HR Advisor

Wilderness Way; Penrith; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Company pension

Medicash health and wellbeing benefits

24/7 virtual GP access

Discounted gym memberships

Life assurance at twice your annual**

Job summary

Wilderness Way is hiring an HR Advisor to join the People Team. You will be the first point of contact for managers, delivering practical HR advice and supporting employee relations cases.

This hybrid role includes travel to our Cumbria offices and homes, with a focus on building trusted relationships and compliant HR services. With CIPD level qualifications preferred but not essential, you will contribute to engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives while maintaining HiBob data accuracy

Qualifications

• Experience in an operational or advisory HR role.
• Practical understanding of HR practices and UK employment law.
• Ability to communicate with people across the business and use HR systems.

Responsibilities

• Advise managers on ER matters: disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance, flexible working.
• Support managers through ER processes with fair, consistent handling.
• Prepare letters, documentation and outcome communications.
• Be the first point of contact for day-to-day HR questions with practical, solution-focused advice.
• Help managers build confidence and capability when managing their teams.
• Support colleague engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives.
• Keep HiBob accurate and use data/feedback to drive improvements.
• Participate in HR projects and People initiatives as Wilderness Way grows.

Skills

HR advisory experience

Employee relations

UK employment law

HR systems

Excel

Education

CIPD Level 3 or 5

Tools

HiBob

Job description

Great HR is about people, with the right support behind them.

If you're happiest working alongside managers, talking through people challenges and helping find practical solutions, this could be the role for you.

We're looking for an HR Advisor to join our People Team at Wilderness Way. You'll be a first point of contact for managers, providing practical HR advice, supporting employee relations cases and helping our managers feel confident when it comes to leading their teams.

What you'll be doing

With hybrid working, you'll balance time at home and in the office, building strong relationships with managers, getting to know their teams and providing practical, everyday HR support.

You'll:

• Advise managers on employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance and flexible working.
• Support managers through ER processes, helping ensure they're handled fairly and consistently.
• Prepare letters, documentation and outcome communications.
• Be a first point of contact for day-to-day HR questions, providing practical, solution-focused advice.
• Help managers build their confidence and capability when managing their teams.
• Support colleague engagement, wellbeing and retention initiatives.
• Keep our HR system, HiBob, accurate and use data and feedback to help us improve.
• Get involved in HR projects and People initiatives as Wilderness Way continues to grow.

What we're looking for

You'll already have experience in an operational or advisory HR role, along with a good understanding of HR practices and UK employment law. You'll be organised, confident communicating with people across the business and comfortable using HR systems and Excel.

CIPD Level 3 or 5 would be great, but it's not essential. What matters is a practical approach, great attention to detail and the ability to build trusted relationships.

Why Wilderness Way?

Wilderness Way is one of the country's leading providers of residential care, health and education for children who have experienced trauma and exploitation. The support our People Team gives our managers and colleagues ultimately helps our services provide the best possible care for our children.

• 25 days' annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• additional leave at 2 and 5 years' service
• company pension
• Medicash health and wellbeing benefits
• 24/7 virtual GP access
• discounted gym memberships
• life assurance at twice your annual salary

This is a hybrid-based role, with regular travel to our homes and Head Office in Cumbria, alongside the flexibility to work from home. You'll need a full driving licence and access to a car.

If you're an HR professional who loves working with people, enjoys finding solutions and wants your HR career to have real purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

All roles at Wilderness Way are subject to Safer Recruitment checks, including references, an enhanced DBS, and online/social media screening for successful candidates. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of background, experience, or protected characteristics.

Expected Salary (this is not sent to the employer)