Group HR Absence Management Lead

NHS; Middlesbrough; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits for a Group HR Absence Management Lead at a prominent healthcare organization. This role involves proactively managing sickness absence, providing guidance to managers, and developing effective relationships with key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will possess a strong HR background and excellent communication skills, ready to tackle complex HR issues. Join a dynamic team committed to improving the health and wellbeing of staff. Embrace this chance to make a significant impact in a challenging yet rewarding environment.

Benefits

Leadership and improvement training

Flexible working patterns

Supportive management team

Qualifications

• Specialist HR knowledge acquired through a degree and professional HR qualification.
• Experience managing complex HR casework, particularly in absence cases.

Responsibilities

• Support and drive absence case management across the Group.
• Develop effective working relationships with unions and professional bodies.

Skills

HR knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Data analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Education

HR / Employment Law Degree

Professional HR qualification

Job description

Job summary

This post is for internal candidates to University Hospitals Tees. If you are not currently working within the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust or North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, your application will not be reviewed and will be automatically rejected at the shortlisting stage. Please be aware of this when submitting your application.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Group HR Absence Management Lead to proactively support the management of sickness absence across the Group, working across South Tees and North Tees.

The postholder will report to the Group ER Business Partner or HRBP and will work as part of a small, specialist team, focusing on absence management. They will support and drive absence case management, providing robust guidance to managers to ensure absence is proactively managed, and individual action plans and interventions are implemented.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the wider HR team, the successful candidate will develop effective working relationships with colleagues from unions and professional bodies and will lead absence management initiatives across the Trust.

The successful candidate will demonstrate HR knowledge acquired through a HR / Employment Law Degree or relevant training and experience to degree level. They will have experience managing complex HR casework, particularly in managing complex absence cases.

Effective communication and interpersonal skills, self-motivation, and a focus on key performance objectives are essential. The candidate will need to develop excellent relationships with a variety of key stakeholders across the Group.

This is a challenging and exciting time to join the NHS. The successful candidate will be supported by their management team to achieve team and individual objectives, including regular communication, welfare discussions, sharing of information, and team development. The team currently operates on an office rota, working both on-site and remotely.

If you are interested in an exciting, dynamic, and vibrant opportunity and wish to contribute to the NHS's efforts, this role is for you.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training supports the development of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend sessions such as:

• Your Leadership Impact
• Leading your Team to Success
• Leading Into the Future
• Service Improvement for Beginners
• Developing your Service Improvement Skills
• Lean Practitioner

The programme aims to explore NHS leadership, promote Trust values, develop leadership effectiveness, and equip staff with skills to lead and implement service improvements. After completing these sessions, further training opportunities are available through our Leadership and Improvement Team.

Additional details

Date posted: 01 May 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 per year

Contract: Fixed term, 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 328-CP-7157142

Job location: The James Cook University Hospital, Marton Road, Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW

Job description

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential):

• Specialist HR knowledge acquired through a degree and professional HR qualification or equivalent training, experience, and knowledge to Master's level.

Experience (Essential):

• Significant experience providing complex HR advice to managers and staff.
• Experience working with Trade Unions.
• Involvement in advising on complex/highly complex absence issues.
• Experience in writing and interpreting employment policies such as recruitment, disciplinary, grievance, and sickness management.
• Skills in data analysis and developing action plans to meet Trust needs.

Knowledge (Essential):

• Strong knowledge of HR initiatives, trade union negotiations, and influencing strategies.
• Knowledge of project management, research methodology, and business case development.
• Understanding of internal service level agreements, KPIs, and performance reporting.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation and future legislative impacts.
• Interest in Health and Wellbeing initiatives and knowledge of case law related to managing absence.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to a DBS check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.