HR Employee Relations Coordinator

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an HR Employee Relations Coordinator to support the ER Services team and deliver a high-quality HR service. The role blends advisory and administrative duties, reporting to a Senior Employee Relations Consultant and working with the ER team.

The position requires on-site attendance for at least two days per week, with flexibility discussed at interview.

Qualifications

• Recent experience in a complex HR administrative environment.
• Experience in a customer facing role.
• Track record of meeting objectives.
• Intermediate use of Word and Excel.
• Experience of ER case management systems.

Responsibilities

• HR Advisory Support: Provide timely and accurate advice on core HR policies to managers and employees.
• Case Management: Lead on maternity, parental leave, and support leave queries; manage tribunal documentation and hearing coordination.
• Database Oversight: Maintain the ER Tracker system, ensuring accurate case entries and reporting.
• Hearing Coordination: Organise hearings, including complex cases involving doctors, ensuring MHPS timeframes compliance.
• Training & Development: Deliver training on maternity policies and ER Tracker usage.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build relationships with managers, union reps, and other stakeholders.
• Administrative Duties: Minute-taking, report generation, data cleansing, reference checks, ER mailbox upkeep.
• Line Management: Oversee ER Administrators, including recruitment and workload planning.

Skills

HR policy advice

ER case management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

GCSEs including English and Maths

HNC or equivalent qualification/experience

Level 3 CIPD (desirable)

Level 7 CIPD (desirable)

Tools

ER case management system

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

NHS ESR HR and Payroll system

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Job Title: HR Employee Relations Coordinator

Contract: Fixed Term 12 Months - Covering Maternity Leave

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team

The Employee Relations Coordinator plays a pivotal role in supporting the Employee Relations (ER) Services department to deliver a high-performing, efficient, and compliant HR service aligned with UHS standards.

The role is both administrative and advisory, requiring a blend of technical HR knowledge, strong organisational skills, and interpersonal effectiveness. The role reports to a Senior Employee Relations Consultant and works closely with the ER team.

Please note that we are unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Therefore, applicants who require visa sponsorship to work in the UK will not be eligible for this position.

This role requires onsite attendance for a minimum of two days per week.

Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include:

• HR Advisory Support: Provide timely and accurate advice on core HR policies, AFC Terms and Conditions, and procedures to managers and employees.
• Case Management: Lead on maternity, parental leave, and support leave queries; manage Employment Tribunal documentation and hearing coordination.
• Database Oversight: Maintain and update the ER Tracker system, ensuring accurate case entries and reporting.
• Hearing Coordination: Organise disciplinary and dismissal hearings, including complex cases involving doctors, ensuring compliance with MHPS timeframes.
• Training & Development: Deliver training sessions on maternity policies, ER Tracker usage, and support team development.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with managers, union reps, and other stakeholders to facilitate effective ER processes.
• Administrative Duties: Minute-taking, report generation, data cleansing, reference checking, and maintaining ER mailbox and Staffnet content.
• Line Management: Oversee ER Administrators, including recruitment, performance management, and workload prioritisation.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Good standard of general education (i.e. 5 GCSE’s, including English and Maths, or equivalent level of qualification).
• HNC or equivalent qualification/experience

Desirable criteria

• Level 3 CIPD or equivalent
• Able to study for Level 7 CIPD

Experience

Essential criteria

• Recent experience in a complex HR administrative environment
• Previous experience in a customer facing role
• Track record of meeting objectives
• Intermediate use of word and excel
• Experience of ER case management system and tracking systems

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience in a similar role, administering HR issues
• Experience of working in a healthcare environment
• Experience using the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) HR and Payroll system

Knowledge / Skills

Essential criteria

• Able to build relationships and communicate with senior leaders and able to be persuasive
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information both internally and externally
• Understanding of employment law and data protection issues
• Able to pick up, use and manipulate other HR systems

Desirable criteria

• Familiarity of NHS conditions of service and Trust policies & procedures
• An understanding of basic employment law and data protection issues