People Advisor in Leicester

Location: Leicester (with travel to other Kara Healthcare sites as required)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Reporting to: Chief People Officer

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Company Overview

Kara Healthcare is a values-led provider of residential care services, operating a portfolio of homes across the UK. We are committed to delivering safe, high quality, person centred care, and we know that this is only possible through a skilled, engaged and well supported workforce. Our People and Culture team plays a central role in protecting that workforce, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and building a culture where colleagues feel valued and able to do their best work.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced People Advisor to join our People and Culture team, based at our Leicester office with travel to other Kara Healthcare sites as required. This is a generalist advisory role with a strong employee relations focus, supporting Home Managers and senior operational leaders through the full range of complex casework. You will be the trusted first point of contact for managers on disciplinaries, grievances, sickness absence, performance, redundancies and TUPE transfers. You will manage your own caseload end to end, advising on risk, drafting investigation outcomes and outcome letters, chairing or supporting hearings, and ensuring decisions are fair, well documented and legally sound. You will work closely with the Chief People Officer and Chief Operating Officer on higher risk matters and will help shape policy, process and manager capability across the group.

About You

You are a confident HR generalist who is comfortable holding the line on complex ER cases and translating employment law into clear, practical guidance for operational managers. You are organised, calm under pressure, and known for sound judgement and well written documentation. You enjoy working in a fast moving, regulated environment and you understand the particular pressures of running care services, including CQC expectations, sponsor licence compliance and safeguarding.

Key Skills and Experience

• CIPD Level 5 qualified, or equivalent demonstrable experience at advisory level.
• Minimum 3 years in an HR Advisor or Senior HR Officer role managing a live ER caseload.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law, ACAS Code of Practice and best practice in fair process.
• Proven experience leading complex disciplinary and grievance investigations and hearings, including misconduct, gross misconduct and bullying or harassment matters.
• Demonstrable experience managing short and long term sickness absence cases, including occupational health referrals, reasonable adjustments, capability processes and ill health dismissals.
• Experience supporting redundancy and restructure programmes, including individual and collective consultation, pooling and selection, and settlement discussions.
• Experience advising on and managing TUPE transfers (both as transferor and transferee), including measures letters, employee liability information and consultation with employee representatives.
• Confident drafting investigation reports, outcome letters, settlement agreements and policy documents to a high standard.
• Ability to coach and upskill operational managers, building their confidence to handle people issues earlier and more effectively.
• Excellent IT skills, including HRIS, Microsoft Office and case management tools.
• Previous HR experience within healthcare, social care or another CQC regulated environment.
• Working knowledge of UK Skilled Worker sponsorship duties and right to work compliance.
• Experience preparing for and supporting Employment Tribunal claims, including ET3 responses and bundle preparation.
• Experience working across multiple sites with dispersed line managers.
• Working towards or studying CIPD Level 7.

Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive salary reviewed annually.
• Employee Assistance Programme, including mental health and wellbeing support.
• Blue Light Card eligibility and high street retail discounts.
• Refer a Friend scheme.
• A supportive People and Culture team and direct exposure to senior leadership on strategic projects.

Kara Healthcare is an equal opportunities employer. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references prior to appointment.