Overview
In this senior role you will lead the HR Partnering and Digitalisation portfolio within the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, delivering high-quality, values-led HR services. You will translate strategy into People plans, drive workforce transformation and change programmes, and ensure robust governance and risk management. You’ll partner with system leaders and staff-side colleagues to improve wellbeing, service delivery, and employee relations. This is a pivotal opportunity to shape workforce strategy at scale and support sustainable transformation.
Responsibilities
- Provide senior leadership to the HR Partnering and Digital Services portfolio across advisory, employee relations and digital service development
- Drive inclusive health and wellbeing plans and employee support schemes in collaboration with the Head of Workforce Design and OD
- Translate organisational strategy into strategic and operational People plans and adjust for priorities and risk
- Offer authoritative advice on complex workforce, OD and employment matters, including wellbeing considerations and high-risk scenarios
- Chair internal People governance meetings, ensuring clear decisions and follow-through
- Establish and monitor performance reporting with KPIs, dashboards, deep dives and exception reporting
- Identify and manage risks and issues, ensuring mitigation and escalation
- Assure quality and consistency of advice, case management, and documentation across advisory/ER
- Set expectations for case progression and decision-making thresholds, addressing underperformance
- Utilise data to identify risks, inefficiencies and drive improvements across the portfolio
- Lead contribution to organisational change programmes with strong staff engagement and risk management
- Oversee consultation, equality considerations and workforce risk management in change initiatives
- Support wellbeing strategies to improve attendance and keep staff well at work
- Collaborate with health and wellbeing champions and partners to share best practice
- Drive continuous improvement of operating processes and customer experience
- Ensure employment law compliance and alignment with NHS terms and organisational policies
- Oversee policy development and governance for high-risk decisions and programmes
- Ensure data protection and information governance for workforce data
- Govern employment controls including checks,fixed-term arrangements and rights to work
- Lead resource planning and budget management for the People service
- Identify productivity and value opportunities contributing to financial sustainability
- Line manage senior staff and promote accountability, inclusion and compassionate leadership
- Support workforce planning, talent development and succession planning
Key requirements
- MCIPD qualification and membership (or equivalent senior HR qualification)
- Extensive senior HR/OD leadership experience
- Experience leading complex organisational change and workforce transformation
- Expert knowledge of employment law and employee relations within NHS contexts
- Proven ability to develop and implement HR policies and governance at organisational level
- Experience managing budgets and resource planning
- Current UK professional registration with NHS context knowledge
- Project/programme management experience (desirable)
- Disposition as a credible, resilient and proactive leader
- strong integrity and discretion
- calm under pressure
- outcomes-driven and accountable
- employment law expertise
- employee relations practice
- NHS terms and conditions knowledge
Head of Human Resources (HR) Partnering and Digitalisation in Preston 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.
