Job summaryWorking Full time - 37.5 hours per weekAre you an experienced HR professional looking for a role where you can grow your skills and make a difference? This is a chance to build on what you already know, work with people across the Trust and get involved in a wide range of HR work. In our busy, fast-paced environment, you'll gain hands-on experience, sharpen your problem-solving skills and build confidence in tackling different HR challenges.
You'll work closely with colleagues across the Trust, building relationships, helping shape decisions and providing senior HR advice and guidance. You'll get involved in everything from employee relations, recruitment and retention, and attendance management to organisational change, workforce planning, terms and conditions of employment, and interpreting and applying policies and procedures. This variety will give you plenty of opportunities to learn, build your expertise and become more confident in handling complex HR matters, while helping find practical solutions that put people first.
Main duties of the jobYou will also provide effective leadership to your HR sub-team, creating an environment where colleagues feel empowered, engaged and supported to deliver a high-quality service. Previous line management experience is essential, along with the ability to motivate others, manage priorities and contribute positively to continuous improvement.
The successful candidate will bring substantial senior-level HR experience gained within a large, complex organisation, ideally within a highly unionised environment. You will be confident operating at pace, able to establish immediate credibility with colleagues at all levels, and skilled in building strong, trusted relationships.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are vital, as is the ability to think creatively and pragmatically to deliver effective HR solutions. If you are a resilient, proactive and compassionate HR leader who is passionate about making a meaningful contribution, we would welcome your application.
About usThe Trust's services are provided from three locations:o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgeryDetailsDate posted06 November 2026Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 7Salary
49,387 to 56,515 a year
pa
ContractPermanentWorking pattern
Full-time
Reference number210-2026-679-BJob locationsCountess of Chester HospitalLiverpool RoadChesterCH2 1ULUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesSee Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rulesApplicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesSee Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rulesApplicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialGraduate level CIPD (level 7) qualification or equivalent work basedAssociate member of the CIPDEvidence of commitment to Continuing Professional DevelopmentDesirableAgenda for Change Job Evaluator
Knowledge and Experience
EssentialWorking and detailed knowledge of employment legislation, equal opportunities and best practice, including managing complex cases and exposure to solving employee relations issues.
Experience of taking the lead on projects, writing reports and implementing recommendations from these.
Experience of working with, and influencing, senior managers.
Experience of working in a Human Resources function in a Business Partner environment. Experience of providing and operational Experience of working within a complex multi-union environment. Experience of interpreting a range of terms and conditions of service.
Experience of working in a complex organisation, ideally in a range of HR specialism's e.g. personnel, recruitment, development, change organisation management, legislation HR Understanding of and ability to develop and analyse workforce and management information to support capacity planning and/or identify and devise learning strategies.
Experience of re design, restructuring, re organisation/redundancy handling/TUPE.DesirableExperience of providing strategic and operational support to managers and staff within a large business area/service or several small business areas/servicesKnowledge of Agenda for Change job evaluation
Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialGraduate level CIPD (level 7) qualification or equivalent work basedAssociate member of the CIPDEvidence of commitment to Continuing Professional DevelopmentDesirableAgenda for Change Job Evaluator
Knowledge and Experience
EssentialWorking and detailed knowledge of employment legislation, equal opportunities and best practice, including managing complex cases and exposure to solving employee relations issues.
Experience of taking the lead on projects, writing reports and implementing recommendations from these.
Experience of working with, and influencing, senior managers.
Experience of working in a Human Resources function in a Business Partner environment. Experience of providing and operational Experience of working within a complex multi-union environment. Experience of interpreting a range of terms and conditions of service.
Experience of working in a complex organisation, ideally in a range of HR specialism's e.g. personnel, recruitment, development, change organisation management, legislation HR Understanding of and ability to develop and analyse workforce and management information to support capacity planning and/or identify and devise learning strategies.
Experience of re design, restructuring, re organisation/redundancy handling/TUPE.DesirableExperience of providing strategic and operational support to managers and staff within a large business area/service or several small business areas/servicesKnowledge of Agenda for Change job evaluationDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation TrustAddressCountess of Chester HospitalLiverpool RoadChesterCH2 1ULUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameCountess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation TrustAddressCountess of Chester HospitalLiverpool RoadChesterCH2 1ULUnited KingdomEmployer's website
HR Business Partner in Chester employer: National Health Service
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for healthcare professionals in North Wales. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on compassionate care, staff have access to continuous professional development opportunities and the chance to make a meaningful impact in both acute and community paediatrics. The Health Board's integrated approach ensures that employees are part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving health outcomes for the local population.
