Overview
This is a standalone senior HR role with significant autonomy and influence. You will be the primary point of contact for all people and employment matters across the organisation, working closely with operational leaders and our external HR advisers. The role is both strategic and hands-on. You will advise managers day-to-day on employee relations and employment law, while also developing and embedding a HR strategy that supports quality care, compliance, retention, and leadership capability across our homes. This role is not a HR Business Partner position and does not involve managing an internal HR team. The role will involve regular travel to care homes located across the North of England, as well as ad hoc meetings at the Central Support Office in Chesterfield (some hybrid/remote working is possible). It attracts a salary of circa £55,000 per annum (dependent on experience), plus a monthly car allowance of £600.
Responsibilities
* Operational HR & Employment Support: Act as the go-to HR and employment expert for Regional Managers and Home Managers; provide clear, practical advice on disciplinary and grievance processes; absence management and capability; performance management; employee relations and conflict resolution; ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant people management across all homes; support managers with investigations, hearings, and documentation.
* Employment Law & Compliance: Maintain strong working relationships with external HR advisers, ensuring effective use of external support; interpret and apply UK employment law and sector-specific regulations in a practical way; keep the business informed of changes to labour law and employment best practice; ensure policies, procedures, and contracts remain compliant and fit for purpose; provide advice that reflects the realities of elderly social care, including staffing pressures and rota challenges; Care Quality Commission (CQC) expectations; safeguarding considerations; support managers in balancing compassionate care delivery with robust people management; develop and implement a people and employment strategy aligned with Hill Care's operational plans; deliver training to upskill key stakeholders in their understanding and application of policy and people management; coach and mentor to ensure practices are fully embedded and policy is adhered to.
* People Strategy & Leadership Development: Identify opportunities to improve recruitment and retention; leadership capability at Home Manager and Regional level; engagement, culture, and accountability; lead policy development and standardisation across the group; support succession planning and workforce planning; stakeholder engagement; build trusted relationships with Regional Managers, Home Managers, and Senior leadership.
* Delivery & Travel: Significant HR experience within the elderly social care sector (or closely related regulated care environment); strong working knowledge of UK employment law and labour legislation; proven experience supporting managers with employee relations issues; experience operating in a standalone or senior HR role with minimal internal HR infrastructure; ability to work confidently with external legal/HR advisers.
Skills & Attributes
* Pragmatic, commercially aware, and solutions-focused
* Confident communicator with the ability to influence senior operational leaders
* Calm under pressure, with strong judgement and discretion
* Able to translate legal advice into practical, manager-friendly guidance
* Comfortable travelling to multiple sites and working across a dispersed workforce
Desirable
* CIPD qualification (Level 5 or 7) or equivalent experience
* Experience working across multi-site care operations
* Experience supporting CQC-regulated services
Why Join Hill Care?
Opportunity to shape and own the people agenda for an established care organisation; high level of autonomy and trust.
About Hill Care
The Hill Care journey began in 2001 with John Hill's first care home, Burton Closes Hall in Bakewell, and today we proudly operate 30 care homes across the North of England. We focus on safe, compassionate, and well-led services, supported by strong management and compliant employment practices. We do not operate a traditional in-house HR department; we work with a specialist employment law firm for legal advice and complex case support. Guided by our core values of Compassion, Aspiration, Respect, and Empowerment (C.A.R.E.), we provide exceptional care that puts people first."
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