Employee Relations Advisor

Job overview

To support the Business Partner approach to HR management, working in partnership with line management throughout all Divisions. To provide a comprehensive and developmental ER service to support the Trust’s objectives in line with the Trust’s values

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is the largest teaching hospital trust in the South West. We employ almost 12,000 staff that work in 350 different roles, plus hundreds of volunteers.

We offer great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment and we offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

Proposed interview date - 09/10/2026

*** Please note this role will be offered under Annex 21 for non qualified applicants with expectation to work towards level 5 CIPD***

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.

Main duties of the job

To provide a professional, effective, flexible and business focused Employee Relations advisory service to Managers by way of telephone, email and face to face advice throughout the Trust.

To apply progressive solutions to people management issues to increase workforce productivity and performance to enhance patient care and safety. To advise on terms and conditions, HR policies and all matters relating to the employment of staff.

To provide effective support to Line Managers on HR policies; leading on the provision of advice on operational ER issues. To provide accurate advice to staff on HR policies, procedures and terms & conditions of employment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Human Resources

• Work to the principles of the Business Partner approach to provide advice, support and facilitation to ensure that the Trust is able to develop and deliver the People Strategy.
• Provide a high level flexible, comprehensive, proactive and professional expert ER advisory service to line managers across the Trust. This will include:
• Provision of expert advice and guidance on aspects of employment law and best practice. Interpretation and application of Agenda for Change terms & conditions. Enabling managers to understand their duties and to make informed decisions on ER issues. Advising on management of change proposals. Advice on HR policies and procedure. Supporting the annual staff survey process.
• Provision of expert advice and guidance on aspects of employment law and best practice.
• Interpretation and application of Agenda for Change terms & conditions.
• Enabling managers to understand their duties and to make informed decisions on ER issues.
• Advising on management of change proposals.
• Advice on HR policies and procedure.
• Supporting the annual staff survey process.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to managers on all HR Policies, working with them in taking action as appropriate, ensuring a consistent approach across other areas of the Trust to ensure fair application of Policy.
• Attend meetings and hearings to coach and support the manager where it is identified by the designated Senior ER Advisor/HR Business Partner, that it is appropriate and necessary to do so, this will include:
• Grievance and Bullying and Harassment Performance and Conduct Sickness Absence Redeployment
• Grievance and Bullying and Harassment
• Performance and Conduct
• Sickness Absence
• Redeployment
• Provide advice to employees on all aspects of Trust HR Policy, procedure and terms and conditions of employment.

People Management

• To provide an online, telephone and face to face, responsive and customer focused advisory service to line managers to ensure that ER practices within the Trust are high quality and in line with agreed policies, procedures and guidelines.
• To provide online, telephone and face to face advice and support to line managers on the management of individual sickness absence cases by developing and agreeing sickness absence management actions.
• To provide online, telephone and face to face advice and support to line managers on performance and conduct, grievance and bullying and harassment issues. Providing support and guidance during investigations ensuring that agreed Trust procedures are adhered to.
• To provide online, telephone and face to face advice and support to line managers in managing individual cases relating to performance and conduct problems ensuring that the agreed procedures are properly observed.
• Provide online, telephone and face to face coaching and support to line managers (in relation to ER case work).
• Provide online, telephone and face to face advice and support to line managers on potential grievance and bullying and harassment cases, ensure a consistent approach and work in partnership with the Trade Unions to resolve cases informally where possible.
• Promote an effective people management culture by establishing best human resources practices that produce an environment of trust, co-operation, partnership and involvement.
• Escalate appropriate complex cases and people management issues to the designated Senior ER Advisor/HR Manager, consulting with the HR Business Partner, as appropriate.

Policy and Procedure Development

• Support the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidelines to meet the needs and values of the Trust and the requirements of employment legislation, NHS Employers guidance and best practice.
• Contribute to the development of ER knowledge and practice amongst colleagues within the ER team. Participate as required in working groups, presentations and training programmes.

E-HR

• Promote engagement with line management in the usage of the e-HR system throughout the Trust and in partnership with the Organisational Development team offer training, guidance and support in using the system.
• Maintain and update the content of the HR Portal, highlighting any changes to the designated Senior ER Advisor/ER Manager.
• Responsibility for the collection and storage of appropriate HR data on ESR/ Case Management system to enable HRM reports to be produced.

For further details please see attached JD&PS.