About this role
Job summary
Everest House Surgery is looking for an enthusiastic and patient-focused HR & Compliance Manager to join our friendly, supportive and forward-thinking team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys combining practical, day-to-day HR support with the wider governance and compliance responsibilities that come with working in a busy GP practice. You will work closely with the Practice Manager, Partners and wider management team, providing trusted HR advice while helping us maintain robust, effective and compliant systems and processes.
The role will include supporting employee relations, reviewing HR policies and procedures, monitoring workforce compliance, overseeing mandatory training and employment documentation, and supporting CQC-related workforce governance. Where specialist employment or legal advice is required, you will coordinate with our retained legal advisers.
We are looking for someone who is approachable, organised and confident working independently, who can identify areas for improvement and help turn these into practical actions.
The role is for three days per week, with flexibility for a combination of face-to-face and remote working.
Please note: We are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies.
Main duties of the job
The HR & Compliance Manager will take day-to-day responsibility for supporting effective HR, workforce governance and compliance across Everest House Surgery, working closely with the Practice Manager, Partners and wider management team.
Key areas of responsibility will include providing practical HR advice and guidance to managers, supporting employee relations matters and coordinating with our retained legal advisers where specialist employment or legal input is required.
The postholder will oversee staff recruitment as well as reviewing and maintain HR policies and procedures, employment documentation and workforce records, helping to ensure these remain accurate, up to date and compliant with current requirements.
The role will also have a strong focus on assurance and continuous improvement. This will include auditing and monitoring workforce compliance, overseeing mandatory training requirements, supporting CQC-related workforce governance and identifying areas where processes or documentation need to be strengthened.
Where gaps or areas for improvement are identified through audits, reviews or inspections, the postholder will help develop practical action plans, coordinate their implementation and monitor progress through to completion.
About us
Everest House Surgery is a progressive, patient-centred GP practice committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare to our local community. With a registered list of approximately 14,000 patients, we provide a comprehensive range of primary care services, including acute and routine medical care, long-term condition management, preventative healthcare and health promotion, with a strong focus on delivering personalised care for every patient.
As a busy and forward-thinking practice, we believe in working collaboratively to provide safe, effective and responsive healthcare. Our experienced multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, allied health professionals and a dedicated administrative team, all working together to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, from the right professional.
We are proud to foster a supportive and inclusive working environment where innovation, continuous improvement and professional development are actively encouraged. We value every member of our team and recognise the important contribution they make to improving the health and wellbeing of our patients.
As a member of the Dacorum Beta PCN, we work closely with neighbouring practices and healthcare partners to deliver integrated services and improve outcomes for our patients. We use EMIS Web as our clinical system and continue to embrace new ways of working that enhance both patient care and the working lives of our staff.
Job description Job responsibilities
The HR & Compliance Manager will provide professional, practical and proactive HR support while taking a lead role in workforce governance and compliance across Everest House Surgery.
Working closely with the Practice Manager, Partners and wider management team, the postholder will support the effective management of our workforce, ensure appropriate HR and governance arrangements are maintained, and help the practice meet its employment, regulatory and CQC responsibilities.
The postholder will be expected to work with a high degree of autonomy, identifying areas for improvement and supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of appropriate actions.
Everest House Surgery has access to retained specialist legal support. The HR & Compliance Manager will coordinate with our legal advisers where formal or specialist employment law advice is required and support the practice in implementing recommendations.
HR Advice & Support
Provide practical day-to-day HR advice and guidance to the Practice Manager, Partners and managers across the practice.
Support managers throughout the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, appointment, induction, probation, changes to employment, absence, performance and leaving employment.
Provide guidance on the consistent and appropriate application of HR policies, procedures and employment terms.
Support effective management of sickness absence, including monitoring absence, supporting return-to-work processes and advising managers on appropriate next steps.
Provide advice and support in relation to performance, conduct, attendance, capability and other workforce matters.
Promote fair, consistent and effective people management across the practice.
Employee Relations
Support the Practice Manager and wider management team with employee relations matters, including investigations, disciplinary processes, grievances and capability procedures.
Provide guidance to managers on appropriate processes, documentation and record keeping.
Support or undertake workplace investigations where appropriate, including gathering information, preparing documentation and supporting meetings.
Coordinate specialist advice from the practice's retained legal advice service where formal employment law or legal input is required.
Ensure actions and recommendations arising from employee relations matters are appropriately documented and followed through.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality and sensitivity when dealing with employee relations and other workforce matters.
HR Policies & Procedures
Maintain a structured programme for reviewing HR policies, procedures and associated documentation.
Ensure policies remain up to date and reflect current employment requirements, good practice and the needs of the practice.
Coordinate policy reviews with managers and the appropriate practice staff.
Support the implementation and communication of new or revised policies across the practice.
Maintain appropriate version control, review dates and records of approved policies.
Identify where new policies, procedures or guidance may be required and support their development and implementation.
Workforce Compliance & Governance
Take a lead role in reviewing and monitoring workforce compliance across the practice.
Undertake regular audits of personnel files and workforce documentation to ensure records are complete, accurate and appropriately maintained.
Monitor key employment and workforce requirements including contracts, right-to-work documentation, DBS checks where applicable, professional registrations and other required employment checks.
Identify compliance gaps, risks or areas requiring improvement and escalate these appropriately.
Develop practical action plans following audits and reviews and monitor actions through to completion.
