Job summary
- Main area
- Human Resources
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 279-7405281-SEP25
- Employer
- 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- NHS Jobs
- Town
- Worthing
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Lead - Resident Doctors
Band 8a
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First . In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form:
https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
Are you a senior HR professional with experience in complex employee relations and a passion for supporting medical staff? Do you thrive in dynamic environments and have the drive to improve staff experience, engagement, and wellbeing?
We’re looking for an outstanding senior HR professional with strong employee relations and medical terms and conditions knowledge to join our Employee Relations team and lead on delivering a high-quality, proactive HR service for our Resident Doctors.
In this key role, you’ll work closely with clinical leaders, medical education teams, and medical workforce colleagues to provide expert advice on a wide range of people issues. From supporting doctors in difficulty and managing highly sensitive sickness absence cases, to supporting complex MHPS investigations and Employment Tribunals—you’ll be at the heart of ensuring our medical workforce is well-supported, engaged, and aligned with Trust values.
You’ll also play a leading role in driving improvements in staff engagement and workforce metrics, as well as contributing to wellbeing initiatives for this staff group and the ongoing development of HR policy and training across the Trust.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape a progressive, people-focused approach to medical workforce support—where your work will make a real difference to staff and ultimately, to patient care.
Main duties of the job
This newly created role provides first-line HR advice to clinical leaders on sickness absence cases involving Resident Doctors, supports Doctors in Difficult, and Maintaining High Professional Standards processes and Employment Tribunals. Working in close partnership with Medical Education and Medical Workforce teams, the role focuses on improving staff engagement and workforce metrics, helping to build a well-supported, high-performing medical workforce. In addition the postholder will manage complex case work.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Ensure that doctors, managers, and medical leaders have access to high quality HR advice for Resident Doctors and that customer experience, innovation and improvement is a core component of their work.
2. Work closely with the Directors of Medical Education, Clinical Tutors and Medical Education Managers and their teams in relation to the provision of education and training of doctors, leading on the management of all doctors in difficulty matters for Resident Doctors.
3. Provide first line advice on the management of sickness absence of Resident Doctors including managing highly complex/sensitive sickness absence cases through advice and coaching.
4. Lead on providing professional senior HR support and coaching to improve GMC survey/staff engagement/staff survey results, resolve workforce issues and improve people workforce metrics for Resident Doctors whilst enhancing patient care and efficiencies.
5. Support the Guardian of Safe Working leads in implementing remedial actions appropriate to the role and have understanding of the aims and principles underpinning their role.
6. Lead and manage the Trust’s Nurse Fellows and in conjunction with the Trust’s Health, Wellbeing and Engagement Manager be responsible for the Health and Wellbeing provision for Resident Doctors.
7. Lead on specific HR projects to enable the Trust to deliver workforce initiatives, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of employment and work development/thinking within the NHS, related current and planned employment legislation, adopting good practices.
8. Design and deliver HR training sessions as required to improve manager awareness and capability on a range of issues and to support the roll-out of HR initiatives.
9. Contribute to the formulation and implementation of HR policies and procedures; Research and writing of HR policies and toolkits/guidance/standard operating procedure documents as required.
10. Manage a personal caseload of complex cases and Employment Tribunals, taking the lead on the most difficult and complex casework enabling the Trust’s corporate aims and objectives to be achieved.
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.
Person specification
Person specification
Essential criteria
- • Educated to a Masters or equivalent experience/level in an HR related subject
- • Significant HR Business Partnering and ER experience of addressing workforce issues in the NHS
- • Experience of advising in MHPS casework
- • Medical staffing experience, including knowledge of all Medical and Dental Terms and Conditions
- • Experience of dealing with complex investigations, hearings, and organisational change
Desirable criteria
- Current experience and knowledge of issues affecting Resident Doctors in the NHS
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Abbi Denyer
- Job title
- Head of Employee Relations
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01273696955
- Additional information
N/A
List jobs with 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors