At Esland, your work changes children’s lives. We provide the care, education and therapeutic support that helps vulnerable young people turn the curve on their futures.
Nobody starts work with our young people until their checks are right. This role owns that, along with everything else that happens to a colleague from offer to leaving day.
You will lead a team of six: two HR Administrators and four Onboarding and Compliance Administrators. Between you, you run the service the rest of Esland leans on. Contracts, onboarding, changes, leavers, and the safer recruitment checks that sit behind all of it.
Safer recruitment compliance is yours as a named accountability. DBS, right to work and Keeping Children Safe in Education checks need to be watertight before anyone sets foot in a home or a school. Part of the job is telling a manager no when a check is not right, however short-staffed the rota is.
The volume is real. So is the room to improve it. You will own the procedures, the metrics and the decisions about how this service works.
Key Responsibilities
Leading the team
Lead the HR Shared Services team day to day, setting clear standards and expectations
Drive first-time resolution, so managers get an answer rather than a ticket number
Coach, develop and balance workload across two HR Administrators and four Onboarding and Compliance Administrators
Build a can-do culture where supporting the people who support our young people comes first
Safer recruitment and compliance
Own safer recruitment compliance as a named accountability
Make sure DBS, right to work and Keeping Children Safe in Education checks are complete and correct before any start date
Keep our records accurate and inspection-ready, including the single central record
Challenge managers, at any level, when a check or a process is not right
Spot risks to the People function and the wider business, and escalate them early
Onboarding
Manage onboarding end to end, from accepted offer through to a confident first week
Work with Recruitment and L&D so every new starter gets a joined-up, positive start
Keep offer-to-start timescales tight, so good candidates do not drift away
Employee lifecycle administration
Oversee lifecycle administration, including contract changes, family leave, flexible working and leavers
Hold the line on data quality and record keeping across our HR systems
Act as the senior escalation point for complex queries and complaints
Data, process and improvement
Produce and interpret HR metrics, giving the HR Director clear management information on onboarding, data quality and service performance
Document and review every standard operating procedure in the function, keeping them current, compliant and easy to follow
Simplify how colleagues get support, and take out the steps that add nothing
Embed best practice across the function, rather than firefighting the same issues twice
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
CIPD Level 5, or equivalent experience and qualification
Proven success leading an HR operations, shared services or administration team
A track record of delivering accurate, efficient transactional HR at volume
Strong knowledge of HR policy, employment law and safer recruitment (Keeping Children Safe in Education)
Confidence with HR systems, Excel and reporting tools
Excellent written and verbal communication, credible and diplomatic at every level
The organisation and calm to prioritise a high-volume workload
What we offer
salary up to £55,000 per annum
28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and your birthday off
Hybrid working, 3 days at our Head Office in Belper and 2 days remote
A team of six to lead and develop
A named accountability that genuinely matters, safer recruitment compliance
Direct access to the HR Director and our senior leadership team
Funded professional development, including CIPD
A wide range of benefits, including our employee assistance programme, 24/7 GP access, the Green Car Scheme, a Health Cash Plan, and retail and gym discounts
Real scale, 850 plus colleagues across 64 residential homes, 5 assessment homes and 5 schools
HR Shared Services Manager in Milford employer: Esland
Esland is an exceptional employer that values integrity and quality in education, offering a supportive work culture where independent auditors can thrive. With opportunities for professional growth and development, you will play a crucial role in ensuring educational standards are upheld across our schools, all while enjoying the flexibility of regular travel. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of students and educators alike.
