Job summary
- Main area
- Human Resources
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent: We welcome applications on a secondment basis and are open to exploring both internal and external secondment opportunities for this role.
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 150-GM2685-COR
- Employer
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Brighton General Hospital
- Town
- Brighton
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Professional Lead - Human Resources
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly regarded HR professional to join our People Directorate as Professional Lead – Human Resources.
This senior role provides professional leadership, assurance and expert advice across employment law, HR policy and complex employee relations, supporting consistent, fair and compassionate practice across the Trust. Working closely with the Head of HR and Operational Manager – Human Resources, you will help maintain high professional standards and manage organisational risk.
While this is primarily a professional leadership and assurance role, the post holder will retain oversight of a small number of selectively identified complex cases, including matters involving senior or professionally regulated staff, to support learning, consistency and improvement. A key element of the role is enabling others - using insight from casework, governance and review activity to improve standards, build capability and strengthen confidence across the organisation.
We welcome applications on a secondment basis and are open to exploring both internal and external secondment opportunities for this role.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
- Act as the Trust’s senior professional advisor on employment law and complex employee relations practice, providing authoritative advice to leaders, managers and HR colleagues
- Provide professional oversight and support on high‑risk and sensitive matters, including formal processes involving senior or professionally regulated staff (e.g. MHPS)
- Retain a limited, targeted portfolio of complex cases for professional assurance purposes, supporting organisational learning and risk management
- Undertake structured reviews of complex employee relations cases, providing professional challenge, assurance and identifying learning and improvement opportunities
- Use insight from case reviews, tribunal outcomes and governance activity to improve professional standards, service quality and policy application
- Lead the review and development of HR policies, procedures, toolkits and guidance, ensuring legal compliance and clarity
- Design and deliver training and development activity to strengthen knowledge, confidence and consistency in employment relations practice
- Provide professional coaching, mentoring and supervision to HR colleagues, supporting capability building and reflective practice
- Work collaboratively with staff‑side partners, senior leaders and external advisers to support effective and constructive employment relations
- Contribute expert input to workforce governance, assurance and audit activity as required
Working for our organisation
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?
- Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
- Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
- Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
- Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
- Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
- Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
- Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
- Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values - Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence - guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.
Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK
Health and Care Worker visa: If you’ll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK
The Professional Lead – Human Resources provides senior professional leadership across employment law, HR policy and employee relations, ensuring practice across the Trust is legally compliant, consistent and values‑led.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the Trust’s professional authority on the interpretation and application of employment law and HR policy
- Providing professional oversight and assurance on complex employee relations matters, including formal processes for senior or professionally regulated staff
- Conducting case reviews and quality assurance activity, identifying themes, risks and learning to inform continuous improvement
- Ensuring learning from casework and tribunal outcomes is embedded through policy updates, guidance and training
- Leading the design and delivery of professional development and training activity for HR colleagues and managers
- Contributing expert advice to workforce governance, risk management and assurance arrangements
- Building effective, collaborative relationships across the organisation and with staff‑side partners to support fair and effective employment practice
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Chartered member of CIPD
- MA in Human Resource Management or equivalent qualification
- Evidence of leadership and management development leading to a certification, diploma etc.
Desirable criteria
- Additional legal qualifications or employment law training
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience in employment law, including tribunal cases within NHS/public sector
- Experience of advising on or managing formal NHS processes for senior or professionally regulated staff (e.g. MHPS)
- Experience of leading a people function with evidence of service transformation and improvement
- Proven track record in HR policy development and implementation
- Demonstrated ability to lead on complex employee relations cases
- Experience of leading HR professional development initiatives
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working within NHS HR frameworks and policies
- Experience of working in a complex healthcare environment
Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria
- In-depth knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Scott Hart
- Job title
- Head of HR
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07826 889 638
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