Medical Retirement Pensions HR Business Partner in Chelmsford

Main Responsibilities

• Provide an expert, professional HR advisory service on a range of complex and sensitive issues that may arise during the employee life cycle by providing advice, guidance to all managers and officers/staff.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to the Chief Constables of Kent & Essex (the Scheme Managers) regarding medical retirement Pension Policy, procedural advice, guidance and governance.
• Link with the Head of Payroll and Pensions to provide information required to meet compliance with The Pension Regulator (TPR) code of practice.
• Manage complex case work involving compliance with pension regulations, medical appeals, discretionary pension benefits, pension forfeiture claims, IDRP pension complaints, early release of benefits for ill-health retirement, and deferred ill-health retirement.
• Act as the force representative for Essex and Kent Pension Authority in respect of medical appeals (PMAB) and investigate medical retirement pension complaints.
• Act as an advocate and influencer of change by developing and supporting communication methods with staff, participating in joint consultation and negotiation procedures with staff associations and trade unions.
• Attend and advise the Pension Board for Kent and Essex Forces, producing reports and papers.
• Develop, analyse, and interpret medical retirement related data to identify trends and shape people and pensions interventions.
• Liaise with the head of Payroll and Pensions to support information provision for medical retirement pensions for the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC).
• Undertake the statutory review of those in receipt of medical retirement pension allowances on behalf of the Scheme Manager (Chief Constable).
• Manage and review corporate HR areas of responsibility, including the design, development and revision of medical retirement policies.
• Manage the work of an HR & Pension Adviser, balancing workloads and managing performance.

Necessary Experience

• The HR Partner will be a fully qualified Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Level 7) and will hold an equivalent level HR qualification.
• Proven track record of around 5 years in generalist human resources work experience, including advising middle/senior managers and resolving complex people-related problems.
• Good working knowledge of current employment legislation, Police HR policies, processes, and practical experience of advising on HR issues.
• Innovative, flexible, self-motivated, organised, with the capacity to manage a substantial and varied workload.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both verbal and written, to handle sensitive personal issues and provide advice to staff and managers.
• Good general project management skills and the ability to undertake basic research and analysis work.
• Fully conversant with a range of Microsoft Office products and previous experience of a computerised management information system.
• Travel to locations within both Essex and Kent is required.

This post is deemed to be a designated post. Vetting clearance is a pre-requisite of employment in designated posts and the post holder will be subject to management vetting assessment every 7 years. National security vetting clearances are reviewed every 10 years.