About this role
Job summary
St Cuthberts Hospice is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care to people with life-limiting conditions and their families. We are seeking a Senior People and Resources Manager to play a key leadership role in shaping our workforce, culture, and environment.
This is a unique opportunity to lead a portfolio spanning People (HR and Volunteer Services), Estates, Facilities and Guest Services - ensuring we have the people, skills and infrastructure needed to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality care.
Main duties of the job
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will:
Lead delivery of the Hospice People Plan, aligning workforce strategy with organisational and financial sustainability;
Provide expert HR leadership and advice on complex workforce issues, organisational change and employee relations;
Act as a trusted adviser to the Senior Management Team; Oversee Estates, Facilities and Guest Services, ensuring safe, compliant and effective operational delivery;
Drive organisational development, fostering a positive, values-led culture and strong staff and volunteer engagement; Ensure robust governance, compliance, audit and assurance across People and Resources functions.
About us
St Cuthberts Hospice provides holistic care for patients with life limiting illnesses. We are highly regarded for our quality of service and the first Adult Hospice in the country to be graded outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Our 11 bedded palliative care In Patient Unit provides individualised care planned to support the total wellbeing of each person, taking into account their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Our Living Well Centre delivers a 12 week programme offering advice and strategies to enable people with life limiting illnesses cope better with their health and wellbeing and support them to regain control of their life. We value the contribution of all our workforce comprising of over 90 staff and 395 volunteers. We are an equal opportunities employer and believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, encouraging applications from all sectors of the community.
Our Values: Compassionate, Respect, Integrity, Professionalism, Choice, Reputation. These define who we are and guide what we do to ensure the highest quality care for those accessing our services and the highest quality experience for staff working here. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and children.
Job description Job responsibilities
Provide specialist professional leadership of HR and Volunteer Services.
Lead delivery of the People Plan, supporting the Hospice Strategic Plan.
Act as a trusted adviser to managers and SMT on workforce matters.
Provide management oversight and coordination of Estates, Facilities and Guest Services (Catering and Housekeeping) to ensure safe, compliant and effective operational delivery.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, provide leadership, oversight and coordination of the People & Resources functions across the Hospice.
Provide advanced professional HR advice, including complex employee relations matters, organisational risk and workforce challenges, ensuring consistent application of policy and best practice.
Act as a trusted adviser and business partner to managers, supporting effective people management and decision-making across the organisation.
Work closely with the Chief Executive and Senior Management Team to support delivery of organisational and workforce objectives, contributing professional insight and recommendations.
Work closely with the Head of Clinical Services to ensure workforce practices support compliance with CQC regulations and standards.
Work closely with the Infection Control Lead / IPU Manager to ensure high standards of cleanliness and hygiene are consistently maintained within the Hospice.
Oversee the delivery of a quarterly People Working Group meeting and Health and Safety Group meeting, ensuring effective engagement across services, with clear reporting, actions and recommendations shared with the People & Resources Subcommittee.
Support the effective servicing of the People & Resources Committee, ensuring appropriate reporting, assurance and follow-up actions.
Prepare high-quality reports and present information to the SMT and People & Resources Subcommittee, including the communication of complex and multi-stranded information in a clear and accessible way to support decision-making and provide assurance.
Work closely with the Senior Finance Manager to coordinate workforce information relevant to monthly payroll, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance.
Lead and support organisational change initiatives, including service redesign and restructures, ensuring changes are well planned and effectively implemented.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships across clinical and non-clinical teams, supporting collaboration and integrated working.
Promote and model a positive, values-led culture, aligned to Hospice values and supporting staff engagement and organisational development.
Oversee and ensure strong relationships with third party providers (such as IT provider and HR database provider) to ensure effective contract management, performance monitoring and delivery of agreed services in line with organisational requirements.
Build and maintain effective relationships with external partners, advisors, contractors and networks, ensuring access to specialist advice and supporting service development.
