Job requirements
Essential
22 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other
Flexible approach to work
- Other
Ability to travel to attend meetings off site by own car/access to assisted driver
- Other
Customer focussed
- Skills
Excellent communication skills
- Skills
Well organised and ability to work under pressure
- Skills
Ability to analyse and interpret HR statistics
- Skills
Competent user of Information Technology
- Skills
Good interpersonal skills and ability to develop good working relationships with people at various levels
- Skills
Ability to plan effectively and work to tight deadlines
- Skills
Excellent attention to detail
- Skills
Achievement focused
- Skills
Ability to constructively challenge ways of working
- Skills
Successfully supporting and delivering multiple HR projects
- Qualifications
Educated to degree level and/or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent level of experience
- Qualifications
CIPD Level 5 qualified or willingness to work towards
- Qualifications
Evidence of continuing professional development or equivalent experience
- Knowledge & Experience
Operational HR experience gained within a unionised environment
- Knowledge & Experience
Sound knowledge of employment law and HR best practice
- Knowledge & Experience
Employment relations – staff side partnership working
- Knowledge & Experience
Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions of employment
- Knowledge & Experience
Understanding of terms and conditions of contracts of employment
- Knowledge & Experience
Good understanding of the challenges affecting the NHS
Desirable
7 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Skills
Negotiation skills
- Qualifications
Employment Law Qualification
- Knowledge & Experience
Employee Relations Experience
- Knowledge & Experience
Experience of working in a HR role in the NHS or public sector organisation
- Knowledge & Experience
Experience of HR across more than one area of expertise e.g., employee relations, recruitment, organisational
- Knowledge & Experience
Knowledge of TUPE legislation
- Knowledge & Experience
Knowledge of capacity/resource planning; re-organisation/redundancy handling
Job overview
HR Advisor Band 5, Permanent, Full Time (37.5 hours)
Agile Working (mixture of site based and working from home)
We currently have a fantastic opportunity for a HR Advisor to join our experienced and friendly HR Business Partner and Advisory Team in our Lead Employer Service.
The successful applicant will be responsible for providing effective and solution focussed HR advice to all our stakeholders via remote platforms such as Microsoft Teams. As a HR advisor for the Lead Employer Service you will have proven experience of working collaboratively and building positive stakeholder relationships.
Working within our team of experienced HR professionals you will be able to demonstrate a good understanding of employment legislation and experience of handling a range of HR case work and enjoy working in a fast-paced HR environment. You will also possess good attention to detail, committed to delivering to the highest of standards and able to communicate at all levels. This varied role provides an exciting opportunity for those who are degree educated (or equivalent) and level 5 CIPD qualified (or working towards).
Please note interviews will include assessment tasks.
Main duties of the job
- Support and Lead on the management of attendance for our specialty trainees, working closely with Health, Work and Well-being, Host Trusts and NHS England Education to support phased return to work plans and implementation of workplace adjustments etc.
- Provide expert HR advice in line with Lead Employer policies and procedures keeping in line with best practice and employment legislation. This will predominantly be regarding attendance management but will also encompass other employee relation matters.
- Work with the HR senior management team to effectively deliver an effective HR service to our stakeholders through implementation of effective monitoring systems to support the delivery of service against our Service Level Agreement
- Support the development and implementation of robust systems and processes to enable effective monitoring and management of attendance management.
- We are looking for a resilient individual who has a passion to make a difference, ability to form good working relationships and wishes to learn and develop. You will have the opportunity to work along side senior colleagues such as our Medical Director, Head of HR and other external organisations including the General Medical Council, British Medical Association, NHS England Education and NHS Resolution.
We actively promote applications for flexible working. and will be part of a team where we encourage and support each other’s health and well-being.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Operational Planning
- To contribute to the development of a stakeholder engagement plan that is aligned to the service delivery objectives and standards required by the Lead Employer.
- Facilitate the provision of workforce information to enable the development of workforce plans.
HR Service Delivery
- To support and lead on a variety of key HR projects to enhance the employee experience and continually improve HR services.
