Overview
An exciting opportunity to join the newly created centralised Resolutions and Employee Investigations Team. The team will deliver a timely and efficient investigations service, undertaking disciplinary and grievance investigations in line with best practice and just culture principles. The team will drive positive resolution to staff issues, support staff and managers in exploring resolution options, and will be trained in facilitation and mediation to support early resolution and reduce formal escalation. The team will work closely with BP and ER teams to support culture improvement initiatives and provide coaching to managers where appropriate.
Responsibilities
* To project manage and undertake complex investigations related to Disciplinary, Grievance, Bullying and Harassment and other HR issues.
* To plan, prioritise and manage competing workloads and deadlines to ensure informal resolution of cases where appropriate and that formal investigations are completed in accordance with Trust policies and best employment law practice, meeting agreed deadlines and monitoring KPIs.
* To be flexible in planning and managing the workload of the department to ensure investigations are completed on time and in line with Trust policies and employment legislation and Trust values.
* Provide expert advice to Line Managers and HRBP teams on managing facilitated conversations and conflict coaching.
* Undertake complex investigations at a senior level within the organisation, using initiative in dealing with complex issues with minimal supervision.
* Provide regular reports to Directorate Managers and HR Business Partners on the process of investigations.
* Ensure a standardised model for investigation reports, including style, content, quality, confidentiality, and timescales.
* Prepare investigation reports with relevant evidence in advance of formal hearings, and oversee final preparation of reports to ensure high standards and compliance with employment law.
* Attend formal hearings and present the management statement of case to the panel.
* Ensure investigations are conducted in sufficient depth to elicit all relevant information for informed decisions.
* Ensure formal hearings are convened in accordance with Trust Policies and Procedures and Trust values, minimising risk of escalation to Employment Tribunal.
* Work in partnership with Trade Union or staff representatives, where appropriate, to discuss resolution of cases toward mutually beneficial conclusions.
* Use specialist knowledge of investigations and employment law to help develop and update Trust Policies for best practice.
* Develop and update employee relations policies, drawing on case management experience and employment law to improve procedures; implement and promote new and revised People policies and procedures.
* Identify potential areas of concern and risks with investigations and ensure appropriate management action is taken to address issues.
* Communicate sensitively and professionally with all staff involved in the investigation, ensuring alignment with Trust values.
* Monitor trends around ethnicity, disability, gender and age, highlighting areas of concern or disparity and formulating remedial action plans.
* Attend People Directorate Team Meetings, delivering anonymised case studies to improve case management and escalation avoidance.
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local and national People issues and employment legislation, sharing knowledge with colleagues and management as appropriate.
* Collaborate with OD colleagues to develop training interventions supporting core competencies in resolution options, including facilitation, conflict coaching, and resilience.
* Manage early conciliation with ACAS and liaise with the legal team on live and potential litigation in collaboration with the Employee Investigations Lead.
* Ensure use of charters and guides for Investigation Officers, Case Managers, Panel Members and HR Support is maintained and updated in line with best practice and changes in employment law.
* Act as HR support to panel members on Employee Relations cases, providing specialist advice and guidance on complex HR issues.
* Establish networks and partnerships with HRBP teams to enable delivery of people strategies and plans.
* Act as Resolution Champion, training Line Managers in conflict coaching and facilitated conversations, managing stress risk assessments and liaising with ER managers to implement mediation and encourage early and/or informal intervention where possible.
* Review data for your area to identify conflict hotspots and liaise with HR Business Partners (ER) to identify organisational trends.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
* Educated to Masters Level or equivalent
* Postgraduate Diploma in HRM, CIPD level 7
* Mediation or Investigator qualification, or commitment to complete within 12 months
Desirable
* Project Management
Knowledge Essential
* Significant experience in a senior HR role, including ER Investigations
* Up-to-date knowledge of Employment Legislation
* Just culture principles
Experience Essential
* Experience developing and implementing policies
* Building and managing teams
* Experience of report writing
* Trade Union working
* Dealing with complex ER matters, including grievances and conflict resolution
* Supporting / undertaking ER investigations, including discrimination
* Designing and delivering training
Additional Information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure to be submitted to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. Guidance on overseas criminal records checks is available.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
Employer details: Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, ME7 5NY. Employer's website: https://www.medway.nhs.uk/
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