Deputy Head of People and Culture


Location
Retford, England
Salary
£49387.00 to £64750.00
Profession
Human resources manager
Grade
Band 8
Deadline
01 Nov 2026
Contract Type
Permanent: Based at DMH
Posted Date
16 Oct 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job requirements

Essential

7 listed

Requirements the employer expects applicants to meet.

  • Experience

    Significant relevant experience within an HR setting

  • Experience

    Experience of working in a complex unionised environment

  • Experience

    Experienced in the full range of employee relations matters

  • Experience

    Relevant and up to date knowledge of employment legislation

  • Experience

    Relevant and up to date knowledge of the NHS and national, regional and local strategies

  • Qualifications

    Relevant professional or management qualification to master’s level or have equivalent level of HR experience

  • Qualifications

    Maintain professional registration with the CIPD

Desirable

4 listed

Additional qualities the employer would prefer.

  • Experience

    Agenda for Change Job Evaluation Training

  • Experience

    Experience of Project Management

  • Experience

    Experience of working within Mental Health, Forensic, Community Trust

  • Qualifications

    MCIPD Professional Registration

Job overview

We are pleased to be recruiting for a Trainee Deputy Head of People & Culture (Band 7 – 8a) to support our Forensic Care Group and a portfolio of corporate services.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward thinking, collaborative People & Culture function committed to delivering our ambition of being a diverse, inclusive and great place to work. Working closely with the Head of People & Culture, you will provide strategic people leadership across the services you support, helping to shape workforce strategy and deliver excellent people outcomes.

Although line managed within People & Culture, you will operate as a strategic people partner, building strong and influential relationships with operational leaders, managers and colleagues across the Trust. You will play a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the Care Group's objectives and the Trust's People Plan, providing expert, pragmatic advice on organisational change, workforce planning, employee relations, staff engagement, and learning and organisational development.

Main duties of the job

We welcome applications from experienced people professionals who are passionate about making a difference to both our people and our patients, and whose values align with those of our Trust.

You will bring a proven track record of improving performance against key workforce metrics and delivering solutions to complex people challenges. You will be a credible and confident leader, capable of quickly building trust with senior stakeholders and influencing, coaching and supporting them to achieve their strategic objectives.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

  • A relevant people management or professional qualification at master's level, or equivalent experience.
  • Chartered CIPD membership.
  • Significant senior-level experience in a generalist HR role within a complex organisation.
  • Excellent communication, coaching and influencing skills, with the ability to shape strategic thinking.
  • Expertise across the full People & Culture portfolio, including organisational change and employee relations.
  • A proven track record of effective partnership working with a range of stakeholders, including operational services, People & Culture teams, Staff Side representatives and system partners.
  • A commitment to modelling and promoting our Trust values.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This post is offered on a developmental basis. The successful candidate will join at Band 7 and, through the achievement of defined competencies and objectives, will be supported to progress to Band 8a. Full details of the knowledge, skills and experience required can be found in the attached person specification.

We support hybrid working however, maintaining a visible presence within services is essential to success in this role.

Please note that our Forensic Services are geographically dispersed and include:

Rampton Hospital, Retford Arnold Lodge, Leicester Wathwood Hospital, Rotherham Low Secure Services, Nottingham

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Carol Andrews, Head of People and Culture on Carol.Andrews@nottshc.nhs.uk

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

WhatsApp job alerts

Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 8 Human resources manager roles in Retford

Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.

Sign up for WhatsApp alerts

Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Deputy Head of People and Culture with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Retford, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Human resources manager role. The advertised salary is £49387.00 to £64750.00. The contract type is Permanent: Based at DMH. The application deadline is 01 Nov 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (16 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.