Job summary SPFT is one of the largest mental health trusts in the country providing mental health, specialist learning disability, secure and forensic services for Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex and specialist community child and adolescent mental health services. We care for people of all ages, from children and young people through to older people with conditions such as dementia. We aim to improve people's lives by providing high quality care and the best possible experience of our services. We are seeking to recruit a proactive and enthusiastic Head of Employee Relations (& Projects) to join our Workforce Directorate on a permanent basis. We are looking for a highly motivated individual to deliver joint strategic workforce support to the Trust with a workforce of circa 5500 employees. The role is, 37.5 hours per week, working Monday to Friday. This role will support the Employee Relations team to embed and deliver the strategic workforce development agenda as it relates to ER. It will also manage and direct the workflow and processes within the wider ER Team, supporting the workforce with complex and sometimes highly complex employee relation cases. The role will also manage key performance targets relating to employee relations and lead on designated Trust-wide Employee Relation activities and projects with the key emphasis on maintaining Trust values to ensure we deliver better services to patients through a positive working environment. Main duties of the job The successful candidate will require the following skills, experience and abilities: Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (level 7) Experience of dealing with complex HR operational and strategic issues. Experience in aligning business, operational and strategic needs Experience of having provided strategic HR advice on complex ER cases including restructures, redundancies, TUPE transfers, ACAS Early Conciliation, grievances, and disciplinaries. Experience of working with senior stakeholders to drive the application of best practice to embed good employee relations practice and HR policies and processes. Experience in supporting senior managers and directors at formal hearings and appeals Ability to coach and guide managers to effective solutions Ability to quickly build rapport and credibility and develop effective working relationships A positive attitude towards change and having personally delivered major change initiatives Experience in managing and supporting Senior HR Advisors with complex ER cases Ability to influence and challenge the senior management team and leadership, to support the delivery of people plans and service delivery objectives To lead on strategic, trust-wide ER related projects, and be responsible for the achievement of desired outcomes and benefits within required timescales. Ability to work collaboratively as part of the Employee Relations team About us Occupational Health Employee Assistance Programme NHS Pension Scheme Family Friendly Staff Discounts and Benefits Staff Networks BME/ BAME staff networks Training Flexible Working Cycle Scheme Discount Car Scheme Detailed job description and main responsibilities Date posted 05 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8a Salary £53,755 to £60,504 a year pa Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 354-CO-21599 Job locations Portland House Worthing BN11 1HS Job description Job responsibilities Please see attached job description for full details on job description and main job responsibilities. For further details / informal visits contact: Name Matt Green Job title Associate Director of Employee Relations and Business Partnering Email address matthew.green32nhs.uk Job description Job responsibilities Please see attached job description for full details on job description and main job responsibilities. For further details / informal visits contact: Name Matt Green Job title Associate Director of Employee Relations and Business Partnering Email address matthew.green32nhs.uk Person Specification Qualifications Essential Chartered CIPD Qualification at Level 7 or equivalent qualification Post graduate Management qualification or equivalent relevant experience Knowledge/Experience Essential Through understanding of Employment Law and Equality legislation and experience of working with a diverse workforce. Good knowledge of national NHS Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions and Medical and Dental Terms and Conditions. Ability to analyse, interpret and apply terms and conditions of employment. Ability to advise on a range of employment issues Ability to problem solve, sound judgement and decision making (involving complex/highly complex facts or situations which require analysis, interpretation and assessment) Ability to undertake policy development. Ability to manage and develop database/system to meet service needs Significant experience within an HR environment (including employment relations/caseload) Previous Supervisory/management experience Experience of recruitment processes, interviewing and section techniques/methods Experience of professional registration and working status approval processes and legislation Person Specification Qualifications Essential Chartered CIPD Qualification at Level 7 or equivalent qualification Post graduate Management qualification or equivalent relevant experience Knowledge/Experience Essential Through understanding of Employment Law and Equality legislation and experience of working with a diverse workforce. Good knowledge of national NHS Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions and Medical and Dental Terms and Conditions. Ability to analyse, interpret and apply terms and conditions of employment. Ability to advise on a range of employment issues Ability to problem solve, sound judgement and decision making (involving complex/highly complex facts or situations which require analysis, interpretation and assessment) Ability to undertake policy development. Ability to manage and develop database/system to meet service needs Significant experience within an HR environment (including employment relations/caseload) Previous Supervisory/management experience Experience of recruitment processes, interviewing and section techniques/methods Experience of professional registration and working status approval processes and legislation 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). Additional information 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 Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Address Portland House Worthing BN11 1HS Employer's website https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)