Senior People Advisor in Hastings

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Main area Corporate Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 6 months (Contract duration may vary dependent on return date of substantive postholder/s) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share
• Flexible working
• Home or remote working

37.5 hours per week Job ref 374-LCLL2210-A

Site Eastbourne and Hastings Town east sussex Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 24/11/2026 23:59

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

The HR Solutions team provide first line and advisory HR advice across East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Our team contribute to the provision of comprehensive HR delivery across the Trust, ensuring that the application of HR policy is fairly and consistently applied, by way of effective communication, advice, influence and training.

Main duties of the job

• Provide advice and guidance on a full suite of HR policies and procedures to managers and colleagues across the Trust,
• Efficient management of an employee relations case load, including providing timely updates on the CaseworkER system and ensuring policy timeframes are adhered to,
• Contributing to the ongoing development of the HR Solutions offering,
• Updating and reviewing HR policies as needed, including all supporting documentation with a view to ensuring thorough implementation and embedding.

Successful candidates will be CIPD L5 qualified, or have equivalent experience in a complex organisational setting. Experience of working in a unionised environment is advantageous. You will be well organised and an effective communicator, with experience of providing advice on HR policy and case work.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.

Qualifications / Training

• Good general education to at least GCSE equivalent with English and Maths
• Recognised IT qualification, or evidence of competence in a range of software applications, data management and analysis.
• HR knowledge acquired through relevant training and experience to degree level or equivalent level of knowledge
• Evidence of ongoing additional CPD to degree equivalent including: Training in HR administration.
• Knowledge of specialist record systems. Training /facilitation skills
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience Ability and commitment to undertake full professional degree level CIPD

Experience

• Substantial up to date generalist HR experience
• Previous experience of supervising / managing
• Application of employment law in day to day situations
• Providing advice and implementation of disciplinary, grievance, absence and individual performance policies and procedures
• Identifying training needs and delivery and evaluation of training performance
• Up to date experience at HR Advisor level in the NHS
• Experienced within a Unionised environment

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Resilient and able to deal effectively with sensitive issues
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and mediation, and negotiation skills
• Good IT and word processing skills
• Working knowledge of the objectives and priorities for the Trust and the implications for staff
• Solid understanding of employment legislation and the NHS HR agenda
• Knowledge of Agenda for Change conditions of service
• Political awareness

Other

• Ability to travel independently between sites in an efficient and timely manner

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients’ experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.