People Partner (Maternity Cover)

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A registered charity in London, focusing on palliative care, seeks a People Partner. This role involves providing HR advice, handling employee relations, and supporting strategic People projects. Ideal candidates should have significant HR experience, a degree or equivalent, and skills in communication, organization, and HRIS use. Emphasis is on promoting inclusion and positive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Significant relevant experience in Human Resources in a generalist role.
• Experience in managing complex employee relations issues.
• Knowledge of current employment laws.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational People advice across the hospice.
• Lead recruitment and selection processes.
• Ensure People Policies reflect current legislation.

Skills

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

HRIS Proficiency

Interpersonal Skills

Influencing Skills

Education

Degree level qualification or equivalent experience

CIPD Level 5–7

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

HRIS

Job description

Job Summary

Community Hospice is a registered charity based in Abbey Wood, London that provides specialist palliative care to local people and their families. We employ over 180 staff and are supported by around 500 volunteers. We have a strong commitment to developing our people, prioritising wellbeing and embedding equity, diversity and inclusion across all activities.

About the Role

As a People Partner within the People Team, reporting to the Head of People, you will provide operational People (Human Resources) advice and guidance to managers and employees across the hospice. You will work as a generalist, applying up‑to‑date employment law knowledge, managing complex employee relations issues, and supporting the achievement of a positive, inclusive culture.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide safe and effective People services to designated Clinical / Non‑clinical units.
• Develop highly effective relationships and understand local challenges to contribute to strategic and operational decisions.
• Advise and support managers on HRM, ensuring best practice, promoting inclusion, and handling conduct and performance issues professionally.
• Lead recruitment and selection processes, advising appointing managers on legislation and organizational procedures.
• Develop and deliver training and development interventions linked to identified needs.
• Ensure People Policies and Procedures reflect current legislation and organizational culture, proposing updates where necessary.
• Act as a trained job evaluator on the Agenda for Change scheme.

Employee Relations

• Provide advice, information and guidance on complex employee relations cases to minimise business risk.
• Support managers in investigating and hearing complex cases, ensuring consistency and statutory compliance.
• Lead audits, reviews and continuous improvement of People Service Standards.
• Coach and influence managers to develop people‑management and leadership skills.
• Review, develop and update relevant People policies with appropriate consultation.
• Contribute to strategic planning of People projects, identifying interdependencies and resources.
• Lead meetings involving sensitive information, presenting and analysing data such as grievances, disciplinary actions, and capability issues.
• Produce reports for all levels of the organization.
• Advise senior managers on change management, maintaining positive employee relations.

Employment Services

• Develop recruitment, retention and development strategies; plan and manage recruitment drives.
• Advise on EDI issues in recruitment, retention, employee relations and training.
• Participate in the Agenda for Change job evaluation panel, ensuring consistency.

Training Management & Organisational Development

• Assist with the development and maintenance of workforce planning processes.
• Participate in projects to enhance the People Team’s professional standing and contribute to strategic business plans.

Projects

• Support any People projects as required, including KPI monitoring.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain HRIS to provide timely and relevant management information.
• Ensure managers are compliant with, understand, and communicate People policies and procedures.
• Drive continuous improvement in People services and products.
• Audit complex data in investigations, leading to clear outcomes.
• Support the Agenda for Change job evaluation process and outcomes.
• Ensure a customer focus across all People services.
• Coordinate with Finance to manage sickness absence, paying in line with policy and legislation.
• Monitor recruitment and retention levels.
• Update and maintain personnel records accurately.
• Support staff survey analysis and action plan development.
• Commit to personal development in employment law and personnel practice.
• Implement and abide by all hospice policies, protocols, and guidelines.
• Adhere to data protection and confidentiality policies.
• Travel regularly between facilities in Greenwich and Bexley.

Communications & Working Relationships

• All staff and volunteers of Community Hospice
• Board members of Community Hospice
• Unions
• Occupational Health Services (NHS Trust)
• Employee Assistance Program Provider
• Employment Law Support Provider

Person Specification – Experience (Essential)

• Leading on grievance/disciplinary investigations and hearings.
• Managing a complex caseload independently.
• Developing and delivering targeted training.
• Managing job matching/evaluation schemes.
• Experience of People processes including change management, workforce development, organisational development, and employee relations.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Coordinating projects in complex environments.
• Managing risks and reporting.

Person Specification – Experience (Desirable)

• Generalist post in a healthcare setting.
• Implementation of HRIS systems.
• Operating in a politically sensitive environment.

Person Specification – Skills and Abilities (Essential)

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, able to deal confidently with managers and staff at all levels.
• Good organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work on strategic projects and respond to operational issues.
• Skill in influencing and negotiating to resolve difficult situations.
• Effective interpersonal skills to build positive relationships.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information and convey it to non‑experts.
• Business acumen to identify emerging workforce issues and advise on interventions.
• Professional liaison with external agencies.
• Engaging presentation skills.
• Risk assessment and development of pragmatic solutions.
• Proficient use of HRIS for data analysis and presentation.

Person Specification – Skills and Abilities (Desirable)

• Healthcare environment experience.
• Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools.
• Understanding of public sector practices.

Person Specification – Qualifications (Essential)

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience, or Level 5–7 Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
• Significant relevant experience in Human Resources in a generalist role.

Employer Details

Community Hospice

Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

185 Bostall Hill

London

SE2 0GB

Employer website: https://communityhospice.org.uk/