Job summary
- Main area
- Human Resources
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- 6 months (fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 289-CR-167
- Employer
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Harbour Yard
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum incl. HCAS
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Employee Relations Manager
NHS AfC: Band 7
Job overview
6-Month Fixed-Term Contract or Secondment Opportunity
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking two experienced, proactive and motivated Employee Relations Managers to join our team on a 6-month fixed-term contract or secondment basis.
This is a high-profile opportunity to play a key role in supporting the Trust's ambition to reduce sickness absence and improve employee wellbeing and attendance. Working closely with managers, clinical services and the Employee Relations team, the post holders will drive improvements in attendance management and support the delivery of sustainable reductions in sickness absence through both proactive and preventative approaches.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for candidates with employee relations experience, service improvement, excellent stakeholder management skills, and a proven ability to influence, coach and support managers in a complex organisational environment.
This is an excellent opportunity for experienced ER professionals who are passionate about improving workplace attendance, supporting managers and driving positive organisational change.
Informal conversations about the role are welcome. If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Nuria Burset, Head of Employee Relations via email or telephone.
Hybrid working: 3 days on site.
Working for our organisation
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.
The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key responsibilities will include:
- Supporting managers and services to effectively manage sickness absence and improve attendance.
- Reviewing and modernising policies, procedures and systems to improve efficiency, consistency and effectiveness.
- Providing expert employee relations advice and support to managers and the ER team in relation to sickness absence management.
- Driving the timely progression and conclusion of employee relations cases.
- Delivering training and guidance to managers to enhance their confidence and capability in applying Trust policies and procedures in sickness absence management.
- Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and implementing best practice approaches to employee relations and attendance management.
· Gather, analyse and interpret attendance and employee relations data, produce reports and recommendations, and develop evidence-based interventions to reduce sickness absence and improve organisational performance
- Undertaking additional employee relations casework and project work as required to support the wider team.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A degree plus CIPD qualification (level 7) or extensive experience in a senior employee relations role
- Educated to post-graduate level or extensive experience in an HR Manager or senior HR Advisor role
- Formal training in a relevant topic such as coaching, mediation or employment law
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant demonstrable experience of advising a range of stakeholders on a broad range of ER issues balancing legal compliance with business need and developing practical value-adding solutions
- Experience of managing multiple complex ER cases from a strategic perspective
- Experience managing staff
- Experience in the design, delivery and evaluation of training programmes
- Evidence of having a positive impact on an organisation, achieved through excellent influencing skills
Desirable criteria
- Training/ supervisory experience
- Experience of TUPE or major organisational change
- Experience working with MHPS
Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Excellent demonstrable knowledge of current employment legislation and best practice in ER policies, principles and procedures
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills engaging effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver multiple concurrent activities within agreed deadlines and to agreed standards with consistent attention to detail
- Strong analytical skills, able to analyse information effectively identifying the causes of problems and proposing realistic and practical solutions to address them based on knowledge and understanding of an organisation and its operating environment
- Ability to plan, prioritise, communicate and deliver against personal and team objectives and work plans
- Ability to develop strong relationships and coach, challenge and influence to ensure effective ER solutions, balancing risk and commerciality and resolve conflict where necessary
- Exceptional listening and questioning skills that enable empower and get to the heart of the issue
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Nuria Burset
- Job title
- Head of Employee Relations
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07881262324
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