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Job summary

Main area
Employee Relations
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday-Friday)
Job ref
390-NR-COR-SO-5843
Employer
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Southend
Town
Westcliff-on-Sea
Salary
£39,959 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
22/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Employee Relations Adviser

Band 6

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

 

Job overview

Senior Employee Relations Adviser - Southend Hospital

Are you an experienced Employee Relations professional looking for an opportunity to make a real impact in one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country? We are seeking a skilled and motivated Employee Relations Adviser to join our team, providing high-quality operational HR and ER support to services across Southend Hospital and the wider Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

In this varied and rewarding role, you will manage a wide range of employee relations casework, providing expert advice and guidance to managers on matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and workforce wellbeing. You will also contribute to policy development, staff training, reporting and data analysis, helping to drive continuous improvement across the service.

Working at a senior operational level, you will play a key role in designing and delivering proactive Employee Relations interventions that support the Trust in achieving its performance targets and improving workforce outcomes. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about problem-solving, building positive working relationships and delivering excellent customer service.

If you are a confident ER professional with strong communication skills, sound employment relations knowledge and a commitment to supporting a positive workplace culture, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and help shape the future of our workforce.

Main duties of the job

If successful you will be expected: 

  • To ensure the provision of advice to all managers within the MSE Trust regarding all aspects of employment policy and procedure for all staff, as well as associated employment issues.
  • To interpret, analyse and provide advice on employment matters with particular regard to effective and timely resolution of discipline, grievance, bullying and harassment case work, often involving complex and sensitive issues requiring tact and diplomacy.
  • To deal with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, Subject Access Requests (SAR) and other reporting requirements as delegated by Head of Employee Relations, taking into consideration the Data Protection Act and Trust policies.
  • To support Head of Employee Relations with ACAS cases and the preparation of Employment Tribunal (ET) claims, including preparation of bundles, drafting initial responses, preparing witnesses statements and tracking of cases.
  • To ensure records keeping for ET and ACAS cases are of a high standard and to ensure the Trust can present Employment Tribunal cases in a logical, structured manner.
  • To maintain accurate and up to date records using our ER Caseworker system Conformity to a high standard.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well-being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
 
We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on this varied and rewarding role, please see the attached Job Description.
 
We look forward to your application!
 
Please be aware that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a high number of applications be received.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent
  • Studying towards CIPD Level 5 qualification
  • Associate membership of the CIPD Post graduate diploma or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable previous experience in a HR Advisory role
  • Experience of working collaboratively with Trade Union representatives at a local and regional level
Desirable criteria
  • Project Management experience
  • Prior experience of working in the NHS
  • Experience of dealing with medical ER issues under MHPS, and of medical terms and conditions of employment

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent written communication skills, demonstrated throughout application
  • Ability to work independently to a high level

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerArmed Forces Covenant Gold Awardhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall Silver 2022Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgeNHS Pastoral CareNHS 75th Birthday

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Anna-Lise Curtis
Job title
Employee Relations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0300 443 0002
Additional information

Email communication preferred. 

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