Employee Relations Manager
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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.
Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.
We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.
Job overview
We are excited to offer an opportunity for an experienced Employee Relations professional to join Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust as an Employee Relations Manager, based primarily at our Broomfield Hospital site.
As one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country, with over 15,000 colleagues, the ER function plays a vital role in ensuring fair, consistent, and positive employee relations across our acute hospital services. Working in a fast paced and dynamic environment, you will provide highly specialised advice and guidance to managers and staff on complex employee relations issues, supporting the delivery of a high quality advisory service across all three acute sites.
You will work closely with the Head of Employee Relations, contributing to excellence in case management, policy development, service improvement, and ER data insights. Hybrid working is supported; however, visibility on site and active engagement with our "One Team" culture are key elements of this role.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated, confident, and collaborative ER specialist who thrives on variety, challenge and making a meaningful impact.
***Previous applicants need not to apply***
Main duties of the job
The Employee Relations Manager will lead and support the delivery of a high quality, specialist advisory service across the Trust. You will manage and advise on a broad range of complex ER casework including disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment, sickness absence, MHPS and other sensitive matters, ensuring cases are progressed in line with policy, legislation, and best practice.
You will oversee and quality assure investigations, ensuring timely, robust, and professional case management. The role includes coaching and supporting managers and a small team of Senior HR Advisors to develop ER capability and confidence across the organisation.
Working collaboratively with Trade Union colleagues, HR Business Partners, and wider stakeholders, you will support early resolution, positive working relationships and consistent application of Trust standards. You will also contribute to policy development, lessons learned, ER KPIs, and the ongoing improvement of the ER service.
The post holder will deputise for the Head of Employee Relations when required and will provide visible leadership across our acute sites, primarily based at Broomfield with cross site working as needed.
Working for our organisation
Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.
We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Are you looking for an exciting new role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you.
For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.
We look forward to your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Post degree CIPD qualification Masters level qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous extensive experience in a senior advisory HR role within Employee Relations environment in a large, complex organisation
- Experience of working collaboratively with Trade Union representatives at a local and regional level
Desirable criteria
- Project Management experience
- Prior experience of working in the NHS
Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.
Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn't accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
- MSE JD Employee Relations Manger Band 7 (PDF, 341.0KB)
- Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
- AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
- Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
- Applicant MS Teams Checklist (PDF, 560.5KB)
- Trust marketing brochure (PDF, 2.1MB)
- General Statements - AFC - V5.1 (PDF, 424.6KB)
- Application Form (DOC, 233.0KB)