Deputy Head of Employee Relations

Job overview

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) comprises Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, operating together as a hospital group. The group provides care for approximately 900,000 people and is working to improve experiences for both patients and staff.

We are embedding a group People Services model and have developed a new role of Deputy Head of Employee Relations to lead the service delivery for the group approach to efficient, effective, compassionate and inclusive employee relations management.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy Head of Employee Relations will lead the delivery of a trusted, professional Employee Relations service across UHN.

You will provide expert advice to senior leaders and managers, lead and develop the ER team, and ensure robust, timely and compassionate case management across the full range of ER matters (including disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment, sickness absence, performance management and MHPS).

You will play a key role in embedding a restorative approach and ensuring our practice reflects current legislation, NHS terms and conditions, and best practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide senior, pragmatic and timely ER advice and coaching to managers and leaders across UHN, ensuring consistent application of policy, procedure and employment law.
• Lead, develop and line manage the Employee Relations team, creating a supportive environment that enables high performance, learning and continuous improvement.
• Hold a portfolio of highly complex and sensitive casework, including leading/overseeing investigations and supporting managers at all stages of ER processes.
• Build strong relationships with Staff Side and staff networks; lead effective liaison, consultation and negotiation to support partnership working.
• Oversee legal risk management for Employment Tribunal claims, including preparation of documentation and bundles and liaison with solicitors as required.
• Lead Trust-wide ER initiatives, service planning and KPI/performance reporting, using insight and trend analysis to target interventions and build manager capability.
• Ensure ER practice supports Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and contributes to delivery of UHN’s ‘Just Culture’ and People Strategy objectives.
• Support governance requirements, including information governance, record management, FOI/SAR responses (as relevant to the ER portfolio), and data quality.
• Deputise for the Head of People Partnering as required, including attending People Leadership Team meetings when requested.
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent level of education, training or experience.
• CIPD membership (Chartered status or equivalent).
• Significant, highly specialist knowledge and experience of Employee Relations, including up-to-date employment legislation and case law.
• Proven experience of leading and developing a team, including performance management, coaching and capability building.
• Extensive experience of managing complex and sensitive ER casework, including investigations and supporting panels.
• Experience of working constructively with Staff Side/Trade Unions and influencing outcomes in challenging situations.
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills, able to provide insight, trend analysis and clear recommendations.
• Commitment to, and ability to role model, UHN values and a restorative, compassionate approach.
• Flexibility to work across both Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital sites as required.
• Working towards CIPD Fellowship.
• Experience of working across multiple organisations or within a complex healthcare setting.
• Advanced Excel skills for analytical reporting and report design.
• A senior leadership opportunity to shape and modernise Employee Relations across UHN and help embed a restorative ‘Just Culture’.
• Access to the NHS Pension Scheme and a wide range of staff benefits.
• Generous annual leave entitlement (plus bank holidays) and options for flexible working, where service needs allow.
• A strong commitment to learning, development and continuous professional development.
• The opportunity to work in partnership with clinical and corporate leaders, Staff Side, and wider People Services colleagues to improve colleague experience and patient care.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.