Analyse complex workforce information, trends and risks to inform organisational decision-making, workforce planning and service improvement.
Provide advanced professional advice on complex HR matters and organisational issues, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness absence and TUPE processes, exercising sound judgement and ensuring consistency and fairness.
Interpret and apply employment legislation, organisational policy and workforce data to support effective decision-making and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Lead the development, monitoring and evaluation of key performance indicators across People & Resources functions, using data and insight to drive continuous improvement and inform strategic and operational planning.
Oversee the development and analysis of staff and volunteer surveys, using insight and data to inform workforce strategy, engagement initiatives to make recommendations to the SMT on organisational development priorities.
Compile and submit workforce data and information required for external benchmarking, including Hospice UK and regional collaboratives (e.g. Hospices North East and North Cumbria), using findings to support organisational learning and performance comparison.
Apply professional judgement to identify, assess and manage risks relating to People & Resources functions, ensuring that SMT are clearly sighted on key risks, issues and opportunities.
Develop, maintain and advise on risk assessment processes and procedures.
Report on the findings of incident investigations and audits to inform the updating of the Hospices strategic risk register.
Review, develop and advise on HR policy and contractual terms and conditions to ensure best value, consistency, and compliance with employment legislation and organisational policy.
Lead development and delivery of the Operational Plans for People and Resources functions aligned to strategic priorities.
Contribute to organisational strategic and operational planning, providing workforce insight and recommendations.
Plan and oversee delivery of People and Resources activities and services across the organisation.
Ensure effective systems and processes are in place to support delivery of People and Resources functions.
Support workforce planning and organisational development initiatives.
Person Specification
Skills and knowledge Essential
Specialist knowledge of HR practice and employment law Ability to analyse and interpret complex workforce information Understanding of governance, audit and assurance processes, including the use of data and systems to monitor compliance and performance Strong communication and influencing skills Ability to develop and implement workforce initiatives Strong organisational and problem-solving skills Ability to manage competing priorities and work autonomously Strong IT and digital capability, including experience of developing or managing systems to support workforce management, reporting and organisational processes Understanding of how support services (such as estates, facilities and guest services functions) contribute to safe, high-quality care and service experience Knowledge of health and safety principles to support oversight of estates, facilities and guest services functions
Desirable
Knowledge of health and safety legislation Understanding of organisational development approaches Project management skills Knowledge of facilities management and maintenance. Knowledge of hospitality management (catering or housekeeping)
Personal Attributes Essential
Able to evidence behaviour consistent with the Hospice philosophy of care and values of respect, professionalism, compassion, choice, integrity, and reputation Collaborative and supportive leadership style Solution-focused and pragmatic approach Strong interpersonal skills with empathy, tact and professionalism Resilient and able to work under pressure Adaptable and comfortable working with change Ability to communicate and motivate at all levels Ability to act on own initiative
Experience Essential
Experience of providing specialist HR advice across an organisation, including complex workforce issues impacting multiple services Experience of overseeing or working across multiple service areas, with responsibility for overseeing coordination, delivery and performance. Experience of leading or supporting organisational change, service redesign or restructures Experience of advising managers on complex employee relations matters. Experience of managing staff. Experience of organisational change or service improvement. Experience of assessing and managing organisational or service risks, including identifying, mitigating and monitoring risks
Desirable
Experience in a hospice, health or social care setting. Experience of managing Managers in a team. Experience of working in or managing Estates, Facilities, Health and Safety or Hospitality. Experience of working with volunteers. Experience of managing multiple projects. Experience of managing health and safety
Qualifications Essential
CIPD Level 7 with significant post-qualification experience. CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in People Management (or equivalent) OR Demonstrable equivalent experience operating at a senior, strategic HR level Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
Leadership or management qualification. NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent Level 3 Health and Safety qualification
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 St Cuthbert’s Hospice
Address St. Cuthbert's Hospice
Park House Road
Durham
DH1 3QF
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.stcuthbertshospice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)