Job overview
Join us in shaping a high‑performing, future‑ready workforce. In this role, you’ll play a key part in developing and delivering innovative workforce programmes and policies that drive the organisation toward its strategic goals while boosting productivity across our teams. You’ll work as a trusted business partner to senior managers within designated Clinical Service Lines, providing expert HR guidance and strategic insight that supports organisational change and strengthens workforce capability.
With a strong focus on customer service, you will ensure our HR provision is responsive, efficient, and delivered to the highest professional standards. Your work will help create a seamless and supportive HR experience for colleagues at every level.
Beyond your operational responsibilities, you will take a proactive corporate role in advancing the HR agenda across the Trust. By collaborating closely with managers, staff-side representatives, employees, and external partners, you will contribute to establishing the organisation as an employer of choice and championing excellent employment practices throughout.
Main duties of the job
Act as a strategic business partner to Clinical Service Lines, senior management and their teams, develop thorough understanding of the business plans and Workforce issues to ensure that their requirements are identified and support planned and delivered on a timely basis.
Lead and manage the HR interface with managers and staff in the Trust, providing expert advice and support on employee relations issues, offering legal and terms and conditions advice, providing expert advice on complex employee relations cases to managers.
Ensure the provision of a consistent professional service across all Clinical Service Lines, underpinned by sound knowledge and the principles of good practice.
Develop the management capability of line managers, coaching and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to handle staff management responsibilities in line with the Trust’s strategic direction.
Influence and drive business thinking and develop approaches that support operational business objectives, organisational design and resource plans.
Foster a positive climate of employee relations within the Trust, to support the implementation of a partnership approach and develop and maintain good working relationships with representatives of Trade Unions and staff organisations.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Employee Relations
* Take responsibility for the management of complex employee relations cases through advice and coaching, ensure the approach is pragmatic working closely with the Employee Relations Team.
* Facilitate advice and guidance on national/local terms and conditions of employment.
* Develop and maintain expertise in specified areas of Human Resources management practice, including employment legislation and case law, impart this knowledge to managers and staff across the Trust.
* Support the Clinical Service Lines to identify problems, develop appropriate interventions and solutions by facilitating improvement processes concerning individual and team performance and change management.
* Participate in a range of external HR networks representing the Trust, to develop knowledge of the best HR management practice outside the Trust.
* Take an active role in the Joint Staff and Management Committee.
Policy Development
* Hold regular meetings with managers and stakeholders to review HR management practices and communicate workforce policies and procedures.
* Design and deliver workshops on employee relations and performance management topics.
* Contribute to the development and review of Trust-wide employment policies and procedures, ensure that they comply with statutory employment law and case law.
* Develop and coach managers to embed use of effective staff management practices across the trust.
Equality & Diversity
* Act in a way that promotes equality and diversity in relation to Trust policy and procedure and legislation.
* To ensure that equality and diversity issues are recognized, addressed in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
Job Evaluation – Agenda for Change
* Take a lead role on Trust job evaluation process under NHS Terms and Conditions
* Ensure compliance throughout the Trust on the job evaluation process under NHS Terms and Conditions
* Support managers in the development of new roles and job descriptions.
* Work in partnership with staff side colleagues on the job evaluation process.
Management
* As a member of the Management Team in the department, role model a business focused performance oriented approach, contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
* Ensure timely and effective work plans are designed and implemented and there are effective supervision arrangements in place. Implement performance management processes that deliver both team and Trust objectives.
* Ensure all staff participate in individual performance reviews and develop personal development plans.
* Contribute to the development of the service, promoting best practice, supporting innovation and modernisation.
* Ensure personal development for staff under direct management, ensuring that all team members have a voice in the development of the Workforce & OD service.
* Coach staff under direct management on people management issues.
Key Performance Indicators
* Work to Key Performance Indicators for the Clinical Service Lines for the purpose of quality and performance monitoring against organisational objectives.
* To actively contribute to the development and review of workforce information and productivity measures, and ensure their use in all aspects of HR management for designated Clinical Service Lines. Be responsible for its monitoring, analysis, manipulation and implementation within the division, in conjunction with the Workforce analyst.
* To utilise workforce data and present and report on this regularly for designated Clinical Service lines analysing and identifying trends in data, to identify/anticipate workforce issues and appropriate strategies for the division or HR service developments that may be required and take these forward.
Projects
* Manage and deliver specialist projects as directed by the Associate Director – HR Operations.
Communications and Relationships
Internally
* Directors, Deputy Directors and Senior Managers
* Trade union representatives and officials
* Members of the Clinical Service Line Management Teams, Departmental Managers, Matrons, Heads of Service and other key staff
* Colleagues in the Culture and OD team, Medical Staffing team, Training and Learning Team, Recruitment and Workforce.
Externally
* NHS Employers
* Colleagues in other NHS organisations
* Contracted service providers at senior level
* Third party suppliers
* Legal advisors
* Full‑time trade union officers and senior staff representatives as appropriate
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Educated to degree level or equivalent or demonstrable knowledge and experience in Human Resources Management
* MCIPD qualified or an equivalent level of demonstrable knowledge and experience in Human Resources Management
Experience
Essential criteria
* Senior HR experience in a large complex organisation
* Evidence of providing HR professional advice and support at senior level
* Able to work autonomously, dealing with and solving day to day HR operational issues
* Significant knowledge of employment law and its application
* Demonstrable transformational change management experience
* Experience of writing complex reports
* Line manager / supervisory experience
Desirable criteria
* Recent experience of working in the NHS
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices
* Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers
* Knowledge of NHS Service Improvement Agenda
* Leadership with a strong focus on timely delivery of outcomes and achievements
* Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
* Able to lead, develop and motivate team working
* Strong analytical skills
* Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
* Ability to cope with tight deadlines and competing priorities
* Well‑developed customer focus skills
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