HR Business Partner

NHS; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Maidstone is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to lead people strategy initiatives. The role requires a thorough understanding of HR practices, proven generalist HR experience, and strong interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will play a key role within the senior leadership team to support strategic objectives. Competitive salary and full-time permanent contract offered.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of Generalist HR management at a senior level.
• Demonstrate ability to diagnose, develop and deliver HR interventions.

Responsibilities

• Drive the People Strategy for the assigned area.
• Provide strategic leadership and coaching to the HR team.
• Plan workforce requirements while working with HR Shared Services.

Skills

Employee engagement

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent degree

Job description

Overview

Job summary

Please note, at this stage, the role is open only to internal staff (including NHSP and Agency staff currently on placement within our organisation) and staff substantively employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). Any individual who is at risk of redundancy will be given priority, provided they meet the essential criteria.

We are looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to join our busy team based at Farm Villa in Maidstone. You will be an integral part of the senior leadership team within your care group/ area, developing effective working relationships, negotiating and influencing in order to support the achievement of the People Strategy and Trust Objectives. The HR Team is responsible for supporting all our workforce to achieve the Trust vision and values.

As a senior HR professional, you will be expected to be able to work on your own initiative. You will need to develop a thorough understanding of the services within your directorate/area, including finance and governance. You will also work collaboratively and support the wider workforce OD teams, ensuring the success of any change projects that are put in place.

Responsibilities

• Support the trust by driving the People Strategy within the assigned care group/ area, ensuring that we put our people first to drive greater engagement and belonging.
• Work alongside the senior leadership team and provide strategic leadership and coaching to the team they work with. They will also be the subject matter expert for all areas of HR, being the voice and main point of contact for the centre of the area of expertise, or where there is a specific development need for the individual.
• Support the places to plan their workforce requirements promptly, working with HR Shared Services to ensure that recruitment is appropriate, budgeted, job evaluated and implemented most effectively.

About us

We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated 'Good' by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.

Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It's why we're passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.

Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.

Details

Date posted: 04 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for Change

Band: Band 8b

Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 380-SS0701

Job locations: Farm Villa, Maidstone, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, ME16 9PH

Job responsibilities

At Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, we are serious about diversity and inclusion, and we are working hard to build this into our DNA. We warmly welcome applications for any of our roles from people from diverse backgrounds, and we are proactively encouraging applications from under-represented communities for our more senior roles, like this one.

The post holder must hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car/vehicle to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Please see the attached job description for full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

Person Specification

Training, Qualifications and Registration

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent degree
• Proven track record of Generalist HR management at a senior level
• Demonstrate ability to diagnose, develop and deliver HR interventions in a variety of situations

Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Experience of employee engagement
• Ability to produce meaningful analysis of complex information
• Excellent interpersonal skills that enable positive working relationships with a variety of leaders

Desirable

• NHS Experience
• Coaching experience
• ER experience

Note: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details: Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust

Address: Farm Villa, Maidstone, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, ME16 9PH

Employer's website: https://www.kentmedwaymentalhealth.nhs.uk