Bank Senior Employee Relations Case Investigator
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust are recruiting 8b VSM Bank Senior Employee Relations ER Case investigatorsto provide flexible,specialist capacity to lead complex investigations on an as-required basis.
Bank Investigators are commissioned to manage individualcases from inception to conclusion, working autonomously and free fromcompeting operational pressures. This enables timely, high-qualityinvestigations delivered with independence, rigour and professionalism.
You will lead Trust-wide investigations across disciplinary,grievance, dignity at work and Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS)matters, producing robust written reports and presenting findings at formalhearings. Where required, you may represent the Trust at Employment Tribunals.
This role is central to embedding our Just and LearningCulture, ensuring fair, transparent and employee-centred management of complexand sensitive casework.
Main duties of the job
You will:
* Design and lead complex investigation strategies, delivering within agreed timescales
* Conduct independent, impartial investigations including interviews, evidence review and governance management
* Produce high-quality, defensible investigation reports with clear findings
* Present cases at formal hearings and represent the Trust at Employment Tribunals where required
* Apply expert knowledge of employment law, NHS Terms and Conditions and MHPS
* Engage confidently with senior stakeholders, Trade Unions and professional regulators (e.g. GMC, NMC)
* Identify organisational learning and systemic risk themes
* Embed equality, diversity and inclusion throughout all investigation activity
About us
As an organisation, we've made significant improvements forpatients and staff. Our most recent full Care Quality Commission CQC inspection, in February 2020, found improvements across the organisation andgave us an improved rating of Good in the Well-Led and Effective domains, inaddition to the rating of Good that we had already achieved in the Caringdomain.
We've laid the foundations to achieve more transformationalchange through our clinical strategy, Caring for our local communities. Ourpriority is to be a community focused provider of consistently high-qualitylocal and acute care. We are working with our partners to play a more activerole in contributing to the vitality of local communities and in reducinginequalities.
We've stabilised our workforce by reducingvacancy rates and improving staff retention.
As a local employer and anchor institution we work closelywith our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from thewidest variety of people to ensure our workforce is reflective of the localcommunities we serve. We encourage all suitable candidates to apply includingif you are Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, live with a disability, visible or not, or are LGBT+. We have a number of active staff networksincluding Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Womens staff networksto bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.
Job responsibilities
Key Result Areas& Performance:
Responsiblefor leading highly complex, Trustwide Employee Relations investigations,including disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work and MHPS matters, ensuringfull alignment with legislative frameworks, Trust policies and bestpracticestandards
Accountablefor designing, planning and overseeing complex investigation strategies,ensuring delivery within agreed timescales, escalation of risks, andtransparent reporting to the Case Manager and senior stakeholders.
Ensureall investigations are conducted with independence, impartiality andprofessional rigour, and within stipulated timeframes enabling all parties tocontribute meaningfully while maintaining strict confidentiality.
Exerciseseniorleveljudgement in identifying evidential requirements, determining appropriateinvestigative actions, and conducting robust interviews and evidence analysisto produce defensible findings.
Leadhighlevelinvestigation meetings and manage all associated governance and administrativerequirements to deliver timely, balanced and legally sound conclusions.
Championa Just, Fair and Restorative Culture, ensuring investigations are objective,traumainformedand free from bias.
Interpretand apply Trust policies at an advanced level, identifying gaps andrecommending policy or procedural improvements across the organisation.
With the remit of the senior case investigator role, provide expert ER advisorysupport to senior managers and HR colleagues, and contribute to the developmentand delivery of Trustwide training in advanced investigation practice.
Communicatehighly complex, sensitive or contentious information with authority anddiplomacy, managing conflict and supporting psychologically safe engagementthroughout the process.
Engagewith internal and external stakeholders at senior levels, including supportingorganisational learning, identifying systemic risks, and making referrals toexternal bodies such as regulators, professional bodies, where appropriate.
Developand sustain effective relationships with senior leaders and Trade Unionrepresentatives, promoting confidence in the integrity of the Trustsinvestigation processes.
Collaboratewith external agencies where required, ensuring investigations meet regulatoryand legal standards.
Supportthe Head of Employee Relations and Policy in delivering TrustwideER and workforce projects, contributing specialist expertise.
Ensureequality, diversity and inclusion principles are embedded throughout allinvestigation activity and decisionmaking
Communicationsand Relationships Internally:
* ServiceDirectors and managers
* ClinicalLeads, consultants and junior medical staff
* Headsof Nursing, Senior Nurses and other nursing staff
* Headsof Professions and other Allied Health Professional staff
* Staffwithin the Service
* Headsof Departments
* TrustBoard, Executive and Management Team
* StaffSide
* Workforceand education colleagues
Externally:
* LocalAuthority
* NHSEngland
* GMC,NMC and other professional bodies
* OtherLocal Trusts Providers
* ClinicalNetworks
* OtherRelevant External Agencies
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Masters degree or working towards it, in relevant discipline or equivalent experience.
* Post graduate qualification from the CIPD, within a relevant discipline or equivalent experience
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Chartered membership of the CIPD
* Formal investigation training e.g. NHS Resolution MHPS
* training
Experience
* Substantial employee relations experience at band eightb and above in a large complex NHS organisation
* Proven experience providing practical support and guidance for complex, including MHPS investigations.
* Proven experience of preparation for and presenting in formal hearings
* Proven track record of managing multiple cases concurrently with excellent organisational skills
* Proven experience of working with Trade Union
* representatives in relation to complex case investigations with strict deadlines
* Demonstrable experience of producing high quality written reports.
* Substantial experience of successfully working with a range of internal and external partners working across organisational boundaries and with people at all levels of an organisation
* Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering training on
* workforce investigations
Knowledge Skills & Abilities
* In-depth knowledge of employment legislation and NHS ER HR Policy and Procedures.
* Up to date knowledge of HR best practice, and developments in HR particularly around investigations
* Substantial knowledge of NHS Terms and Conditions of Service and MHPS policy and practice
* Demonstrable knowledge of the particular differences and requirements relating to MHPS investigations
* Ability to challenge openly and have difficult conversations, at times in distressing situations
* Excellent report writing skills with the ability to draw clear and concise findings from investigations and present these with accuracy and transparency
* Well-developed negotiating and influencing skills
* Ability to analyse very varied and highly complex information or situations and to produce
* solutions strategies tactfully and with discretion
* Demonstrable highly developed oral and written communication skills, with an adaptable style and able
* to use a variety of information and tailor communication style to suit different needs
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