Senior Employee Relations (ER) Advisor

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Band 6, Senior ER Advisor in the Employee Relations team.

The postholder will provide professional ER advice and guidance to managers and lead on complex cases for their respective division, support on training as well as partner with the HR Business Partners to provide ER support.

This is a opportunity for CIPD accredited HR professional.

Appropriate training and support will be provided.

Main duties of the job

The Senior Employee Relations Adviser provides high-quality, specialist employee relations advice and support to managers across the Trust.

The post holder will manage a varied and complex ER caseload, including matters that may progress to formal hearings, dismissal, organisational change, TUPE and employment litigation.

The role requires sound professional judgement, a strong understanding of employment law and NHS people management practice, and the ability to provide clear, proportionate and legally informed advice.

The post holder will proactively oversee and progress multiple ER cases, supporting managers with investigations, hearings, appeals, informal resolution, sickness absence management, dignity at work concerns, grievances, disciplinary matters, performance, probation, flexible working and other complex employment issues.

The post holder will promote fair, inclusive and values-led employment practice, ensuring that advice and decision-making reflect equality, diversity and inclusion principles, psychological safety, employee wellbeing, patient safety and organisational risk.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre.

Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer.

We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services.

We have two hospitals – one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey – as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is.

When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best.

That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team.

We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways.

There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance.

We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

• Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• For further information please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification:
• Provide specialist, timely and pragmatic advice to managers on the interpretation and application of Trust people management policies, employment law, Agenda for Change terms and conditions, contractual matters and good ER practice, ensuring fairness, consistency and proportionality.
• Advise, coach and support managers across the full range of ER processes, including disciplinary, grievance, dignity at work, sickness absence, performance, probation, flexible working, family leave and organisational change matters.

This includes supporting investigations, reviewing terms of reference, advising on evidence gathering, quality assuring investigation reports and management statements, attending formal meetings, hearings and appeals where required, and advising on policy, employment law, procedural fairness and outcome options.

• Maintain accurate, timely and audit-ready ER case records on the ER Tracker, ensuring cases are progressed in line with agreed KPIs, service standards and risk-based priorities.
• Support managers to manage sickness absence proactively and compassionately, using absence data, occupational health advice, wellbeing support and policy guidance to identify appropriate interventions and reduce avoidable delay.
• Contribute to effective use of resources by identifying opportunities to improve processes, reduce avoidable delay, streamline administrative activity and deliver efficient ER support.
• Support a culture of continuous improvement across the HROD Directorate, contributing to excellent people practice, high-quality patient care and the Trust’s wider objectives.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• Associate CIPD membership and CIPD Level 5 Intermediate qualification, or CIPD Level 3 Foundation qualification with a degree, or equivalent experience and training.
• Evidence of continuing professional development in employee relations, employment law, HR practice or a related area.

Experience

• Proven experience of managing a diverse and complex employee relations caseload, including investigations, hearings, appeals and cases with potential dismissal outcomes.
• Experience of interpreting, applying and advising on HR policies, employment law and good practice across the full range of ER matters, with the ability to recommend improvements to policy, process and practice.
• Experience of supporting organisational change, including consultation, restructures, redeployment, redundancy or TUPE-related activity.
• Experience of using electronic case management systems or trackers to record, monitor, manage and report on ER activity.
• Knowledge or experience of managing medical ER matters under Maintaining High Professional Standards and advising on medical terms and conditions.
• Experience of working in a unionised environment and engaging constructively with Staff Side or Trade Union representatives at local or regional level.
• Experience of supporting ACAS Early Conciliation or Employment Tribunal matters.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
• Strong specialist knowledge of current employment law, ER practice, NHS people management processes and the practical application of fair and legally defensible employment decision-making.
• Ability to communicate complex, sensitive and potentially contentious information clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing, including preparing reports, hearing papers, case summaries, presentations and training materials.
• Ability to analyse ER data, case themes and workforce information to identify patterns, risks, causes and improvement opportunities.
• Ability to apply sound judgement to complex ER issues, assess risk, identify options and provide practical advice that supports fair, timely and effective decision-making.
• Ability to manage a busy and complex caseload, prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and adapt to changing service needs.
• Ability to design, contribute to and deliver manager training or briefing sessions on ER policies, processes and good people management practice.
• Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, while also taking responsibility for progressing allocated work independently.
• Ability to influence, coach and constructively challenge managers and stakeholders, including where proposed action may be inconsistent, disproportionate or procedurally unfair.
• Knowledge of NHS terms and conditions, Agenda for Change and local workforce policies.
• Training or experience in NHS Agenda for Change job evaluation.
• Other
• Flexible approach to work, including willingness to travel to any Trust site as required to meet service needs.
• Confident user of Microsoft Office and other digital systems, with the ability to maintain accurate records, produce reports and use digital tools to support efficient ER practice.

The Royal Marsden values diversity and is committed to the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority groups.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are working to create a workplace that enables all staff to reach their full potential.

We are committed to this because we know that greater diversity and inclusion will lead to an even greater positive impact for the people we serve.

Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close any adverts before the published closing date once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

We advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Please ensure your information is accurate to avoid errors with processing your application

All applicants will be contacted by email to the address supplied on your application.

Applicants are advised to check their email accounts regularly and to ensure that email filters are set to allow our emails.

Flu Vaccination – What We Expect of our Staff

At The Royal Marsden we have an immune compromised patient population who we must protect as much as we can against the flu virus.

Each year, seasonal flu affects thousands of people in the UK.

Occurring mainly in winter, it is an infectious respiratory disease capable of producing symptoms ranging from those similar to a common cold, through to very severe or even fatal disease.

The wellbeing of our staff and patients is of the upmost importance to us, and it is the expectation of The Royal Marsden that all patient-facing staff have an annual flu vaccination, provided free of charge by the Trust.

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