Strategic People Partner

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional emergency care organization is seeking a Strategic People Partner to provide strategic planning within its HR framework. The ideal candidate will have significant HR management experience, including employee relations and change management, particularly in the NHS context. This role offers opportunities for career progression and professional development, alongside a comprehensive benefits package including flexible working options.

Benefits

27 days of holiday, increasing with service

Pay enhancements for overtime work

Car leasing scheme

Cycle-to-work scheme

Staff discounts from various organizations

Qualifications

• Significant experience in general HR management or equivalent.
• Experience managing Tribunals and employee relations.
• Experience within an NHS People function.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic initiatives for the Trust People Strategy.
• Advise managers on conducting formal employee relations hearings.
• Work proactively to reduce sickness absence.

Skills

Strategic planning

Employee relations

Coaching and training

Change management

Education

Grad CIPD (Level 7)

Degree in relevant subject

ACAS accredited mediator

Job description

Overview

Strategic People Partner at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The closing date is 13 October 2025.

The role will be accountable for several areas of the Trust, providing strategic planning and guidance to ensure continued and improved performance across a range of people specific metrics, and providing regular reporting to the Senior HR Team.

You will also provide support and advice to the Employee Relations Advisors on policy, sickness management, grievance and disciplinary matters.

You will support the People Partner Managers in the management of Employment Tribunals, and all associated litigation under Trust Policy.

You will also be required to deliver on strategic projects to support the delivery of the HR Strategy including organisational change management; coaching and training of line managers; and delivering in-depth reporting and analysis of people data. Please note the JD is currently indicative subject to job evaluation review.

Main duties of the job

• Develop and execute strategic initiatives to support delivery of the Trust People Strategy, by leading on strategic projects such as organisational change, leadership development, new ways of working, and employee engagement.
• Work within Trust agreed time frames for investigations and all employee relations matters, proactively liaising with relevant colleagues to ensure deadlines are met.
• Advise and guide managers to confidently undertake formal employee relations hearings including disciplinary, grievance and capability, advising on best practice and employment legislation relevant to the case such as the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010).
• Identify trends relating to sickness absence and implement proactive, strategic initiatives to reduce absence in line with Trust targets.
• Work in an innovative and proactive manner, fulfilling the role of People expert, delivering high quality guidance on people management, development, and employment law.

About us

We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England of 10,000 square miles and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day. We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

At the heart of our region we employ over 6000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills, resources and development you need to thrive in your role. You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade and enjoy continuous professional development.

• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
• Staff networks
• Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Grad CIPD (Level 7) or substantial evidence of continuing professional and personal development equivalent to this level
• Evidence of successful completion of specialist training and attendance at short courses in the areas of work of this post
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Degree in relevant subject
• Part qualified CIPD expected to achieve Grad CIPD within 12 months
• ACAS accredited mediator
• NHS Job Evaluation Trained

Experience

• Significant in-depth experience in general HR management or equivalent. Significant employee relations experience or equivalent, including management of Tribunals
• Experience designing and implementing HR training modules and delivering training
• Experience within an NHS People function
• Experience of change management and carrying out job evaluations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working