Maintain appropriate compliance records and provide assurance to the Practice Manager and Partners on progress and outstanding areas of risk.
Support the development of effective systems and processes that make ongoing compliance easier to maintain and evidence.
Mandatory Training
Support the effective oversight of mandatory and statutory training requirements across the practice.
Maintain oversight of training compliance and identify employees with outstanding or expiring requirements.
Work with managers and staff to ensure required training is completed within appropriate timescales.
Review mandatory training requirements periodically to ensure they remain appropriate to individual roles and current regulatory expectations.
Provide regular information to the management team regarding training compliance and areas requiring action.
CQC & Regulatory Compliance
Support the Practice Manager and Partners in maintaining effective workforce governance arrangements in line with CQC requirements and other relevant regulatory standards.
Ensure appropriate workforce evidence is available and maintained to demonstrate compliance.
Support the preparation for CQC inspections, assessments or other regulatory reviews where workforce, HR or governance evidence is required.
Undertake audits and reviews to identify potential areas of non-compliance or weakness before they become significant issues.
Support the development and delivery of action plans arising from CQC assessments, internal audits, external reviews or inspections.
Help embed an approach where compliance and good governance are part of everyday practice rather than solely preparation for inspection.
Recruitment & Employment Documentation
Support managers with effective and compliant recruitment processes where required.
Ensure appropriate pre-employment checks and documentation are completed and recorded.
Review and support the preparation of employment contracts, contractual changes and other employment documentation.
Support effective induction and probation processes, ensuring appropriate documentation and reviews are completed.
Ensure employee records are maintained appropriately throughout employment and that leaver processes are completed effectively.
Audit, Risk & Continuous Improvement
Develop and maintain a programme of HR and workforce compliance audits.
Use audit findings, workforce information and feedback to identify risks, recurring issues and opportunities for improvement.
Maintain clear records of actions arising from audits, reviews and inspections.
Work with relevant managers to agree responsibilities and timescales and monitor actions through to completion.
Escalate significant or unresolved risks appropriately to the Practice Manager and/or Partners.
Recommend improvements to systems, processes and ways of working that strengthen workforce governance and reduce avoidable administrative burden.
Support the practice in developing a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and good governance.
Working Relationships
Develop effective working relationships with colleagues throughout Everest House Surgery, including the Partners, Practice Manager, clinical and non-clinical managers and the wider practice team.
Act as an approachable and trusted source of HR and compliance advice while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
Work constructively with the practice's legal and other external advisers or organisations where specialist support is required.
Communicate potentially complex or sensitive HR and compliance matters clearly, professionally and appropriately.
Confidentiality & Information Governance
Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality when handling employee, patient, organisational and commercially sensitive information.
Ensure HR and workforce records are handled, stored and retained appropriately and in accordance with relevant data protection and information governance requirements.
Only access, use or share confidential information where there is a legitimate requirement to do so.
General Responsibilities
Work within Everest House Surgery's policies, procedures and governance arrangements.
Maintain an up-to-date understanding of relevant HR, employment and workforce compliance requirements and identify changes that may affect the practice.
Participate in relevant meetings and contribute to wider practice improvement and governance activity where appropriate.
Undertake relevant training and continuing professional development to maintain and develop knowledge and skills appropriate to the role.
Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and dignity at work and support a fair and respectful working environment.
Take reasonable care for personal health and safety and that of colleagues, patients and visitors, and comply with practice health and safety requirements.
Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the nature and level of the role as agreed with the Practice Manager.
This job description provides an outline of the main responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive. Duties may develop over time in response to the changing needs of Everest House Surgery and the wider primary care environment.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent relevant HR qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience working at an appropriate level within HR. Evidence of continuing professional development and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of HR and employment practices.
Desirable
Chartered Member or Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent postgraduate HR qualification. Relevant qualification or formal training in employment law. Relevant qualification or training in governance, compliance, audit or risk management. Training or qualification relating to CQC compliance or governance within health or social care. Management or leadership qualification.
Experience Essential
Significant experience working in a generalist HR role, providing practical advice and guidance to managers and employees. Experience of managing or supporting a range of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance and sickness absence. Experience of supporting workplace investigations and formal HR processes. Experience of reviewing, developing and implementing HR policies, procedures and employment documentation. Experience of advising managers on the practical application of HR policies and employment practices. Experience of maintaining and auditing personnel records and workforce documentation. Experience of monitoring organisational compliance and identifying areas requiring improvement. Experience of developing and implementing action plans arising from audits, reviews or identified compliance gaps. Experience of working independently, managing competing priorities and taking responsibility for work through to completion. Experience of handling confidential and sensitive employee information appropriately. Experience of working with external HR, employment law or legal advisers where specialist advice is required.
Desirable
Previous HR or workforce management experience within NHS general practice, primary care or the wider NHS. Experience working within another regulated health, social care or similarly regulated environment. Experience of CQC requirements, particularly those relating to workforce governance and the management of staff. Experience of preparing for or supporting CQC inspections, assessments or other regulatory reviews. Experience of undertaking HR, workforce or compliance audits and presenting findings to senior managers. Experience of monitoring mandatory and statutory training compliance. Experience of supporting recruitment, pre-employment checks, induction and probation processes. Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams comprising both clinical and non-clinical staff. Experience of implementing improvements to HR, governance or compliance systems and processes.
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.
Employer details Employer name Everest House Surgery
Address Everest Way
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP2 4HY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://everesthouse.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)