Job summary At West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we are seeking an experienced HR professional to lead our HR Business Partner function as the Head of HR Business Partnering. As a key member of our Extended Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our West Herts People Strategy, which is designed to create a workplace where every individual feels valued, heard, supported, safe, and connected. This leadership role is essential for ensuring the delivery of a modern, effective, and efficient HR function that is highly respected and strategically aligned with our organisational priorities. You will be an experienced senior HR professional with strong leadership skills, and an excellent understanding of the HR business partnering model with the skills to embed an excellent standard of practice across the organisation. If you are ready to lead the HR Business Partnering service and drive the success of the West Herts People Strategy, we would love to hear from you. Interview are due to be held on Thursday 30th January 2025. Main duties of the job The role involves overseeing the HR Business Partners to ensure the delivery of best practice HR guidance. It focuses on coaching and challenging leadership teams to drive the People Strategy, with an emphasis on staff engagement, health and wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, and recruitment/retention.Collaboration with the wider HR team is key to improving the skills of line managers in HR matters, conflict resolution, and coaching. This position also entails leading the interpretation and communication of new employment legislation, mentoring HR team members, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. About us With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. At West Herts we offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/ We kindly invite you to consider submitting an application. If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitmentnhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Date posted 08 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 8b Salary £64,337 to £74,415 a year inc HCA Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number 360-E-6564 Job locations Watford General Hospital Watford WD18 0HB Job description Job responsibilities This role will play a key part in the delivery of the West Herts People Strategy through the development of the HR Business Partnering service at West Herts. The Trust People Strategy sets out our ambition that all our staff are well led and well managed and where everybody irrespective of their role, feels valued, heard, supported, safe and connected. We will further embed our values and behaviours and ensure our managers are engaging, compassionate and inclusive and skilled in-service transformation and leading change. The HR Business Partnering Service is integral to the delivery of the programmes of work which will see these aspirations realised. Job description Job responsibilities This role will play a key part in the delivery of the West Herts People Strategy through the development of the HR Business Partnering service at West Herts. The Trust People Strategy sets out our ambition that all our staff are well led and well managed and where everybody irrespective of their role, feels valued, heard, supported, safe and connected. We will further embed our values and behaviours and ensure our managers are engaging, compassionate and inclusive and skilled in-service transformation and leading change. The HR Business Partnering Service is integral to the delivery of the programmes of work which will see these aspirations realised. Person Specification Education Essential Master's degree or knowledge and expertise gained through in-depth experience Postgraduate diploma in HRM or equivalent professional qualification Chartered CIPD Evidence of CPD, including employment law updates Knowledge Essential Expert level of knowledge in strategic workforce issues, including legislation, NHS policy, and best practice Up to date knowledge of key issues in human resources and in local, regional and national networks and issues outside the organisation and how these impact on the Trust Significant knowledge of UK employment legislation case law and good HR practice in order to deal with complex employee relations issues. Understanding of confidentiality & Data Protection Act Detailed understanding of the principles of change management and able to demonstrate a successful track record of major organisational change. Knowledge of business planning, project management and risk management, and how those processes might be Knowledge of business planning, project management and risk management, and how those processes might be applied to organisational change. Experience Essential Significant and specialist HR experience in a role providing support to senior management staff in a demanding environment, working with managers to deliver high quality HR services Significant experience of facilitating and managing change Involvement in developing workforce strategy Experience in reviewing, producing and implementing HR policies and procedures. Experience of HR management and change implementation in a unionised environment Experience of trade union consultation and negotiation Person Specification Education Essential Master's degree or knowledge and expertise gained through in-depth experience Postgraduate diploma in HRM or equivalent professional qualification Chartered CIPD Evidence of CPD, including employment law updates Knowledge Essential Expert level of knowledge in strategic workforce issues, including legislation, NHS policy, and best practice Up to date knowledge of key issues in human resources and in local, regional and national networks and issues outside the organisation and how these impact on the Trust Significant knowledge of UK employment legislation case law and good HR practice in order to deal with complex employee relations issues. Understanding of confidentiality & Data Protection Act Detailed understanding of the principles of change management and able to demonstrate a successful track record of major organisational change. Knowledge of business planning, project management and risk management, and how those processes might be Knowledge of business planning, project management and risk management, and how those processes might be applied to organisational change. Experience Essential Significant and specialist HR experience in a role providing support to senior management staff in a demanding environment, working with managers to deliver high quality HR services Significant experience of facilitating and managing change Involvement in developing workforce strategy Experience in reviewing, producing and implementing HR policies and procedures. Experience of HR management and change implementation in a unionised environment Experience of trade union consultation and negotiation 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). 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). Employer details Employer name West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Address Watford General Hospital Watford WD18 0HB Employer's website http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)