This post is only open for applications from individualsemployed within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board.
Organisations within scope are as follows:
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Isle of Wight NHS Trust
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Band 5: £32,073 - £39,043 per annum (effective from01/04/2026)
Hours Per Week: 37.5 full time
Contract Type: Permanent
Base Location: St Mary's Hospital (IOW), Parkhurst Road,Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5TG
As the single corporate service will be delivered acrossboth organisations, individuals may be required to undertake business travelbetween sites.
Are you a motivated HR professional looking to furtherdevelop your employee relations expertise in a supportive, progressive, andhigh performing environment?
As part of our single service offer, you will work acrossboth Trusts and may be required to travel between sites depending on serviceneeds. There is flexibility for some home working; however, the role requires aregular onsite presence to deliver effective support to managers and staff.
Main duties of the job
As an Employee Relations Advisor, you will play a key role in delivering a high quality, proactive HR service that supports improved staff experience, effective case management, and positive organisational outcomes. You will:
* Take the lead on managing absence and ill health cases, analysing sickness data, producing reports, and supporting managers with proactive attendance management strategies.
* Act as a primary point of contact for staff and managers seeking HR advice, providing guidance on a range of HR policies, terms and conditions, and best practice.
* Support investigations and ER processes, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, and performance management matters.
* Advise and participate in formal hearings for absence and less complex employee relations cases.
* Support organisational change processes and ensure managers understand and apply People Services policies correctly.
* Contribute to training delivery, including management essentials and employment relations learning.
* Support job evaluation processes in line with NHS job evaluation criteria.
* Analyse ER data and key indicators, particularly sickness absence, to support performance reporting.
* Maintain accurate records, support SOP updates, and ensure effective team.
* Assist with Subject Access Requests (SARs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) responses in line with statutory requirements.
About us
Our vision for Single Corporate Services
Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth HospitalsUniversity NHS Trust (PHU) have a shared vision of a single corporate serviceacross our two organisations, supported by a single set of identical systemsand processes, under joint leadership, to drive significant efficiencies,improve employee experience, and return time to patient care.
This vacancy is part of the Single Corporate ServicesDivision.
The vision for our single corporate services is to:
* Be an employer of choice for corporate talent, attractingand retaining people who share our values for excellence in care and welcomethe opportunity to benefit from the broad range of flexible career anddevelopment opportunities we can offer.
* Improve efficiency through simplified and standardisedpolicies, processes, and systems, drawing on the best from both Trusts.
* Do things once and reduce any duplication on transactionaltasks giving corporate staff the ability to focus on higher value and morediverse activities.
* Co-invest in the latest digital solutions and standardiseour approach, meaning we do things once for both organisations.
* Improve learning and development opportunities and sharingbest practice, upskilling.
* Co-locate teams in purpose-built facilities on the Islandand in Portsmouth to enable closer working and sharing.
* Build resilience for individuals and our teams.
Job responsibilities
Job summary:
The ER Advisor role at Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust encompasses a wide array of responsibilities aimed at delivering a comprehensive HR service to managers, line managers, and staff.
The primary focus of the role involves managing absence and illness effectively, serving as a central point of contact for staff and managers for general HR advice, and supporting the Employee Relations team in ensuring compliance with legal requirements. The HR Advisor contributes to developing a proactive and modern HR service, participates in policy drafting and reviews, and supports various employee relations functions such as grievance handling, disciplinary procedures, capability assessments, and organisational change processes.
Additionally, the ER Advisor helps in coordinating job matching and analysis, advising on investigations, and participating in formal hearings. This role involves providing constant support and guidance to enhance employee relations capability, ensuring effective management of change, and promoting open working relationships to build a positive employee relations environment within the organisation.
Specific Core Functions
Absence and Ill Health Management
* Manage absence and ill health matters effectively within the Trust, providing guidance and support to staff and management.
* Analyse sickness absence data, develop detailed reports, and collaborate with managers to implement proactive absence management strategies.
* Work with the Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team to design interventions for absence reduction.
* Provide training, guidance, and advice on sickness absence management within the organisation.
Point of Contact and Advisory Role
* Serve as a primary point of contact for staff and managers, offering advice on less complex HR issues.
* Provide comprehensive employee relations advice and guidance based on policies, NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) and medical terms and conditions, and best practices.
* Offer consistent advice on employee relations matters to enhance organisational capability.
* Advise on complex issues such as long-term sickness cases and termination discussions.
Compliance and Operational Support
* Ensure compliance with legal and statutory requirements across Divisions.
* Keep the Employee Relations Manager abreast of operational issues within the Trust/Divisions.
* Support managers and staff in organisational change processes and effective handling of change initiatives.
* Ensure manager awareness and compliance with People Services policies and procedures.
Employee Relations Processes and Investigations
* Provide advice and support on investigations, including grievances, discipline, and performance management.
* Assist in employee relations hearings, particularly for absence management and less complex cases.
* Act as an adviser for non-complex disciplinary, capability, and grievance hearings.
* Review management cases for formal hearings, identify gaps, and support managers in decision making.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.
Person Specification
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of a range of HR policies, processes and practices e.g. absence and capability, disciplinary and grievance procedures.
* Knowledge of current employment law, data protection and ACAS Codes of Practice.
* Understanding of best practice in HR.
* Excellent interpersonal effectiveness including diplomacy, influencing, negotiation and facilitation skills.
* Able to establish credibility and rapport with line mangers.
* Sensitive and responsive when dealing with challenging or emotional circumstances.
* Able to prioritise and respond flexibly to changing demands.
* Ability to work autonomously and show initiative.
* Commitment to equal opportunities.
* Excellent PC User skills including all basic Microsoft packages.
* Ability to analyse situations and exercise independent judgement.
* Understanding of NHS Terms and Conditions (e.g. national AFC and Medical).
* Trained in Job Evaluation.
* Use of ER Case Management Systems.
Qualifications
* Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
* Level 5 CIPD qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience
* Experience of working in an Operational HR role dealing with complex and sensitive issues.
* Experience of advising managers on a range of HR issues, in particular absence management.
* Experience of involvement in policy development and implementation.
* Experience of taking minutes at formal hearings.
£32,073 to £39,043 a year(effective from 01/04/2026)
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