Employee Relations Advisor (Sickness Support Team)

Croydon Health Services NHS Foundation Trust; Croydon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Advisor to join the Sickness Support Team. The role is Band 6, full time, and based on site in London, with four days on site per week.

You will manage complex sickness absence cases, provide HR guidance to managers, and contribute to workforce transformation through policy implementation and training.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 5 or equivalent professional experience is required.
• Educated to GCSE level, including Maths and English.
• CIPD/Part Qualified is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the management of complex sickness related absence cases requiring HR intervention.
• Provide first line advice on employee relations to managers and staff.
• Deliver training to managers and stakeholders.

Skills

Administrative / Office skills

Time management / prioritisation

Influence and negotiation

Communication skills

Education

NVQ level 5 or equivalent professional experience

Job description

Job overview

Croydon is a busy, exciting and diverse place to work. The borough has one of the youngest populations in London and continues to grow.

Croydon Health Services cares for local people at Croydon University Hospital, Purley Memorial Hospital and in clinics and people's homes all across the borough.

We are a very close-knit and friendly organisation where everyone of our 3600 members of staff is valued. We strongly believe that our employees are our greatest asset and so through Listening into Action - our way of engaging staff - we empower everyone at any level to initiate and bring about real improvements in our care.

Employee Relations Advisor (Sickness Support Team)

Band 6, Full Time (BANK)

Must be available to start immediately.

We are looking for an experienced HR professional to join our temporary sickness support team. This role may also suit someone without formal HR experience but with significant experience in leading teams and line management, particularly where they have managed sickness absence within their team and applied relevant policies effectively.

We are seeking individuals who can bring a strong understanding of HR processes and practical management experience to support the Temporary Sickness Support Team during this period.

• You will be required to work onsite at least 4 days per week

Why Join Us?

Reducing sickness rates and supporting a safe, sustainable return to work for our employees is a key priority for the Trust. And this is more than a case management role. You'll be part of a Trust-level project team at the heart of workforce transformation. With the freedom to shape your work and contribute ideas, you'll directly influence how sickness absence is managed across the organisation - improving outcomes for staff, services, and ultimately patient care.

Interview Date - TBC

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have complete autonomy for managing their own time and diary commitments. They will lead on the management of complex sickness related absence cases which require HR intervention and manage a varied employee relations caseload.

They will work proactively with managers, providing first line advice on employee relation matters, general ER support and delivering training to managers.

Working for our organisation

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity.

Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children's Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.

Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Role

As ER Advisor for the Sickness Support Team, you will:

• Be a trusted partner
• Manager Capability Building
• Data-Driven Targeting
• Work Collaboratively
• Training Programme Development & Delivery
• Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement

Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NVQ level 5 or equivalent professional experience
• Educated to GCSE level (including Maths and English)

Desirable criteria

• CIPD/Part Qualified

Skills

Essential criteria

• Administrative / Office skills
• Ability to manage and prioritise multiple and sometimes conflicting demands
• Proven ability to influence and negotiate over complex matters
• Good verbal and written communication skills

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of providing advice and recommendations to Managers and staff on range of employee relations issues
• Experience of managing ER cases
• Experience of MS Office applications to at least Intermediate level
• Experience of using HR systems

Desirable criteria

• Experience of using ESRNHS Experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of employment law relating to employee relations
• Understanding the need for confidentiality in this role
• Understanding the challenges facing the NHS

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of AfC T&Cs

Your recruitment team

The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:

E: [e-mail]

Your application

Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.

Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.

References

Please provide a minimum of 3 years' employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.

Closing date

To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

Shortlisting

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Application feedback

If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.