Job vacancy: Deputy People & OD Lead, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead

Job summary

Main area: People & OD
Grade: 7
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 297-7669204

Employer: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Bensham Hospital
Town: Gateshead
Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 pa pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 19/01/2026 23:59

Deputy People & OD Lead

7

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Partnering operational management colleagues in designated Business Units and Corporate Directorates to fully understanding their business area day to day people demands to support them to manage well at Gateshead. Working alongside the POD Lead to ensure you are fully cited on appropriate elements of the People Strategy, NHS People Plan and CQC requirements to inform this approach and ensure consistent application across the Trust.

Interpret regulations, standards, employment legislation and case law, providing effective, timely and authoritative advice and guidance to senior teams on specialist people and OD issues including (but not limited to) redeployment, discipline, performance management, harassment, recruitment, sickness, terms and conditions,
organisational change and other aspects of employee relations.
Providing operational support and guidance to the POD Advisors on all aspects of employee relations – including the provision of casework overseeing/supervising and managing end to end case management attending stages of ER processes where appropriate, providing practical advice and guidance and encouraging reflective practice
and develop confidence in decision-making.
Expert panel member for medical and non-medical disciplinary/grievance/other associated panels, providing guidance, support and judgements to analyse, interpret and resolve complex and multi-factoral cases where there is no precedent set.

Ensure high-quality input to service business cases, ensuring that workforce plans
support strategic objectives and resource plans.

Provide data and intelligence driven and advice and guidance to Business Units and Corporate Directorates.

As part of quality and performance reviews confidently provide analysis, conclusions and recommendations on workforce matters.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to degree level or equivalent in a HR related subject or equivalent experience.
Professional CIPD Human Resources qualification.
Evidence of recent and on-going continuous professional and personal development.

Desirable criteria

Higher level managerial qualification/Master’s degree (MBA, MA) in a HR related subject or equivalent experience
Chartered CIPD member.
Mentorship or Coaching qualification.

Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrable extensive HR experience in a business partnering role.
Experience of managing employee relations issues.
Experience of planning and delivering people initiatives successfully.
Experience/knowledge of utilising data to achieve success.

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in an NHS environment.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

Specialist knowledge of HR policies and procedures and associated employment law and cases.
Ability to build effective and trusting business partnering relationships
Excellent emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work at an operational level developing new business and HR solutions to meet business need.
Strong communication skills to establish good working relationships with leaders and colleagues.
Able to use initiative, multi task and prioritise diverse workload and work to deadlines.

Desirable criteria

A comprehensive understanding of national HR Policy.

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.