People Business Partner

NTH; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Tees is seeking an experienced People Business Partner to join on a fixed-term basis for 12 months. You will work across the Trust to provide expert advice on employee relations, absence management, workforce planning and inclusion.

The role requires leadership at a senior level, strong understanding of NHS policies, and the ability to engage with clinical and corporate teams to deliver safe, effective patient care while ensuring compliance with employment legislation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex employee relations cases.
• Ability to influence senior clinicians and executives.
• Strong knowledge of NHS workforce governance and MHPS requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex and sensitive workforce employee relations cases.
• Provide specialist advice regarding disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, capability, attendance and professional conduct processes.
• Ensure all workforce cases are managed in accordance with MHPS, employment legislation and Trust policies.
• Develop approaches that promote early informal resolution wherever possible.
• Maintain productive relationships with professional representative organisations including the BMA.

Skills

Employee relations

Workforce planning

Change management

Stakeholder management

Wellbeing & inclusion

Education

Masters level qualification

Leadership training

CIPD level 7

Job description

Find out about the current vacancies available at the Trust and take the next step in your career with us.

Main area Administration Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract 12 months (Fixed term) Hours 37.5 hours per week (Full time - 37.5 hours per week) Job ref 345-COR-8365423

Site University Hospital Tees Town Stockton Salary £57,528 - £64,750 Dependant upon NHS and MHPS experience Closing 11/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced People Business Partner to work across University Hospitals Tees for a fixed term period of 12 months.

The People Business Partner will act as the key senior workforce representative working as a partner with the senior management teams within Clinical Support Units and Corporate services.

Providing expert advice on Employee Relations, Absence Management, Change Management, workforce planning, professional standards, wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

The role will ensure that people policies, governance arrangements and workforce strategies support delivery of safe, effective, responsive and sustainable patient care whilst ensuring compliance with statutory and employment legislation requirements.

Applicants should have experience in working at a senior Business Partner level

Main duties of the job

Lead and manage complex and sensitive workforce employee relations cases.

Provide specialist advice regarding management of disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, capability, attendance and professional conduct processes.

Ensure all workforce cases are managed in accordance with best employment legislation and Trust policies.

Develop approaches that promote early informal resolution wherever possible.

Maintain productive relationships with professional representative organisations.

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, including those who first language is not English.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Medical Business Partner will act as the key specialist advisor to the Responsible Officer and Medical Leadership Teams, providing expert advice on medical workforce matters including Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS), workforce planning, professional standards, employee relations, wellbeing, equality and inclusion.

The role will ensure that people policies, governance arrangements and workforce strategies support delivery of safe, effective, responsive and sustainable patient care whilst ensuring compliance with GMC, NHS England and employment legislation requirements.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Lead and manage complex and sensitive medical workforce employee relations cases.
• Provide specialist advice regarding consultants, SAS doctors, trust-grade doctors, locally employed doctors and honorary contract holders.
• Support management of disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, capability, attendance and professional conduct processes.
• Ensure all medical workforce cases are managed in accordance with MHPS, employment legislation and Trust policies.
• Develop approaches that promote early informal resolution wherever possible.
• Maintain productive relationships with professional representative organisations including the BMA.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

• Evidence of further relevant study i.e. Masters level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of leadership training
• CIPD level 7 or equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of supporting complex investigations.
• Ability to influence senior clinicians and executives.
• Strong understanding of workforce governance arrangements
• Experience working within a Business Partner within a Workforce Team.

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of NHS medical workforce policies and procedures
• Detailed understanding of Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS).
• Understanding of Consultant, SAS and Junior Doctor Terms and Conditions. Knowledge of NHS England Responsible Officer regulations and guidance
• Knowledge of doctor job planning and medical workforce productivity

Important - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)

It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBs check will be undertaken during the pre-employment check screening.

Qualifications Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted. You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Disability We are a Disability Confident Lead employer. This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

Right to Work in the UK The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless they have permission to work via another route. Non UK/RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here: Work in the UK - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk )

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.

We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.

Further Important Information Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to email via this method.

Please ensure you read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document attached to this advert before completing and submitting your application.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.