Job summary To provide a specialist employee relations and resolution service to managers and staff across the Trust. This role is a critical role in leading and coaching managers in order to embed a more compassionate approach and organisational culture in the way we care for staff who experience difficulties at work.The role will require working autonomously managing a complex caseload and supporting and coaching managers and management teams to improve the standard of ER practice, ensuring that best practice is developed and any associated risks are managed appropriately. The post holder will be responsible for complex employee relations case work including but not limited to the advice on and support on the investigation of cases involving medical and senior staff. The post holder will be a subject expert in employee relations and will be required to develop training programmes for both managers and HR staff to develop competence and capability of managers. They will also develop long-term, value-added Employee Relations processes and practices designed to enable cases to be managed through to effective conclusion in line with NHS Just Culture, best practice and legal guidelines. Main duties of the job Work as an Employee Relations Consultant to support and develop an effective specialist advisory service across the range of employee relations matters, ensuring the provision of professional expert and technical guidance and support. Focus is mainly on disciplinary and grievance cases plus those absence and performance cases that require formal final stages. Providing a people focused ER Service that is in accordance with Trust values and strategic objectives of the Trust to drive a more compassionate approach and organisational culture, and embed our values of 'TALK' (We are a Team, We are Accountable, We Learn and Improve and We are Kind) into how we approach difficult people issues, whether in respect of their conduct, performance, interpersonal relationships (including bullying and harassment) or other concerns. About us Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive. Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about. Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too. Date posted 21 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year gross per annum Contract Fixed term Duration 6 months Working pattern Full-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours Reference number 246-COR6841574 Job locations County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich NR1 2EH Job description Job responsibilities Advise on medical employee relation issues, ensuring that cases are managed in accordance with Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) and Trust Policies. Support and advise wider team members with ER advice relating to sickness and performance cases and initial stages of ER casework designed to encourage reflective practice and develop confidence in decision-making. Act as HR representative on Trust hearing and appeal panels ensuring consistency and appropriateness of recommendations. To guide and support managers in the use of a wide range of ER interventions designed to resolve people-management issues early including process documents, best-practice advice, training, facilitated meetings, mediation and coaching. To promote a partnership approach with managers and trade unions in decision-making and problem solving. To promote a culture of staff engagement and staff empowerment by confidently influencing and supporting positive decision making in relationship to ER casework. Report on activity and performance data for the ER service and take action to improve the service and remedy any deficiencies as appropriate, including introducing new policy and practice, escalating cases, case learning reviews, identifying issues from casework and embed learning for the managers and wider service. To support and coach managers to ensure we embed people centred policies, toolkits and practices that support a fair, proportionate and compassionate approach to people management. This will include how we deal with conduct, performance and sickness absence concerns as well as situations involving interpersonal relationships. To undertake routine HR policy reviews to ensure these are people centred, fit for purpose, compliant with legislative changes, aligned to NHS and Trust values and reduce bureaucracy wherever possible. Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY Interview dates are yet to be set; you will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying. Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page NSFTjobs Job description Job responsibilities Advise on medical employee relation issues, ensuring that cases are managed in accordance with Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) and Trust Policies. Support and advise wider team members with ER advice relating to sickness and performance cases and initial stages of ER casework designed to encourage reflective practice and develop confidence in decision-making. Act as HR representative on Trust hearing and appeal panels ensuring consistency and appropriateness of recommendations. To guide and support managers in the use of a wide range of ER interventions designed to resolve people-management issues early including process documents, best-practice advice, training, facilitated meetings, mediation and coaching. To promote a partnership approach with managers and trade unions in decision-making and problem solving. To promote a culture of staff engagement and staff empowerment by confidently influencing and supporting positive decision making in relationship to ER casework. Report on activity and performance data for the ER service and take action to improve the service and remedy any deficiencies as appropriate, including introducing new policy and practice, escalating cases, case learning reviews, identifying issues from casework and embed learning for the managers and wider service. To support and coach managers to ensure we embed people centred policies, toolkits and practices that support a fair, proportionate and compassionate approach to people management. This will include how we deal with conduct, performance and sickness absence concerns as well as situations involving interpersonal relationships. To undertake routine HR policy reviews to ensure these are people centred, fit for purpose, compliant with legislative changes, aligned to NHS and Trust values and reduce bureaucracy wherever possible. Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY Interview dates are yet to be set; you will be contacted via email and invited to book a time. These emails may go to your SPAM, so please keep checking all your emails if applying. Please visit our Facebook and Twitter page NSFTjobs Person Specification Qualifications Essential Degree plus CIPD qualification level 7 or masters-level qualification or significant commensurate experience in an Employee Relations role Experience Essential Significant demonstrable experience of advising managers on a wide range of HR operational issues that are complex e.g. grievance, disciplinary, absence management, etc. Evidence of having a positive impact on an organisation, achieved through excellent influencing skills Desirable Experience working with MHPS Experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of training programmes Skills Essential Strong analytical skills, able to analyse information effectively identifying the causes of problems and proposing realistic and practical solutions to address them based on knowledge and understanding of an organisation and its operating environment Ability to use own initiative and judgement in dealing with complex problems or queries and providing advice. Displays a passion for excellence and the role HR can play in improving patient services and managing organisational change. Demonstrable proactive approach to work Desirable Displays effective and adaptable interpersonal and influencing strategies including the ability to persuade others with personal conviction and facts Experience Desirable Experience of managing cases through Maintaining High Professional Standards Policy Person Specification Qualifications Essential Degree plus CIPD qualification level 7 or masters-level qualification or significant commensurate experience in an Employee Relations role Experience Essential Significant demonstrable experience of advising managers on a wide range of HR operational issues that are complex e.g. grievance, disciplinary, absence management, etc. Evidence of having a positive impact on an organisation, achieved through excellent influencing skills Desirable Experience working with MHPS Experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of training programmes Skills Essential Strong analytical skills, able to analyse information effectively identifying the causes of problems and proposing realistic and practical solutions to address them based on knowledge and understanding of an organisation and its operating environment Ability to use own initiative and judgement in dealing with complex problems or queries and providing advice. Displays a passion for excellence and the role HR can play in improving patient services and managing organisational change. Demonstrable proactive approach to work Desirable Displays effective and adaptable interpersonal and influencing strategies including the ability to persuade others with personal conviction and facts Experience Desirable Experience of managing cases through Maintaining High Professional Standards Policy 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 Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust Address County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich NR1 2EH Employer's website https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)