People Assistant

Acorn Care and Education; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational organization in Bolton is looking for a People Assistant. This hybrid role involves providing HR support, managing employee relations cases, and offering administrative assistance. The ideal candidate will have experience in HR, strong organizational skills, and the ability to handle sensitive information. Competitive salary and benefits offered, including participation in a 4-Day Working Week trial.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Family Growth Support

Discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an HR/People role.
• Strong administrative background with attention to detail.
• Discretion in handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-line advice on HR policies and procedures.
• Support case management for employee relations.
• Draft HR documentation and maintain records.

Skills

HR advisory skills

Administrative skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Experience in an HR/People role

Job description

Overview

We’re reimagining work/life balance – and you could be part of it. At OFG, we’re proud to be part of the 4-Day Working Week trial – a bold step toward giving our teams more time to recharge, refresh, and enjoy life outside of work. That means you could be working 80% of your usual hours, while still earning 100% of your pay. If the trial proves successful, we’ll roll out the 4DWW across the Group – making now the perfect time to join #TeamOFG and help shape the future of work.

Job Title: People Assistant

Salary: Up to £28,000 per annum not pro rata (dependent on experience and qualifications)

Location: Hybrid - Bolton (Initially 3 days in the office, 2 days WFH. Moving to 2 days in office with 4dww after 6 months)

Contract: Fixed Term Contract – 12 Months

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri 9-5

The role

To provide day-to-day support to the Employee Relations Leader and wider People Team, acting as the first point of contact for HR and ER queries. The role bridges the gap between an Assistant and a People Advisor, offering exposure to employee relations, case management, and policy application, while delivering high-quality administrative and advisory support to colleagues and managers.

What you'll do

• Provide first-line advice and guidance to managers and colleagues on people policies, procedures, and ER matters.
• Support the Employee Relations Leader with case management, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and performance issues.
• Draft letters, reports, and documentation relating to ER cases and HR processes.
• Manage inboxes, respond to routine queries, and escalate complex matters appropriately.
• Maintain accurate HR records, ensuring compliance with GDPR and safeguarding standards.
• Assist with preparing data, reports, and tracking of ER metrics and KPIs.
• Contribute to People Team projects and initiatives, including wellbeing, engagement, and training programmes.
• Build strong relationships across the Bolton office, supporting managers and employees to deliver a consistent and positive colleague experience.

What we're looking for

• Previous experience in an HR/People role, providing advice and guidance on policies and procedures.
• Strong administrative background with excellent attention to detail.
• Confident communication skills and ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential information.
• Organised and able to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Experience

• Some employee relations experience (case management support, absence management, or supporting disciplinaries/grievances).
• Experience working in education, care, or another regulated environment.
• Familiarity with HR systems and data reporting.

Why join Outcomes First Group?

About the Group: Outcomes First Group is the largest independent provider of high quality special needs education and care. We are a vital part of local communities in England, Scotland and Wales with a renowned reputation for quality and positive outcomes for the people we educate and care for. In 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running. Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools and Momenta Connect.

Our Vision: Empower every child, whatever their ability, with a world-class education that nurtures potential, inspires lifelong learning, and equips them to thrive in a diverse and evolving world.

Our Mission: We commit to unlocking our pupils’ potential through personalised learning, innovation, and opportunity, supporting growth and aspirations.

Our Promise: We Listen. We never assume. We work together. To make the remarkable happen. We are accountable. To each other and for one another.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
• And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all employees to share this commitment and undertake appropriate checks.

All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Please note: 4DWW is subject to successful completion of your probation period and is not a contractual benefit.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.