- Support managers with disciplinary, grievance and respect at work investigations, and participate in formal hearings and appeals as required
- Provide an Employment Advisory service on of terms and conditions of service, Trust Policies and procedures and HR best practice
- Support stakeholders in the provision of advice and guidance in line with the relevant policy throughout the Post Graduate Doctor and Dentist Lifecycle.
- Support the specialty schools in improving the health and wellbeing of their Post Graduate Doctors and Dentists in Training by managing sickness absence in line with Trust policy by:-
- Facilitate the provision of timely and appropriate workforce information to stakeholders on attendance
- Maintain accurate and up to date absence monitoring and management information to support stakeholders in optimising attendance
- Providing advice on long term sickness management issues
- Coordinating the sickness review meetings
- Advise on ill health retirement/medical terminations as appropriate
- Provide guidance to stakeholders and staff on the consultation process for the management of change.
- Provide support by assisting with documentation, attending consultation meetings and one to one meetings as required.
- Identify staff requiring redeployment, and liaise with the recruitment team to ensure access to suitable alternative employment
- Maintain accurate HR records and filing systems, and keep up to date the Employee Relations tracker/ case log
- Implement & monitor compliance in relation to data protection, equality and diversity and other HR related legislation.
Policies & Procedures
- Comment on and contribute to the review and development of HR Policies and Procedures
- Ensure compliance with HR Policies and highlighting risks to the Assistant HR Business Partner
- Supporting all stakeholders and Post Graduate Doctors and Dentists in Training with the end-to-end progression of the Attendance Management of Long Term sickness cases.
- Liaising with stakeholders to ensure the implementation and monitoring of management information to ensure any adjustments as implemented such as health and conduct
- Support the Assistant HR Business Partner with the management of complex cases such as health, conduct, Respect and Dignity at Work.
- Provide advice and guidance on the Junior Doctors 2016 Terms and Conditions of Service
Service Improvement & Change Management
- Support designated area of responsibility in modernisation, new ways of working and continuous improvement of the service.
- Contribute to the improvement activity & new ways of working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the HR department.
- Seek stakeholder feedback from designated area of responsibility and make recommendations to the HR Business Partner.
- Undertake and participate in projects as required.
- To continually promote equality and diversity and undertake equality impact assessments when required
Communications, Partnership & Staff Involvement
- Develop & maintain effective internal and external communication networks to support the delivery of the HR Strategy.
- Work in partnership with Staff Side representatives and support managers in the implementation and monitoring of partnership working.
- Work closely with other HR Colleagues to ensure a ‘seamless’ HR Service to divisions optimising opportunities for working collaboratively towards the provision of an integrated HR & OD service
- Work in collaboration with key stakeholders such as Health, Education England Pay & Staff Services, Health, Work and Wellbeing, Workforce Planning, Equality Lead and Learning & Development
Performance Management
- Contribute to the development and achievement of any HR targets or performance indicators
- Ensure the provision of accurate and timely information to designated area of responsibility
- Support stakeholders in the analysis of HR metrics/ statistics, highlighting any trends.
- Support stakeholders in the development of action plans to address any areas which require improvement
- Coach and guide stakeholder on specific employment relations issues emphasising the importance of good record keeping and data protection.
- Line management responsibilities ensuring regular one-two-one’s and careers conversations take place.
Teamwork & Development
- Be responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to employment legislation and best practice.
- Support HR colleagues in their continuous professional development including the Assistant HR Advisor and Absence Support Team.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain Professional Registration
- Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work in partnership with stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of HR documentation such as monthly school reports and absence dashboards
- Work in partnership with internal stakeholders to ensure accurate and timely processing of pay adjustments, incremental point changes, removal/ addition of protection on pay/ hour of work.
- Attend meetings and provide accurate minutes
- Assist stakeholders in the resolution of contractual queries
- Facilitate the monitoring of regular report on contractual matters, i.e. ETWD compliance, Employment Checks, Fixed terms contracts and Secondments, highlighting any areas of concern.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- Deliver training sessions on HR policies and procedures
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for HR Advisor with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in St Helens, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Human resources advisor role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 06 Oct 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 (29 Sep 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.
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