Senior Employee Relations Advisor

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare service provider in London is seeking a Senior Employee Relations Advisor to drive change through expert practices and manage complex employee relations cases. You will support staff and managers across the organization, providing professional ER advice and coaching. The ideal candidate will have a CIPD qualification or significant experience in employee relations, with strong analytical and communication skills. This role offers a Band 6 salary with developmental opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience advising stakeholders on ER issues including sickness and performance management.
• Significant experience supporting disciplinary investigations.
• Managing multiple complex ER cases.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional ER advice and support to staff and managers.
• Ensure best practice and equal opportunities principles are adhered to.
• Provide regular reports on ER activity.

Skills

Knowledge of current employment legislation

Analytical skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Strong listening and questioning skills

Ability to coach and influence

Education

CIPD qualification or significant experience

Educated to degree level or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Senior Employee Relations Advisor role at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. Band 6 with developmental opportunity (Band 5 also considered). 3 days on site. You will drive change through expert employee relations practices, developing a just culture and excellent people experience.

You will work closely with the Employee Relations Specialists to provide a specialist employee relations and resolution service to managers and staff across the Trust. You will manage your own complex ER case load, including advising on and supporting investigations for staff at all levels, including medical and senior staff. You should possess excellent IT skills with the ability to manipulate data to create and display ER reports.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional ER advice, support and coaching to staff and managers on a wide range of Employee Relations issues, ensuring best practice and equal opportunities principles are adhered to.
• Ensure advice is balanced and pragmatic, considering clinical and operational issues, patient safety and cost.
• Provide regular reports on ER activity and maintain the employee relations database on at least a weekly basis.
• Advise on complex queries escalated from service desk and HRBP teams on matters such as fixed-term contracts, probationary periods, flexible working appeals and other terms, conditions and benefits.
• Collaborate with HR Business Partners to support workforce-related incidents in their areas.
• Analyse and interpret people-related metrics to identify trends and inform ER policy development, management development activities and employee engagement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: CIPD qualification or significant experience in an employee relations role; educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Essential: Experience advising stakeholders on ER issues including sickness, disciplinary, grievance and performance management; significant experience supporting disciplinary investigations; advising managers in presenting cases at hearings; managing multiple complex ER cases; experience in policy development.
• Desirable: Medical staffing experience; experience delivering training; experience using coaching to build competence and confidence.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of current employment legislation and ER policies, principles and procedures.
• Analytical skills to identify causes and propose practical solutions based on policy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; strong report-writing and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strong listening and questioning skills; ability to manage competing priorities and deliver to deadlines.
• Ability to coach, challenge and influence to ensure effective ER solutions while balancing risk and commerciality.

About Us

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England’s top-performing and safest trusts, operating two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and award-winning clinics across North West London. We employ around 7,500 staff serving 1.5 million people, offering maternity, A&E, children's services and specialist HIV/sexual health clinics. CQC rated us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use. We continuously invest in facilities and services.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities.

Additional Information

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a Disclosure to the DBS may be required. Applications from those needing Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. UK professional registration is required where applicable. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.