Job overview

At St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, our people are our greatest asset. Delivering exceptional patient care depends on a workforce that feels supported, empowered and able to perform at its best. High sickness absence can affect patient care, staff wellbeing, service continuity and organisational performance.

To address this priority, the Group is establishing a dedicated Attendance Management Team to improve attendance, support staff wellbeing, strengthen management capability and reduce avoidable sickness absence.

The post holder will support managers to progress and conclude overdue sickness absence cases, ensuring timely action throughout the attendance management process. Responsibilities will include monitoring key performance indicators, analysing workforce data to identify attendance hotspots and escalating complex cases to Employee Relations specialists where appropriate.

The role will work collaboratively with operational managers, HR Business Partners, Employee Relations, Occupational Health, Health and Wellbeing teams and staff-side representatives to promote a proactive and supportive approach to attendance management.

The role will be based at either St George’s Hospital or Epsom and St Helier. Applicants should clearly state their preferred location, as the applicable high-cost area allowance will be based on the chosen location.

Main duties of the job

• Provide practical advice to managers on the Trust’s Attendance Management Policy and oversee sickness absence cases across allocated divisions. Identify overdue cases, support timely reviews and ensure agreed actions are completed.
• Assist managers with informal discussions, formal reviews, long-term sickness meetings and final attendance reviews. Monitor return-to-work compliance, record keeping and implementation of Occupational Health recommendations.
• Manage an active caseload, identify barriers to progress and escalate complex, sensitive or high-risk cases to Attendance Management or Employee Relations specialists. Prepare case summaries, reports and provide procedural guidance at meetings.
• Analyse workforce data to identify sickness trends, trigger breaches, long-term absence, overdue actions and low compliance. Produce divisional reports, monitor performance indicators and support targeted improvement plans.
• Build effective relationships with managers, HR, Employee Relations, Occupational Health, Health and Wellbeing, Workforce Information, trade unions and divisional leaders.
• Provide coaching, briefings and workshops to strengthen managers’ confidence, capability and accountability.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, NHS Terms and Conditions, Trust policies, equality and data protection requirements. Maintain confidentiality and support audits and assurance reviews.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). 

 After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.