HR Officer in Reading

Position: HR Officer

Location: Services within the BWPCA Portfolio

Hours: 22.5 hours per week

Contract: 12 months fixed term (with the possibility of extension)

Salary: £28,000-£30,000 DOE per annum

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Accountable to: BWPCA Board

Purpose of the role: The purpose of this role is to provide comprehensive, hands-on HR support across BWPCA services, working closely with service and BWPCA leads to ensure the effective management of the workforce throughout the full employee lifecycle. The postholder will provide end-to-end HR support and day-to-day advice on employee relations matters, enabling services to operate safely, efficiently, and in line with employment legislation, contractual requirements, and organisational policies.

The postholder will support with recruitment, onboarding, induction, probation, performance management, role changes, and leavers, helping to ensure consistent and effective people management across services. The role is delivered with a high degree of professional autonomy. While regular input and support are available from an external HR provider, the postholder will be expected to exercise sound professional judgement, identify employment-related risk at an early stage, and recognise when escalation to external HR is appropriate.

Due to the nature of the role, regular on-site presence is essential. This enables effective, timely support to managers and staff, particularly in relation to sensitive and complex employee relations matters, and supports strong working relationships with service and BWPCA leads.

The Role and Responsibilities:

• Core HR Operations

• Provide comprehensive HR support for the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, induction, probation, role changes, and leavers.
• Coordinate recruitment campaigns across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles, including drafting adverts, shortlisting, interviews, and pre-employment checks.
• Maintain accurate HR records and ensure compliance with DBS, right to work, professional registration, and contractual requirements.
• Support appraisal, performance review, and probation processes across both practices.

• Act as the first point of contact for employee relations matters across the services, supporting managers and BWPCA leads with grievances, disciplinary processes, capability and performance management, long-term sickness absence, conduct concerns, and complex workplace issues.
• Provide clear, pragmatic HR advice on process, risk, and options, supporting difficult and sensitive conversations.
• Ensure fair, consistent, and legally sound approaches to people management, aligned with employment law and best practice.
• Proactively identify employment risk and escalate appropriately, including recommending when external HR or legal advice should be sought.

• Support the development, review, and consistent application of HR policies and procedures across BWPCA services.
• Ensure HR practices align with employment legislation, NHS guidance, and contractual obligations.
• Reduce organisational risk through robust processes, accurate documentation, and timely advice.

• Coordinate Occupational Health referrals and support managers with absence management, reasonable adjustments, and return-to-work planning.
• Promote a supportive, fair, and inclusive working environment across BWPCA services.

• Build strong, trusted working relationships with BWPCA partners, managers, and staff across BWPCA service portfolio.
• Work closely with the Head of Service Delivery on workforce planning, complex employee relations cases, and wider people priorities.
• Support managers in developing confidence and capability in people management.

General Terms of Reference: In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

• Work flexibly across operational sites as required.
• On-site presence across both practices is essential.
• The role will involve working across multiple sites to provide visible, accessible HR support.

Essential Skill & Qualities: The essential skills & qualities we are looking for are:

• Attributes

• Proactive, solution-focused approach to HR challenges.
• Confident, resilient, and comfortable managing sensitive and higher-risk employee relations matters.
• Able to work with a high degree of autonomy and exercise sound professional judgement.
• Professional, approachable, and empathetic, with the ability to manage difficult conversations calmly and fairly.
• High levels of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Well organised and able to manage a varied workload in a fast-paced environment.

• Creative and innovative thinker, open to improving ways of working.
• Evidence of personal leadership and role-modelling organisational values.

Qualifications:

• Essential

• Experience working in Human Resources or a related field or working towards a relevant professional qualification.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to continuous learning.
• CIPD Level 5 (or actively studying, with equivalent experience).

• Significant experience providing HR advice and support, including hands-on employee relations casework.
• Experience advising managers on grievances, disciplinaries, performance, and sickness absence.
• Demonstrable understanding of employment law principles and associated organisational risk.
• Experience of working collaboratively with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to use data and information to inform decisions and recommendations.
• Experience supporting HR delivery within a medium-sized or complex organisation, with multiple roles, teams, or work locations.

• Experience within healthcare, NHS, or the wider public sector.
• Experience within GP practices, Primary Care Networks, or GP Federations.
• Experience of supporting organisational change or improvement projects.
• Experience of supervising, mentoring, or supporting colleagues or managers.

This post is subject to a DBS check.

Amendments: This description accurately reflects the present position, however, it may be amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a proper period of consultation.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract

Contract length: 12 months

Pay: £28,000.00-£30,000.00 per year

Benefits: Flexitime, Work from home

Work Location: In person