People Advisor

RCI Group; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Support for CIPD qualifications

Annual leave entitlement

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Collaborative People team

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

RCI Group is seeking a proactive People Advisor to be the first point of contact for complex HR queries, delivering practical, commercially minded guidance to managers and colleagues across the Group.

You’ll support absence management, probation reviews, family leave, and organisational change, working with Associate People Partners to develop your HR expertise and contribute to a high‑performing People function.

Qualifications

• Experience providing HR advice to managers.
• Experience managing absence, probation, and family leave cases.
• Good working knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting employee relations matters.
• Confident using HR systems and case management platforms.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or working towards it.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on a range of HR matters and guidance to managers.
• Manage escalated queries from the People Team and determine escalation needs.
• Support sickness absence processes including return-to-work discussions and attendance plans.
• Advise on probation, maternity, paternity, adoption, and other family-friendly policies.
• Handle lower-level ER matters and support complex cases with Associate People Partners.
• Assist with consultations, restructures, organisational change projects, and TUPE activity.
• Coach and support People Coordinators and maintain service standards.
• Review/update HR policies, templates, and process documentation.
• Deliver and support manager training on key people topics.
• Maintain accurate employee records and case management documentation.

Skills

HR advice

Absence management

Probation management

Family leave

UK employment law

Employee relations

HR systems

MS Office

Communication

Organisational skills

Coaching/mentoring

TUPE

Change management

Healthcare/social care experience

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification

Tools

HR systems

Case management platforms

MS Office

Job description

Location: Stevenage or Birmingham (Hybrid)

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

HR Advice That Matters, In Organisations That Change Lives

At RCI Group, our businesses support survivors of sexual assault, people with mental health needs, adults building independent lives, and individuals with communication difficulties who need access to justice. Behind every one of those vital services are managers and colleagues who rely on clear, practical, and trusted people advice.

We’re looking for a People Advisor who enjoys solving problems, building relationships, and helping managers navigate people matters with confidence. If you’re passionate about providing pragmatic HR support and want to make a real impact in purpose‑driven organisations, we’d love to hear from you.

About RCI Group

Since 2018, RCI Group has brought together specialist health, justice, and social care providers across the UK. Together, our businesses have supported thousands of professionals, service users, and communities through services that improve lives and create lasting positive outcomes.

As our Group continues to grow, we’re investing in a People function that is collaborative, modern, and focused on delivering an exceptional colleague experience. Guided by our values of Respect, Courage and Impact, we’re building a team that combines commercial thinking with genuine care for people.

The Opportunity

As a People Advisor, you’ll be the first point of contact for more complex HR queries, providing clear and practical advice to managers and employees across the Group.

You will support a wide range of employee relations and people matters, from absence management and family leave to probation reviews and organisational change. Working closely with our Associate People Partners, you will develop your HR expertise while making a meaningful contribution to the success of our teams.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional looking to broaden their employee relations experience and develop towards a People Partner role.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on a range of HR matters, ensuring managers receive practical and commercially balanced guidance.
• Manage escalated queries from the People Team and determine when issues require further support or escalation.
• Support managers with sickness absence processes, including trigger point management, return-to-work discussions, occupational health referrals, and attendance improvement plans.
• Advise on probation, maternity, paternity, adoption, and other family‑friendly policies.
• Handle lower‑level employee relations matters and support more complex cases alongside Associate People Partners.
• Assist with consultations, restructures, organisational change projects, and TUPE activity.
• Coach and support People Coordinators, sharing knowledge and helping maintain excellent service standards.
• Review and update HR policies, guidance documents, templates, and process documentation.
• Deliver and support manager training on key people topics and HR best practice.
• Maintain accurate employee records and case management documentation.

About You

You’ll be someone who enjoys building trusted relationships and balancing empathy with sound judgement.

You’ll bring:

• Previous experience providing HR advice and guidance to managers.
• Experience managing absence, probation, and family leave cases.
• Good working knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting employee relations matters.
• Confidence using HR systems, case management platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to communicate clearly and professionally, particularly when dealing with sensitive situations.
• A collaborative approach and a genuine desire to support colleagues across the business.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or currently working towards it.
• Experience coaching or mentoring colleagues.
• Experience supporting organisational change, restructures, or TUPE processes.
• Previous experience within healthcare, social care, justice, or a regulated environment.

What We Offer

• Support towards CIPD qualifications
• Annual leave entitlement
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• A supportive and collaborative People team
• Opportunities for career progression within a growing Group

Why Join Us?

This is more than a traditional HR role. Every piece of advice you provide helps managers support teams that deliver life‑changing services across health, justice, and social care.

If you’re looking for a role where your HR expertise can make a genuine difference, we’d love to hear from you.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.