Employee Relations Lead – Absence Management (Remote)

Civic Recruitment Limited; Lewisham; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work pattern

2–3 days in the office

Job summary

Civic Recruitment Limited is assisting Lewisham Borough Council to recruit an Employee Relations Specialist on a 3 months contract. The role focuses on sickness absence management, advising managers, and handling a broad range of HR cases within the council.

You will liaise with Occupational Health, monitor absence trends, and maintain confidential case records, with a pattern of 2–3 days in the office and 2 days remote work.

Qualifications

• Experience managing a wide range of complex employee relations cases independently.
• Experience supporting sickness absence management, including long-term absence and ill-health capability cases.
• Experience advising managers on employment policies, procedures, and workforce issues.
• Experience working with local authorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage sickness absence cases from referral to resolution.
• Provide advice to managers on Sickness Absence Policy and procedures.
• Support welfare meetings, absence reviews, return-to-work discussions, and formal hearings.
• Liaise with Occupational Health and advise on recommendations and reasonable adjustments.
• Monitor absence trends and support attendance improvement plans.
• Maintain confidential case records.
• Manage a complex caseload including disciplinary, grievances, capability, probation, flexible working, dignity at work, workplace conflict.
• Provide managers with advice on process and risk mitigation.

Skills

Employee relations

Sickness absence management

Policy guidance

Coaching managers

Public sector experience

Education

CPD in HR & employment law

Job description

Civic Recruitment Limited is assisting Lewisham Borough Council to recruit an Employee Relations Specialist on a 3 months contract. The role focuses on sickness absence management, advising managers, and handling a broad range of HR cases within the council.

You will liaise with Occupational Health, monitor absence trends, and maintain confidential case records, with a pattern of 2–3 days in the office and 2 days remote work.