Divisional HR Manager – Care
Salary: £50,000 – £65,000 per annum (FTC)
Contract: Full-Time, Fixed-Term (6 months initially, potential to extend or become permanent)
Location: West Sussex, field-based across three care homes with a regional support office base
Please note: Applicants must be CIPD qualified with significant HR leadership experience in a regulated healthcare environment. Enhanced DBS clearance is required. Candidates without significant healthcare experience will not be considered.
Remit
Compass Associates are delighted to be partnering exclusively with a respected hospitality and healthcare group in the search for a Divisional HR Manager for their Care division. The organisation has a strong and diverse national presence, with the Care division currently comprising three homes in West Sussex specialising in older people’s services, dementia care, and brain injury support.
Having been reintegrated into the wider group within the past 18 months, the division is undergoing a key phase of transformation, with a focus on cultural alignment, digitalisation, and operational excellence. This role will be central in shaping the HR provision for Care, ensuring consistency with group standards whilst meeting sector-specific regulatory requirements.
The Role
This is a full-time, fixed-term contract provisionally for six months, with strong potential to extend or transition into a permanent role as the division grows.
The Divisional HR Manager will:
* Lead HR provision for the Care division, reporting directly to the Group People Director.
* Act as the senior HR contact for Care, overseeing and supporting the existing HRBP.
* Provide specialist HR input into group-wide initiatives, ensuring compliance with CQC and well-led standards.
* Support operational managers in ER case management, absence management, and contractual matters, embedding a proactive and educational approach.
* Drive digitalisation of HR processes and support adoption across the division.
* Partner with the Group Head of L&D to ensure regulatory and developmental training needs are met within Care.
* Contribute to pay review processes, compensation and benefits planning, and national minimum wage reviews.
* Lead on onboarding, integration, and cultural alignment following the reintegration of care homes into the group.
* Establish KPIs and reporting frameworks in line with group requirements while ensuring Care-specific measures are incorporated.
Essential Criteria
* CIPD qualified with substantial HR leadership experience in regulated healthcare.
* Strong knowledge of CQC and sector compliance requirements.
* Proven ability to balance strategic HR leadership with operational delivery.
* Experience in digitalisation and change management within care settings.
* Skilled in influencing, educating, and empowering managers to manage people issues proactively.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt style across a range of stakeholders.
The Candidate
The successful candidate will be a confident, forward-thinking HR professional with a collaborative approach. They will combine rigour in policy and process with a strong focus on people and culture, empowering operational leaders to manage effectively. Tenacity, ethical standards, and a proactive approach to improvement will be central to success in this role.
Location
The role is field-based across three care homes in West Sussex, with the divisional office acting as the base for the Care function. Flexibility for one day per week home working is available.
Financials
* Salary: £50,000 – £60,000 per annum (depending on experience)
* Contract: Six-month fixed-term, with strong potential to extend or transition into permanent
* Enhanced DBS required
* Access to group-wide benefits, training, and development support
Interview Process
A three-stage process:
* Initial shortlist review and screening conversation with the Head of Talent.
* Second stage interview with the Group People Director and Non-Executive Director for healthcare at divisional head office.
* Final stage with the Acting Managing Director for Care, who also sits on the Group Board.
Contact Details
If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please contact Isobel Johnson directly on 0161 507 5060. Alternatively email an updated CV to ijohnson@compassltd.co.uk
Recommendations
Compass Associates Ltd is acting as a Recruitment Consultancy for this permanent vacancy; we offer a £200 John Lewis voucher for a successful recommendation following the completion of probation/rebate.
Compass Associates, established in 2009, is an award-winning, UK specialist Health and Social Care Recruitment Consultancy providing tailored, high quality recruitment solutions for all permanent assignments.