Job summary
The Fuller and Forbes Healthcare Group is looking for a centralised Operational HR Manager to be based at one of our main sites in either Leeds or Devon.
The Operational HR Manager will provide strategic, centralised human resources leadership across all practices within the Fuller and Forbes Health Care Group. This includes oversight of complex HR issues, ensuring consistency in HR policies, processes and compliance, contract management, and HR governance.
The postholder will support Practice Managers and Assistant Practice Managers with higher-level HR issues, working closely with our retained employment law specialists at Schofield Sweeney LLP.
Main duties of the job
Strategic HR Oversight
HR Governance and Compliance
Contracts and Documentation
Support and Liaison
Policy and Procedure
About us
Our Vision is to develop sustainable models of primary care that protect high-quality patient care while promoting staff wellbeing.
Our Mission is to create a collaborative and supportive environment across our practices, ensuring our services remain resilient, patient-centred, and responsive to changing healthcare needs.
Today, we operate 17 GP practices across the UK in Gateshead, Burnley, Leeds, Barnstaple, Lynton, Exeter, and Plymouth that provides care to over 120,000 patients supported by over 400 staff members. Centralising functions such as finance and governance has enabled our practices to direct more resources toward patient care. As a result, we have developed specialised mental health, pharmacy and data quality teams whilst also investing into expanding our AI approach to primary care. This has resulted in a 96% annualised staff retention rate, with an average practice based population growth rate of 8-11%.
Since 2018, the health group has achieved remarkable growth, with patient numbers increasingly annually at an impressive rate of 68%.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic HR Oversight
- Lead on all complex employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, performance management, and absence management.
- Attend board-level meetings where HR matters require strategic input.
- Drive alignment and consistency of HR practices across all sites.
HR Governance and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with employment law and NHS standards across the organisation.
- Oversee the completion and accuracy of the Staff Matrix for all sites.
- Regularly audit HR processes at each practice.
Contracts and Documentation
- Review and standardise all employment contracts, ensuring every staff member has an up-to-date, legally compliant contract.
- Work with Schofield Sweeney LLP to ensure contract templates are robust and tailored appropriately by role and responsibility.
Support and Liaison
- Be a central point of contact for Practice Managers and APMs for escalated HR matters.
- Provide training, guidance, and mentoring to local management teams to build confidence and consistency in dealing with routine HR issues.
- Liaise directly with the organisations external legal advisors when necessary.
Policy and Procedure
- Review, maintain, and implement HR policies and procedures across the organisation.
- Ensure HR systems and documentation meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and NHS expectations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic HR Oversight
- Lead on all complex employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, performance management, and absence management.
- Attend board-level meetings where HR matters require strategic input.
- Drive alignment and consistency of HR practices across all sites.
HR Governance and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with employment law and NHS standards across the organisation.
- Oversee the completion and accuracy of the Staff Matrix for all sites.
- Regularly audit HR processes at each practice.
Contracts and Documentation
- Review and standardise all employment contracts, ensuring every staff member has an up-to-date, legally compliant contract.
- Work with Schofield Sweeney LLP to ensure contract templates are robust and tailored appropriately by role and responsibility.
Support and Liaison
- Be a central point of contact for Practice Managers and APMs for escalated HR matters.
- Provide training, guidance, and mentoring to local management teams to build confidence and consistency in dealing with routine HR issues.
- Liaise directly with the organisations external legal advisors when necessary.
Policy and Procedure
- Review, maintain, and implement HR policies and procedures across the organisation.
- Ensure HR systems and documentation meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and NHS expectations.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years experience in a senior HR role.
- Proven experience handling complex employee relations matters independently.
- Experience working across multiple sites or in a federated organisation.
Desirable
- Previous experience working in primary care, NHS, or healthcare sector.
- Experience with HRIS or digital HR platforms.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- - High level of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
- - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- - Ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines.
- - Experience working with legal teams or external solicitors.
Desirable
- - Training and coaching skills.
- - Knowledge of CQC regulations and compliance frameworks
Qualifications
Essential
- CIPD Level 5 qualification (or working towards Level 7)
Desirable
- - CIPD Level 7 (Chartered or Fellow status)
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 5 years experience in a senior HR role.
- Proven experience handling complex employee relations matters independently.
- Experience working across multiple sites or in a federated organisation.
Desirable
- Previous experience working in primary care, NHS, or healthcare sector.
- Experience with HRIS or digital HR platforms.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- - High level of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism.
- - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- - Ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines.
- - Experience working with legal teams or external solicitors.
Desirable
- - Training and coaching skills.
- - Knowledge of CQC regulations and compliance frameworks
Qualifications
Essential
- CIPD Level 5 qualification (or working towards Level 7)
Desirable
- - CIPD Level 7 (Chartered or Fellow status)
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
