HR Manager

NHS; Wigan; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A NHS Trust in the UK is seeking an HR Advisor to deliver professional and customer-focused HR support. In this role, you'll provide guidance on complex employee relations and develop inclusive policies. Strong communication and analytical skills are essential. A commitment to promoting a diverse and engaged workforce is crucial. This position requires operational HR experience and a masters level qualification in HR or related fields. The workplace is located in Wigan, UK, offering a vibrant environment for HR professionals.

Benefits

Commitment to employee development

Inclusive workplace culture

Flexible working hours if possible

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience of operational HR at a senior advisory level.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate leadership and management to HR Advisors.
• Ensure delivery of timely and high-quality HR advice.
• Contribute to the improvement of workforce performance indicators.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to analyse complex information

Strong people-management skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Masters level in HR or equivalent HR experience

CIPD Associate Member, working towards Level 7

Tools

HR information systems

Job description

Job Summary

Following a reorganisation of our People Services function, these newly created roles will be an integral part of our service, providing professional, proactive and customer‑focused People Advisory support to our clinical divisions and corporate services across WWL.

Main Duties

Working collaboratively with Senior Business Partners and HR Advisors, you will ensure the delivery of timely, compassionate and high‑quality advice and support on complex employee relations, wellbeing and organisational change programmes for medical and non‑medical teams.

You will also develop inclusive, person‑centred policies and procedures, and design and deliver engaging and innovative ways to embed these policies and new ways of working. Through your advice, coaching and influencing skills you will support our leaders and managers to be excellent people leaders, ensuring a culture that attracts and retains a diverse and engaged workforce.

About Us

Choose Well – Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff, believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and live our values.

We embody the following values: People at the Heart, Listen and Involve, Kind and Respectful, ONE Team. WWL is committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and we seek to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Job Location

Buckingham Row, Brick Kiln Lane, Wigan, WN1 1XX

Job Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate leadership and management to HR Advisors in the delivery of an effective and high‑quality operational HR service to the Trust.
• Coach and mentor HR Advisors and other team members to develop their knowledge and skills.
• Work on own initiative and prioritise own workload and that of the team to meet key performance indicators and service level agreements.
• Ensure services are customer‑focused, efficient, and aligned to divisional priorities and People Services objectives.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels across the organisation, establishing trust and professional credibility.
• Contribute to the improvement of key workforce performance indicators (sickness, turnover, appraisal rates, mandatory training rates, bank and agency usage, workforce numbers, staff engagement). Support leaders to develop and enact plans and provide workforce reports and analysis.
• Coach and support leaders to create compassionate and inclusive cultures in their service areas.
• Produce high‑quality reports, drawing data and information from multiple sources, and present information to relevant stakeholders.
• Support the Business Partners and Associate Director of People Services in developing and implementing systems and procedures to provide an efficient basis for accurate HR advice.
• Maintain and support the development of digital workforce systems.
• Work with the Senior Business Partner and Digital Workforce Team colleagues to ensure divisions have robust workforce information and data, supporting services to interpret and translate this data into actions that support the delivery of services and high‑quality patient care and staff experience.
• Lead the development, implementation and review of employment policies and procedures, ensuring timely response to changes in employment legislation, with training and support for managers, in partnership with Trade Unions.
• Monitor, measure and report on HR issues, opportunities, development plans and achievements in agreed formats and timescales.
• Contribute to the development of workforce plans and strategies.
• Seek feedback from key stakeholders and share this with Business Partners and wider team to improve the service People Service provides.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on escalated, often complex and multifaceted people matters and enquiries relating to terms and conditions of service and interpretation of organisational policy and procedure.
• Work closely with managers and leadership teams to ensure effective and timely resolution of all levels of employee relations matters, including complex informal and formal issues such as disciplinary, safeguarding, grievance, performance management, dignity and civility at work and attendance at work.
• Lead and actively participate in HR forums and sub‑groups.
• Develop and establish effective working relationships with trade union representatives, promoting partnership working and resolving conflict and contentious issues.
• Support change and innovation within the Trust, working in partnership with management and staff side to facilitate new ways of working and the effective management of change, in accordance with appropriate policies, procedures, legislation and best practice.
• Undertake and lead specific HR projects identified and contribute to the NHS modernisation agenda through involvement in the development and implementation of key national areas of work including Agenda for Change, Equality and Diversity, Wellbeing, etc.
• Work closely with the OD, L&D and Digital Workforce Teams to contribute to the development and implementation of the national and local People/OD strategy, to meet the objectives and quality standards of the Trust.
• Be responsible for the promotion of equality of opportunity and diversity within the workplace and develop strategies to support equality and diversity in employment policies and initiatives.
• Design and deliver training and development programmes in a range of areas relevant to People Services.
• Deputise for the Senior HR Business Partners in their absence.
• Oversee internal and external audits within areas of responsibility, analyse results and embed actions to improve performance.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust, representing the organisation to relevant partners, other NHS bodies, regulators, voluntary sector, and other relevant organisations, developing constructive relationships for the benefit of the Trust.
• Participate in relevant internal and external working groups, projects, services and initiatives to provide information and expertise.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Educated to masters’ level in HR or equivalent HR experience.
• CIPD Associate Member, working towards Level 7.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Employment Law qualification.

Additional Essential

• Commitment to the delivery of the highest standard of customer service.
• Steadfast commitment to promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Commitment to embedding, promoting and championing WWL values and behaviours.

Knowledge (Essential)

• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Knowledge of NHS Terms & Conditions and Agenda for Change.
• Understanding of NHS 10 Year Plan, Long‑Term Workforce Plan and People Promise commitments.
• Knowledge of equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing in employment practice.

Knowledge (Desirable)

• Knowledge of NHS Job Evaluation process.
• Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and employment policy.

Skills & Abilities (Essential)

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to influence and negotiate effectively at all levels.
• Ability to analyse complex information and provide evidence‑based advice.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Strong people‑management skills with ability to coach and support others.
• Ability to remain calm, impartial and solution‑focused under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HR information systems.
• Progressive and innovative approach to HRM and contribution of HR to the delivery of a modern NHS service.

Skills & Abilities (Desirable)

• Ability to use workforce analytics to support decision‑making.

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience of operational HR at a senior advisory level, including leading casework and advising managers.
• Experience of working in a unionised environment and developing constructive staff‑side relationships.
• Experience of managing or supervising others.
• Experience of leading HR policy development and implementation.
• Experience of supporting organisational change and service redesign.
• Experience of dealing with complex employee relations issues, including grievance, discipline, sickness absence and organisational change.

Experience (Desirable)

• Previous NHS HR experience.
• Experience of using ESR, e‑Rostering and other digital workforce systems.
• Experience of delivering training and development to managers.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Buckingham Row, Brick Kiln Lane, Wigan, WN1 1XX