Permanent

Cambridge, CAM, CB2

Act as named deputy to the Head of Employee Relations, assigning case work to ER Managers and ER Advisors, provide direct line management support to the team of ER Advisor. Cover the full role of Head of Employee Relations in periods of annual leave, including but not exhaustively – Trust Safeguarding Meetings, assessment of cases to determine safe and appropriate legal outcomes.

To work in partnership with senior managers to provide specialist, comprehensive, high quality advice and guidance on operational HR issues in line with the latest employment law, Trust policy and good practice. To undertake project work and deliver bespoke and corporate training programmes.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• In the absence of the Head of ER, providing advice and guidance to senior leaders on the complex employee relations matters.
• Deputising for the Head of ER at Professional Panel Meetings and Safeguarding Meetings, ensuring robust and safe procedural and legal advice.
• Manage HR case work, advising managers on the interpretation of terms and conditions of employment ensuring compliance with the Trust’s policies and employment legislation to ensure processes are fair, equitable, promote good practice and are free from risk of litigation.
• Manage the team of ER Advisors to support operational managers across a range of HR matters for example: leave and pay arrangements, absence and performance management, discipline and grievance matters ensuring that they are implementing and adhering to the appropriate Trust policy.
• To accompany operational managers at formal meetings in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
• To support managers in complex and/or sensitive investigations and disciplinary cases.
• Present management cases to Appeals panels as required. Attend Employment Tribunals as required either as a Trust witness or to support others acting as witnesses.
• Develop and maintain effective communication processes with senior managers which actively inform and involve staff in the plans and operational activities of the Trust.
• Develop and maintain effective consultation and negotiation arrangements with staff side.
• In partnership with senior managers and Divisional Heads of Workforce, improve individual team and organisational performance in the areas of workforce utilisation through the identification and promotion of news ways of working.
• To undertake job evaluation and job matching as and when required.
• Draft and review HR policies and procedures relating to the employment of staff and act as a lead on specific projects.
• Ensure that the Trust is compliant with employment legislation and proactively advise management of the implications of new legislation.
• Support the ER Advisors and Workforce administrative staff to ensure that professional excellence is achieved in HR service delivery.
• Actively contribute to successful team working of the Workforce Directorate through effective communication, shared professional development and dissemination of best practice.
• Design and deliver corporate and bespoke training programmes.
• To research and provide data, statistics and analysis to the Head of ER and Divisional Head of Workforce, as required.
• Use a range of support methods to develop the leadership and management capabilities and competence across the
• Training solutions in relation to HR policies and issues e.g. effective performance management practice.
• Ensure that the Workforce Directorate service complies with the Trust’s governance arrangements, which include:
  • Clinical Governance
  • Risk Management and Healthcare Standards
  • Information and Data Protection Policies
• Promote equality and diversity issues within Divisional and Corporate Services and ensure compliance with the Equality Act and other.
• Provide cover for Divisional Heads of Workforce, Senior and ER Managers as required by the Associate Director of Workforce.
• Actively promote, and demonstrate by example, the Trust’s values of Together, Safe, Kind & Excellent.