People Advisor ( Devon Cluster)

Westcountry Schools Trust; Plympton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Career progression

Job summary

Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) invites applications for a People Advisor to provide HR advisory support across its Plymouth and Devon cluster of schools. The role involves a split base between Ivybridge Community College and the WeST HR Office in Plymouth, with a portfolio spanning several primary schools in Devon and Plymouth.

You will deliver professional HR guidance on employee relations, support policy development, and collaborate with school leaders to improve HR practices across the

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in HR advisory with managing a broad range of employee relations cases.
• Experience of working with leaders to strengthen employee relations practice.
• Good working knowledge of employment law and HR practice.
• Excellent written communication skills and ability to produce clear guidance for a non-specialist audience.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong digital skills, including confidence in using Microsoft 365 applications and AI-enabled tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality HR advisory services to an assigned portfolio of schools.
• Manage a diverse employee relations caseload and act as the first point of contact.
• Help enhance people-related policies and practices to support Trust strategy.
• Collaborate with school leaders to strengthen employee relations practice.
• Work across multiple sites including Ivybridge Community College and Plymouth HQ.

Skills

HR advisory

Employee relations

Written communication

Organisational skills

Digital skills

Microsoft 365

AI-enabled tools

Prioritisation

Education

CIPD Level 5

Tools

Microsoft 365

AI-enabled tools

Job description

Are you an experienced HR professional looking to make a real impact in the education sector?

We are recruiting a People Advisor to support our Devon and Plymouth cluster of schools. This role has a split work base between Ivybridge Community College and the WeST HR Office at Westcountry Schools Trust Headquarters in Plymouth, while supporting a portfolio of primary schools across the Devon and Plymouth area.

Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is a family of schools united by a shared ambition: to ensure every child attends a great school and receives the education they deserve.

We are seeking an organised, proactive and professionally curious HR professional to join our growing HR Employee Relations team as a People Advisor.

About the Role

As a People Advisor, you will provide high-quality, commercially aware and cost-effective HR advisory services to an assigned portfolio of schools across Plymouth, South Devon and Cornwall.

You will manage a diverse caseload, act as the first point of contact and provide professional advice and support across a wide range of employee relations matters. You will also help to enhance people-related policies and practices in support of the Trust’s strategic aims. Your ability to think clearly under pressure, prioritise effectively and resolve problems independently will be central to delivering excellent professional HR practice across our schools.

You will work closely with your assigned schools, responding to local employee relations needs and priorities identified by Senior Leadership Teams. The role has a split work base between Ivybridge Community College and the WeST HR Office at Westcountry Schools Trust Headquarters, 51 Encombe Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL9 7GN. As part of the Trust HR Team, you will receive professional practice support and management from a member of the WeST HR Senior Leadership Team.

You will have:

CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Significant experience in an HR advisory capacity, managing a broad range of employee relations cases, together with a proven ability to contribute to the development and improvement of HR policies and practices.

Experience of working closely with leaders to strengthen employee relations practice.

A good working knowledge of employment law and HR practice.

Excellent written communication skills and the ability to produce clear guidance for a non-specialist audience.

Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Confidence managing competing priorities and coordinating multiple workstreams.

Strong digital skills, including confidence in using Microsoft 365 applications, collaborative technologies and contemporary AI-enabled tools to improve workflow, insight and assurance, with the ability to develop proficiency in new tools independently.

Experience within education is not essential. Familiarity with education-sector terms and conditions, including NJC arrangements and the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document, would be advantageous, but this knowledge can be developed in the role.

Why Join WeST?

At WeST, our values are at the heart of everything we do:

Collaboration - Stronger Together

Aspiration - We believe every child can succeed

Integrity - We do the right thing

Compassion - We support one another

Respect - We value every individual

You will join a collaborative and forward-thinking People team at an exciting time of organisational development, with opportunities to contribute to meaningful Trust-wide projects and further develop your professional career.

This role forms part of a career grade pathway, providing opportunities for professional development and progression. As post holders gain experience in the HR Advisor role and successfully demonstrate the required skills, knowledge, competencies and professional qualifications, they may progress through a career grade structure. Support will be provided to help individuals develop and achieve the relevant criteria through their work and professional development at WeST.

WeST is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Whilst the indicative working pattern is full time, all year round, we are happy to discuss flexible working.

Please note that this vacancy may close early if we identify and appoint a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Procedures

All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks. That means:

• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of our Child Protection Policy & Safeguarding Policy is attached.
• Your identity will be confirmed by sight of original, official documents such as a Birth Certificate, Passport etc. in line with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
• Original documents relating to all the qualifications you have listed on your application form must be supplied.
• Your employment history will be thoroughly examined and clarification will be sought where there are gaps or other discrepancies arising from information provided either by you as the candidate or your referee.
• References will be used to check dates of employment and your relevant experience. A minimum of two written references will be taken up and these references will be requested before the interview.
• References should cover the last 3-5 years’ work history, as a minimum.
• An online search of shortlisted candidates will be conducted in accordance with Part Three ‘Safer Recruitment’ of Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.
• The identity of referees and information relating to disclosures will be verified.
• You will be required to provide details of any relevant unspent or spent convictions in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986.
• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be requested. Please note that it is an offence to apply, offer or accept to do any work with children (paid or unpaid) if disqualified from working with children. Applicants will be challenged where inconsistencies exist. Please be aware that a firm offer of appointment will only be made after receipt and verification of all satisfactory checks. Westcountry Schools Trust will carry out these checks and should you fail these checks, our offer of employment will be withdrawn.

Further details about the Trust can be found on our website (www.westst.org.uk) and on My New Term (https://mynewterm.com/trust/Westcountry-Schools-Trust/142688)