Deputy People Business Partner

Find out about the current vacancies available at the Trust and take the next step in your career with us.

Main area: Workforce

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time, Part time, Flexible working, Compressed hours (37.5 hours per week; the post holder will be able to work a 9 day fortnight should this be their preference.)

Job ref: 345-COR8030907

Site: North Tees University Hospital

Town: Stockton on Tees

Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 17/06/2026 23:59

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, our main priority is providing safe and high quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. If you share our passion then apply for this opportunity and help us make our patients’ experience the best it can possibly be.

Job overview: The role will assist the People Business Partner in the delivery of key result areas by providing a comprehensive operational/advisory service to managers and employees across the group. They will empower line managers to deliver good people practices. The role will ensure that people policies, procedures and practices are fairly and consistently applied, supporting best practice to achieve organisational objectives and supporting the effective day-to-day operation of the group. The post holder will be responsible for analysing complex HR issues as well as making decisions and judgements, using influencing and negotiation skills to ensure that the best outcomes for the services are achieved whilst also balancing risk. The management of KPIs and people metrics will be a significant part of the role.

Main duties of the job: The post-holder will assist the People Business Partner in the delivery of the key result areas by providing a comprehensive operational/advisory service to employees of the Trust in respect of all aspects of human resource management. They will ensure that a professional people service is provided to the Clinical Service Units and corporate areas, empowering line managers to deliver good people practices. The post holder will deputise for the People Business Partner and will also lead on identified programmes of project work and initiatives, working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders in their delivery. The postholder will provide advice and support to managers on a range of matters including Workforce policy, practice, employment law, terms and conditions, ensuring accurate and consistent interpretation and application where there may be a range of options and it may be necessary to refer/escalate appropriately, where help cannot be provided. This will also include day to day HR generalist support, advice and guidance to staff and manage providing managers across UHT. The Deputy People Business Partner will also line manage and support the People Adviser within the team. This post will be based at North Tees University Hospital in Stockton although there will be a need to travel between the sites within the broader group.

Working for our organisation: South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts. At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience. We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Person specification:

• Experience: Significant experience gained in a People focussed role within a complex organisation; Experience and success in managing change and resolving conflict; Regular delivery of people focused training programmes.
• Qualifications: Educated to degree level or equivalent level of experience within an HR related field of study; Associate Member of CIPD or working towards a CIPD qualification; Full membership of CIPD (MCIPD) or a graduate member of CIPD (Grad CIPD) with significant evidence of working towards full membership.
• Knowledge: Organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload and manage time to ensure specified deadlines achieved; Knowledge of HR policies and procedures, HR best practice and terms and conditions of employment; Personal and professional credibility in the delivery of an expert HR service; Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including report writing, presentation and discussion.

Important: Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS): It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBS check will be undertaken during the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period: For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References: As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours: If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate. At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. We welcome applications from everywhere, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs. We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Disability: We are a Disability Confident Lead employer. This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

Right to Work in the UK: The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless they have permission to work via another route. Non UK/RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process. Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly. We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.

Further Important Information: Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to email via this method. Please ensure you read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document attached to this advert before completing and submitting your application. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.