Overview
Are you an experienced HR professional looking for a broad and interesting role where you can make an impact with your expertise?
Pilgrims Hospices has an excellent opportunity suited to an experienced HR Advisor looking for their next step as a Senior HR Advisor. This role would offer the successful candidate the opportunity to develop their HR practice across a broad range of professional areas, developing experience in a generalist role while also providing specialist recruitment and clinical guidance to our staff.
This is a permanent, part time position for a Senior HR Advisor (28 hours per week) and is based at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. This is a role that operates across our hospice and retail sites in East Kent when required with some hybrid working possible. A working schedule that suits the right candidate can be discussed at interview. You will be provided with on-site parking and subsidised meals during your work day.
Responsibilities
* Main duties of the job As one of our Senior HR Advisors, you will partner with the clinical areas and oversee recruitment. Your main responsibilities will include:
* Being responsible for allocated business areas providing dedicated, expert advice in relation to employee relations, absence and performance management and ensuring compliance with basic employment legislation and organisational policy.
* Acting as the first point of contact for managers within their dedicated business areas, including providing generalist HR advice.
* Providing advice to managers in relation to complex workforce matters and supporting performance management.
* Supporting in the development of the HR function, including reviewing policies and their application, use of our HR systems.
* Delivering training and coaching in HR practice, developing skills and management capability, ensuring managers are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and skills to succeed.
* Working in partnership with management to develop services and drive forward organisational strategy, delivering a tangible benefit to our service users.
Client Area
The Senior HR Advisor will be responsible for one or more internal client groups, for whom the advisor will act as the first point of contact and will provide dedicated, expert advice and oversight across the workforce. This will include:
* Attending key management meetings within their dedicated client area(s)
* Support activity within the client area to embed organisational initiatives and communications
* Development of client area specific policy and process(es)
Employee Relations
The Senior HR advisor will provide specialist support across the whole spectrum of Employee Relations. This will include:
* Advising managers in relation to complex workforce matters and implementation of policy as well as supporting the informal management of employee relation cases
* Coaching and guiding managers in order to resolve performance and employee relations issues quickly and effectively
* Supporting managers with the resolution of formal Grievance, Disciplinary and / or Capability issues, including supporting investigations and decision-making panels
* Supporting managers with the formal and informal management of sickness absence issues
* Support and / or delivery of employees engagement initiatives, in consultation with managers, that will drive cultural change and lead to a more efficient and motivated workforce
HR Business Partnering
The Senior HR Advisor acts as a Business Partner to their client groups, helping them to forward plan and make informed strategic decisions. These activities will include:
* To support the development, delivery and implementation of workforce related initiatives to make long-term improvements to the services Pilgrims Hospices delivers
* To monitor recruitment and retention trends across internal client groups and take proactive action to ensure robust and effective management of the workforce
* Coach and support senior management in the development of talent management strategy, identifying innovative and creative interventions that meet the cultural and social needs of the organisation
* Develop HR related policies, ensuring HR practices reflect current legislation, best practice and supports the organisations objectives
* Guide and coach managers when preparing for organisational change, advising on policies and procedures and providing administrative support as necessary
* Participate as requested in projects or groups (such as working groups or specific project groups)
* Deliver training in HR practice across the organisation to develop the skills and knowledge for staff and their managers to fulfil their HR responsibilities effectively
* To support the preparation and implementation of annual pay awards and other initiatives
Volunteers
With guidance from the Volunteering Coordinator, the post holder will support managers to develop volunteering opportunities within their teams and ensure volunteers remain integrated within a single workforce.
Recruitment
(est. at 1 day per week)
The post holder is responsible for oversight of Pilgrims Hospices recruitment needs and processes. Responsibilities include:
* Oversight of recruitment tools and processes used across the organisation to deliver an efficient and friendly recruitment service to potential employees
* Delivering continuous improvement of recruitment systems and practices from advert to onboarding, enabling Pilgrims Hospices to reach the correct audiences and to effectively showcase our workplace
* Supporting recruitment managers to deliver recruitment initiatives such as open-days, job fairs, targeted advertising etc.
Qualifications
Experience Essential
* Demonstrate a business-focused approach to HR in a large organisation
* Experience in delivering bespoke advice and guidance to management, advising on complex employee relations issues
* Experience of coaching managers and facilitating basic HR training sessions with staff
* Strong experience of different Employee Relations issues in the workplace, with ability to manage difficult conversations and processes
* Strong experience of HR systems administration, with ability to maximise system potential
* Experience or knowledge of developing and delivering employee engagements programmes, linked to staff engagement and staff survey
* High level interpersonal skills displaying credibility, resilience and influence
* Exceptional attention to detail
* Ability to analyse and present information appropriately to both managers and staff
* Sound judgment and decision making
* Ability to communicate verbally and in writing is clearly, professionally and persuasively
* Self-motivated and organised, with excellent prioritisation skills
* Excellent I.T. skills, including experience with Microsoft databases
* Knowledge of basic UK employment legislation
Desirable
* Experience with clinical recruitment
Details
Date posted 27 October 2025
Pay scheme Other
Salary £28,051.20 a year
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number B0497-25-0053
Job locations
Pilgrims Hospice
56 London Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 8JA
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent
Address Pilgrims Hospice
56 London Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 8JA
Employer's website https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)
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