Role Overview
We are seeking a proactive and confident HR Adviser to join our HR Direct team — the central point of contact for all People & OD enquiries across the Trust. As the ‘front door’ to the People Directorate, you will shape the colleague experience and ensure managers receive high‑quality, timely support with excellent customer service.
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, a provider rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission and continuing to aspire to ‘outstanding’. Our Trust is expanding, having built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital and investing further into our estate.
Qualifications
* CIPD Level 5 qualified (or equivalent) with HR advisory experience.
* Strong knowledge of UK employment law, HR practice and employee relations processes.
* Experience supporting managers in a busy, complex environment.
* Confident handling of sensitive, emotional or contentious issues with professionalism and compassion.
* Coaching style to help managers think through challenges.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and remain calm under pressure.
* Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to delivering high‑quality customer service.
* Experience in NHS, ESR or service‑desk environments desirable but not essential.
Responsibilities
* Act as the first point of contact for all HR related queries from staff and managers, handling calls, emails and online requests.
* Provide independent, professional HR advice on a range of employee relations matters including sickness absence, disciplinary, grievance, performance, bullying and harassment.
* Coach managers to confidently handle absence, conduct return‑to‑work meetings and support attendance improvement.
* Take formal notes at hearings and support ER case‑work administration.
* Maintain accurate records of all enquiries, ensuring SLAs and KPIs are met.
* Analyse trends, produce reports and use insights to support service improvements.
* Deliver training on HR policies and procedures.
* Contribute to the continuous improvement of our HR Direct service and promote a culture of fairness, transparency and excellent customer experience.
* Build strong working relationships with colleagues across the People Team and wider organisation to ensure a seamless service for all.
Additional Responsibilities
* Proactively provide the first point of contact for the Employee Services service and handle all calls and enquiries with confidentiality, diplomacy and sensitivity.
* Provide first‑level advice and support on People & OD systems, policies, procedures and terms and conditions of employment, and signpost customers to relevant policies.
* Triage enquiries using judgement, experience and agreed protocols to determine when to refer on to specialist teams.
* Support line managers with managing short‑term absence, including coaching and signpost guidance.
* Provide autonomous HR advice and coaching on employee relations matters such as sickness absence, attendance, disciplinary, grievance, bullying, harassment and performance management issues.
* Support disciplinary and grievance hearings by taking notes and preparing formal copies after the hearing.
* Provide initial first‑level advice for queries on key employee relation areas such as grievance and disciplinary, sickness absence, redeployment, performance management, bullying, harassment and whistleblowing.
* Keep up to date with relevant legislation and practices such as the Equality Act 2010, ACAS codes of practice and GDPR legislation.
* Provide training to managers on key changes or updates to People & OD policies and procedures.
* Resolve a wide range of queries for People & OD services covering employee relations, medical staffing, diversity and inclusion, pay, terms and conditions with excellent management, persuasion and negotiation skills.
* Be an advocate for an open, fair and transparent working environment.
* Interpret employment policies and work with managers to apply policies in accordance with the Trust’s agreed policies, good employment practice and employment law to promote a fair working environment.
* Implement People & OD policies, procedures, processes and practices and propose changes and recommendations to ensure best practice.
* Analyse data trends to produce activity and dashboard data for performance monitoring.
Locations
Tolworth Hospital, Surbiton
Additional Information
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti‑racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences and involve our local communities in everything we do. We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship; all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.
Closing Date
This advert closes on Wednesday 8 Apr 2026.
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