earlier than the given closing date.

This position will not be supported for visa sponsorship. All applicants are expected to have valid right to work document to work in the UK when applying for this position.

Job description

Managerial responsibilities:

Provide professional advice and support to managers in all areas of employment relations such as grievance, disciplinary, fair treatment and absence management procedures, ensuring that problems are identified and resolved quickly, effectively and fairly and that throughout all processes there is comprehensive and effective communication with staff and their representatives.

Advise managers and staff on the interpretation and application of terms and conditions of service and contractual issues.

Advise and support managers to undertake investigations, including: decisions on suspensions and advising on the approval process to suspend as appropriate; supporting the manager in the development of the investigation report; supporting the presentation of the findings at the hearing.

Attend formal employee relations meetings as appropriate and advise managers on documentation, ensuring consistency, accuracy and best practice.

Support the Head of Employee Relations and HR Business Partners with the effective management of Employment Tribunal claims, undertaking relevant duties as delegated to them.

Support the Head of Employee Relations to produce and monitor monthly employment relations data for key performance indicators.

Support the interpretation of this information, identify any problem areas and work with Trust managers to address them.

Support the Head of Employee Relations to provide monthly feedback reports on employee relations activity to the HR senior team.

Lead on supporting managers to proactively manage short term sickness cases, by reviewing reports sent to managers identifying cases that have triggered under the Trusts sickness absence policy.

Work with the Head of Employee Relations to further develop monitoring mechanisms against which the Employee Relations Team can measure performance.

Deputise for the Head of Employee Relations when required.

Professional responsibilities:

Provide professional advice and support as a full panel member in employment related hearings, providing guidance to managers to determine appropriate action.

To be familiar with the Trusts computerised Employee Relations and ESR information record systems and input and retrieve information as required.

Keep up to date with current employment law legislation and best practice and make recommendations when policy and procedure needs to change to reflect this.

Be a trained Agenda for Change job evaluator and participate in job evaluation and matching panels.

Provide advice and guidance to Trust managers with the development of job descriptions and person specifications in line with the Agenda for Change job evaluation and methodology.

Foster a positive climate of employee relations within the Trust, to support the implementation of a partnership approach and to develop and maintain good working relationships with representatives of accredited Trade Unions.

Please see attached job description

Person specification

Education and Training

Essential

• Postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management or equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of CPD

Desirable

• MCIPD

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• An understanding of the national NHS agenda and the HR contribution.
• A knowledge and understanding of employment legislation and employment issues
• Effective interpersonal relationships.
• Effective communications skills, both verbal and written.
• Well-developed negotiation and influencing skills.
• Able to prioritise conflicting demands, particularly when working to strict deadlines.
• Able to demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail.
• Able to handle highly confidential and / or highly sensitive information in an appropriate way.

Desirable

• Knowledge of medical staffing employment issues and MHPS.
• Knowledge of the NHS job evaluation system.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in an operational HR environment.
• Proven experience with supporting managers in employee relations issues.
• Evidence of developing and maintaining positive partnerships with trade union representatives and senior managers

Desirable

• Experience of working in an NHS environment.
• Advising managers at disciplinary hearings and other formal hearings.
• Experience of policy review and development.
• Previous experience of job evaluation.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Empathetic
• Diplomatic
• Patient

About the employer

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.