Head of HR in London

Bourne Health is one of London's most ambitious and fast-growing NHS primary care organisations. Operating 12 GP surgeries across Croydon, Walthamstow, and Surrey, we care for over 85,000 patients and employ more than 250 staff. We are the largest provider of NHS primary care in South West London, a Wave 1 anchor organisation in the NHS Neighbourhood Health Programme, and an organisation with a clear and ambitious growth agenda. Our people are our most important asset. This role exists because we take that seriously.

We are looking for a Head of HR who brings both strategic vision and operational precision; someone who can lead people strategy at senior leadership level while also rolling up their sleeves to ensure day-to-day HR processes across 12 sites are compliant, consistent, and high-quality. This is not a back-office function. It is a senior leadership role that sits close to the Operations Director and CEO and shapes how this organisation hires, develops, and retains its people. A critical and distinctive part of this role is the partnership with our Practice Managers (PMs). They carry day-to-day HR responsibility for their teams and are best understood as an extended HR function to be developed, supported, and empowered. The Head of HR will work in close partnership with them, building their capability and ensuring consistent standards are applied across all sites.

Main duties of the job

• Senior HR and organisational leadership role responsible for developing Bourne Health's people strategy, workforce planning, recruitment, employee relations, governance and organisational development.
• Provides strategic HR advice to senior leadership, oversees complex workforce and compliance matters, leads performance and reward frameworks, and supports leadership development, culture change and operational growth across the organisation.

Job responsibilities

• People Strategy and Organisational Development
  • Lead the development and delivery of Bourne Health's People Strategy aligned to organisational objectives, values and NHS primary care priorities.
  • Provide strategic HR advice and recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Drive workforce modernisation, organisational design and culture development.
  • Lead leadership development, management capability and succession planning.
• Workforce Planning and Recruitment
  • Lead workforce planning and talent management strategies.
  • Oversee recruitment, onboarding and pre-employment compliance.
  • Drive strategies to reduce agency staffing reliance.
  • Lead HR mobilisation activity for service expansions, acquisitions and TUPE transfers.
• Employee Relations and Governance
  • Lead employee relations including disciplinary, grievance capability, sickness absence and organisational change cases.
  • Support managers in legally compliant people management.
  • Ensure compliance with employment law, CQC requirements, NHS workforce standards, DBS, Right to Work and IR35 obligations.
  • Maintain HR policies, procedures and records to CQC standards.
• Performance Reward and Payroll
  • Oversee appraisal, probation and performance management processes.
  • Lead pay review and workforce reward processes.
  • Work with payroll on starters, leavers, sickness and family leave.
• Reporting and Board Assurance
  • Produce workforce reports and dashboards.
  • Analyse workforce metrics and provide strategic recommendations.
  • Provide compliance reporting on registrations, indemnity and mandatory training.

Person Specification

• Degree-level education or equivalent.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Masters qualification in HR, Leadership, or Organisational Development.
• Coaching or leadership qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI).
• Recognised qualification in employment law or HR governance.
• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role, with full ownership of the HR function.
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-site HR operations.
• Strong, current knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex ER cases end-to-end, including disciplinary, grievance, and capability.
• Experience leading TUPE transfers, organisational restructures, and change management programmes.
• Experience overseeing HR compliance in a regulated environment (e.g. CQC, NHS workforce standards).
• Experience producing workforce reporting and data analysis for senior leadership or board audiences.
• Experience working in NHS primary care, general practice, or a comparable healthcare setting.
• Experience developing HR capability in line managers and operational leaders.
• Experience of working knowledge of Agenda for Change terms and conditions.
• Experience working with trade unions or professional bodies.
• Experience leading HR mobilisation for mergers, acquisitions, or service expansions.
• Skilled communicator, written, verbal, and presenting to board and senior audiences.
• Ability to translate complex employment law and HR risk into clear, actionable advice.
• Strong analytical skills, able to interpret workforce data and drive evidence-based decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities across sites in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with PeopleHR or equivalent HRIS, with ability to optimise system use for reporting and compliance.
• Strong IT skills, including HR information systems and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders, managers, and external advisors.
• Commercially aware, understands the financial and operational context of HR decisions.
• Able to work independently and exercise sound judgement without close supervision.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.