Employee Relations Specialist

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

NHS Discount

Pension scheme

Lease car scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Staff accommodation

Job summary

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an proactive Employee Relations Specialist to join our People Directorate. Operating in a flexible hybrid model based out of Littlemore, Oxford, you will balance home working with onsite presence to build strong relationships with line managers and teams.

You will lead a team of HR Advisors, guide on complex ER cases, analyse workforce data, and support organisational change to embed a restorative, just and learning culture.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering employee relations advice across multiple sites.
• Proven ability to lead a small HR advisory team.
• Strong understanding of employment law and NHS policies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and line manage a team of HR Advisors and provide ER guidance across Trust sites.
• Lead on workforce data analysis and report ER trends to inform action planning.
• Manage complex informal and formal ER cases including disciplinary, capability and grievances.
• Build robust relationships with operational managers and trade union representatives to resolve issues.
• Contribute to transformation, restructuring and TUPE projects and HR policy reviews.
• Design and deliver ER training including standard tools and management kits.

Skills

Employee relations

People management

Data analysis

HR policy

Job description

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is looking for a proactive, customer focused Employee Relations Specialist to join our People Directorate. Operating in a flexible hybrid working model based out of Littlemore, Oxford, you will balance working from home with an essential, visible onsite presence across allocated Trust sites to build strong, collaborative relationships with line managers and operational teams.

In this pivotal role, you will work alongside the Head of HR and closely with HR Business Partners to deliver a high quality operational HR service. You will lead and line manage a team of HR Advisors, provide expert guidance on multi faceted employee relations cases, lead on workforce data analysis, and support organisational change programmes aligned with embedding a restorative, just and learning culture.

In this role, you will line manage, coach, and allocate work for the HR Advisors, fostering their professional development while ensuring the delivery of high-quality advisory services across the Trust.

You will provide specialist guidance and manage complex informal and formal employee relations cases—including disciplinary, capability, grievance, safeguarding, and sickness absence—ensuring full compliance with Trust policy and employment law.

Building robust working relationships with operational managers and trade union representatives will be essential to resolve contentious issues, promote partnership working, and maintain positive employee relations.

Additionally, you will analyse, interpret, and triangulate complex workforce data sets to monitor ER trends, support KPI achievement, and assist services with action planning based on NHS Staff Survey results.

As the HR lead for transformation, restructuring, and TUPE projects, you will actively contribute to Trust wide HR policy reviews and EDI action plans.

Finally, you will design and deliver both planned and ad-hoc HR training, including the HR Management Toolkit, to continuously build leadership capability across the Trust.

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Jill Castle Job title: Head of HR Email address: [e-mail] Telephone number: 07500 092538