Future Directions CIC is a Community Interest Company that works with individuals, families, commissioners and local communities to design and deliver personalised services; enabling individual choice and control to achieve fulfilled lives.
Our Values:
* To Put People First;
* To Be Transparent;
* To Go the Extra Mile;
* To Be Creative;
* To Be Adaptable.
Our Objectives:
* To engage individuals, listen to their needs, wishes, and support them to live a life they value.
* To work alongside individuals so they grow and feel valued.
* Employ, develop and value capable and understanding people.
* To build a growing sustainable business driven by our values.
Working closely with Heads of Department and line managers, the Employee Relations Specialist will provide proactive, hands‑on support in all aspects of employee relations to further enhance our values driven culture, ensure formal employee concerns are well managed in line with our values and continue to build and develop management capability.
This role will contribute to strengthening positive working relationships across key areas of the organisation by promoting constructive dialogue, early intervention, and effective managerial practice. The post‑holder will develop a clear understanding of the operational needs, pressures, and KPIs within the areas they support, enabling them to offer tailored solutions that help leaders manage change confidently continuing to foster a collaborative and healthy organisational culture.
Responsibilities include:
* Provide expert advice and hands‑on support to managers on all employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinaries, performance issues, sickness absence and conflict resolution.
* Lead and manage complex and high‑risk ER cases from start to finish, ensuring timely. progression and compliance with policies and employment law.
* Support and guide managers in conducting investigations, hearings and consultations, ensuring fairness, consistency and robust documentation.
* Identify and promote early intervention strategies to reduce the escalation of concerns into formal processes.
* Provide coaching, mentoring and on‑the‑job support to Heads of Department and line managers to build confidence in handling people issues.
* Deliver training or briefings on key ER topics (i.e.: managing conflict, conducting investigations, attendance management and performance management).
* Develop practical guidance, toolkits and resources to support consistent, effective people management across the organisation.
* Maintain accurate records of ER cases, identifying trends, hotspots, and areas requiring proactive intervention.
* Produce clear reports for HR leadership and senior managers, highlighting risks and recommended actions.
* Build trusted, professional relationships with managers and staff to enable effective resolution of issues.
* Provide clear, balanced advice that supports both organisational objectives and fair treatment of employees.
We'll assess you against our Values during the selection process:
* To put people first.
* To be transparent.
* To go the extra mile.
* To be creative.
* To be adaptable.
As part of the hiring process, candidates may be required to complete a psychometric, employment plus Maths and English tests which will provide valuable insight into your potential fit within Future Directions CIC.
Education and Training:
* GCSE 4 – 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in Maths, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale;
* GCSE 4 - 9 or equivalent level 2 qualification in English, or be prepared to pass a test before the interview to demonstrate level 2 ability, and then, if appointed, achieve within an agreed timescale;
* CIPD Level 5 or above - level 7 would be ideal.
Experience:
* Knowledge of employee relations frameworks, including grievance, disciplinary, capability, and attendance management procedures.
* Proven experience managing a broad range of complex and sensitive employee relations cases.
* Demonstrated experience coaching or supporting managers to handle people issues confidently.
* Experience working in a unionised environment or with employee representatives.
* Experience analysing ER trends or casework data to identify risks and inform action
* Experience supporting culture change initiatives or interventions to reduce ER case volumes.
* Experience developing HR guidance, manager toolkits, or delivering ER‑related training
For an informal discussion about the role, please reach out to us at HR@futuredirectionscic.co.uk
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, depending on the level of interest and number of applications, so early application is advised.
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