About this role
Job summary
We are looking to appoint a Band 5 Employee Relations Specialist who holds CIPD level 3 to work at King's College Hospital.
Key areas of activity will include advising and supporting managers in relation to all ER queries including Capability, Conduct, Early Resolution and Sickness management; advising in accordance with other Trust policies and procedures and ensuring escalations of complex ER cases to the Employee Relations Specialist.
The post holder will be responsible for all sickness management from Informal to Final Stage Hearings within their portfolio, taking a proactive stance towards resolution.
The post-holder will coach, encourage, and challenge managers and staff to explore early informal resolution to cases in line with the Trusts Early Resolution Policy.
The post holder will be responsible for accurate, timely and comprehensive entry of data into in-house systems of cases they are handling as well as creating reports including ad hoc report where required.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be responsible to the Associate People Business Partner and People Business Partner for the provision of a professional high quality, comprehensive HR service to specific divisions / corporate functions.
Key areas of activity will include assisting, advising and supporting managers in relation to sickness management, however involvement in other employee relations (ER) issues will certainly be required. This role may involve working between all sites of King's College Hospital.
The postholder will coach, encourage and challenge managers and staff to explore early informal resolution to cases.
The postholder will be responsible for accurate, timely and comprehensive entry of data into various systems and spreadsheets to enable reporting.
The postholder will be held responsible for their performance and their area's performance.
About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King's Strategy - 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King's, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description Job responsibilities
To assist in the management of attendance to support the achievement of targets for the reduction of sickness absence rates by providing advice to line managers in the interpretation and application of the Trusts sickness absence procedures and to ensure that these procedures are adhered to.
To work with the Associate People Business Partner in analysing sickness data and trends for the Division, taking a proactive approach with advising line managers for case management next steps and actions.
To assist managers with Occupational Health referrals and establish close working relationship with the Occupational Health Department
To assist managers in writing, drafting and presenting management cases for sickness and other ER cases.
To provide advice on the interpretation and application of Trust policies and procedures, employment legislation and Agenda for Change terms and conditions of service to managers and all grades of staff in the Trust.
To be the first line ER contact for managers in designated care groups for all Employee Relations / HR queries including sickness, performance, conduct, Early Resolution (bullying & harassment and grievances), flexible working etc. To provide advice and support to managers on these matters
To escalate any complex cases to Associate People Business Partner for guidance and, when necessary, for support from People Business Partner
In discussion with the Associate People Business Partner, and People Business Partner, provide support in hearings for alleged minor misconduct as required.
To establish and sustain credible and effective working relationships with managers and staff of all levels, departments in the Trust such as Occupational Health and Finance and Trade Unions and external professional organisations.
As and when required, to undertake any other duties such as other non-complex ER activities and project work to ensure first class ER service is delivered.
To be responsible for managing own workload and updating professional knowledge with the support and guidance of Associate People Business Partner, and People Business Partner
To advise and support managers in addressing all aspects of staff attendance issues and Occupational Health referrals working closely with the Occupational Health Department.
To continually review working practices and where necessary make recommendations to the People Business Partners and Associate People Business Partner and implement changes.
To participate and upon request to take the lead in special projects, studies, and initiatives for the team and/or department as required
To work as a full member of the People Team and to provide cover and support as required.
To undertake any other duties as appropriate to the grade.
To deal with day-to-day informal complaints made by managers, staff or individuals external to the Trust.
Support with the job matching process - Job match and evaluate job descriptions in accordance with the Agenda for Change job matching process and regulations.
Accurately and promptly record the details of job matching
Work in partnership with Staff Side representatives to ensure fair and consistent job matching and evaluation
To ensure that all ER activity is logged in an accurate and timely manner onto Selenity/Assure (ER Tracker) system, ESR, and any internal spreadsheets, and that information systems are maintained in a timely and accurate manner,
To produce ER activity data, and reports including from the above systems, and to be held accountable for the reports and any trends displayed
To attend regular sickness case conference meetings within the Division, providing updated sickness reports to discuss formal and informal cases.
To attend regular divisional meetings where required to report on ER data, answer ER questions and be the ER link for the divisional meetings
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Degree level education or equivalent experience CIPD Membership - Level 3
Desirable
CIPD Membership - Level 5
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Experience of working in direct HR service delivery, providing generalist HR advice and support to managers in relation to Terms and Conditions of Service Assisting in the development, review and implementation of policies and procedures
Desirable
Experience of working with Trade Unions Experience of working in the NHS Understanding & experience of NHS job evaluation process or similar
Skills and Competencies Essential
Excellent word processing skills and ability to use Word for Windows Ability to use spreadsheets and databases (Excel) Excellent customer service skills i.e. ability to effectively analyse and communicate issues, demonstrate professional behaviour, respond appropriately and in a timely manner, meet and strive to exceed expectations Ability to deal with sensitive and distressing situations with tact and professionalism
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8ND
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)