Assistant HR Business Partner in Widnes

Salary: 20.29 per hour
Hours: 28 hours per week, worked over 4 days
Location: Across the borough (travel required)
Contract: Permanent

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Assistant Human Resources Business Partner to join our HR Business Partnering team. In this pivotal role, you will support HR Business Partners in delivering high-quality, customer-focused HR services across the Council.

You will provide central expertise on the full employee lifecycle, offering clear, practical advice to managers on people management issues including absence, conduct, grievances, and capability. The position requires resilience, strong professional judgement, and the confidence to work independently when supporting colleagues outside of HR.

You will be a key contributor to policy development, HR projects, and corporate initiatives, championing best practice and promoting continuous improvement in HR services and managerial capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with managers, HR Business Partners and Trade Union colleagues to support operational goals and deliver successful project outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships within the HR function, helping to deliver high-quality initiatives and maintaining the professional reputation of HR.
• Provide specialist HR advice on employee relations matters including disciplinary issues, grievances, absence management, performance management, probation, and organisational change.
• Advise managers and employees on staffing protocols relating to At Risk applicants, Voluntary Early Retirement and voluntary redundancy, including supporting benefit estimate requests.
• Use, analyse, and present HR data to inform decision-making and support early intervention.
• Ensure employee relations issues are managed effectively and in line with policies and timescales, coaching managers in good practice.
• Understand and advise on all HR policies, supporting their review and ongoing development.
• Deliver timely, accurate end-to-end employee relations advice that is legally compliant and consistent.
• Support wellbeing and attendance management, including liaison with Occupational Health, managing complex cases, and contributing to ill-health retirement processes where appropriate.
• Provide advice on and undertake job evaluation in a fair and consistent manner with Trade Union colleagues.
• Support the design and delivery of HR-related training, including attendance management, job evaluation, induction and pre-retirement planning.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with Trade Union colleagues, staff networks and internal/external working groups.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of UK employment legislation, local government practices, and HR best practice.
• Provide HR reports and data, support project work, and contribute to employee engagement and retention initiatives.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role and grade.

About You
You will have a degree-level qualification, a relevant professional qualification, or equivalent experience, along with evidence of continuous professional development. In addition, you will bring:

• Experience of HR policy review and development, including diversity considerations.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS codes and relevant case law.
• Experience managing a high volume of employee relations casework and job evaluation in a local government setting.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple disciplines and manage projects successfully.
• Understanding of statutory requirements affecting HR, including safeguarding.
• Strong HR data analysis skills to inform decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to coach managers and present information clearly.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and meet tight deadlines.
• Analytical, structured problem-solving abilities.
• Flexibility to work outside normal hours when required.

Desirable:
Experience handling complex casework.

Essential:
A full driving licence and access to a vehicle, with regular travel across the borough required. Reasonable adjustments will be made where appropriate.

Our Commitment
The Council and its schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults, and expect all staff, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Connect2Halton is a trading style of Halton & Kent Commercial Services LLP- A joint venture between Halton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Halton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.