I am proud to be partnering with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) in their search for a Head of Employee Relations on a 12-month Fixed Term Contract.

NSFT provides mental health and learning disability care for people across Norfolk and Suffolk. Supporting a population of just over 1.6 million people with a dedicated workforce of over 5,000 staff, their biggest bases are in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, and Ipswich, but their staff are based in more than 50 locations.

They believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health. Their CQC rating improved in the most recent inspection report published in February 2023, moving from Inadequate to Requires Improvement and a rating of Good for Caring overall. NSFT are proud of the positive signs of improvement but know they have much more to do.

This one-year Fixed Term Contract for a Band 8B Head of Employee Relations (ER) is part of The Trust’s improvement and transformation journey. A key member of the HR Senior Leadership Team, this role is critical to driving a more compassionate approach and organisational culture in the way NSFT cares for staff who experience difficulties at work, whether in respect of their conduct, performance, interpersonal relationships (including bullying and harassment) or other concerns.

The Head of ER will oversee the development of strategic transformational workforce practices, with a focus on people at their heart. The post holder will work alongside the Director of HR to be the subject-matter expert in Employee Relations. Your role will be to conduct a gap analysis of the ER function and deliver a strategic response to the Trust People processes and ER challenges. You’ll forge ways to ensure their policies and practices support a more people-centred, less process-centred approach and that they are digitally supported, to ensure NSFT has an employee relations service which meets the needs of their services to deliver safe, patient care.

Day to day, you’ll lead and coach the Employee Relations Team and support in the most complex cases. You will also oversee Board level appeals, and the management of Tribunal Claims and be responsible for leading the effective delivery of the HR Helpline and job evaluation process.

You’ll continually promote, establish links, and build networks across the ICS’ so that the ER team are connected and can easily collaborate with the wider system.

The role will suit an experienced employee relations specialist with excellent employment law knowledge and NHS healthcare sector experience. You’ll be a Chartered Member of CIPD (MCIPD), have solid experience in leading teams, and be a role model for compassionate and person-centred leadership.

Experience of working effectively with Board execs and NEDs is important, as is a proven track record in providing quality, highly specialist advice to managers and board members on complex employee relations issues and employment law. From a strategic perspective, experience working with MHPS will be advantageous.

The successful candidate will exercise a fair, compassionate but resonating approach to difficult issues, and can cut through these issues, analyse options, and provide effective outcomes-focused advice in complex, changing environments.

This is an opportunity to work with great people and to really make a difference! You’ll be able to join the NHS pension scheme and enjoy generous annual leave amongst other great benefits.

To help quickly forge meaningful relationships across the Trust, regular on-site presence is preferred, but the role could be largely remote for the right candidate.

NSFT is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and wants to reflect the diversity of the local communities within their teams. They welcome applications from all talented individuals with the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience. They will also consider flexible working arrangements; please indicate in your application if this is something you require.

Interviews will be conducted w/c 21st October 2024

**All applications will be directed to Louisa London, Business Director at Hays Human Resources. For more information contact louisa.london@hays.com
or 07525889872**