Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Head of Employee Relations

The closing date is 25 January 2026

Job summary

The Deputy Head of Employee Relations will be the lead specialist employee relations contact for Clinical (Delivery) Groups and play a key leadership role in the employee relations team in support of the Head of Employee Relations to provide an expert source of advice on employee relations best practice to managers and staff consistently across the Trust, that ensures the Trust becomes and remains an employer and provider of choice.

Main duties of the job

  • To provide an expert source of advice on employee relations best practice to managers and staff consistently across the Trust, that ensures the Trust becomes and remains an employer and provider of choice
  • Lead and inspire a team, overseeing all case management of employee relations issues both within the Trust and at Employment Tribunal
  • Advise and support the Chief Medical Officer with medical cases in line with Trust policies and MHPS
  • Provide workforce representation at Trust Safeguarding/Allegations panels as appropriate
  • To foster excellent working relationships with trade unions and professional organisations on specific employee relations practices to promote early and effective resolution of ER matters
  • Provide timely and effective interpretation of developing employment law and local and national NHS People policy and procedures
  • Provide expert information underpinned by analysis of trends, economic circumstances, laws and political factors to inform local action plans
  • To ensure services are provided in the context of statutory and regulatory compliance with accountability for delivery of nationally mandated, and locally agreed targets and standards

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals-Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts, providing specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Details

Date posted

13 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year p.a inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-COF11014-S

Job locations

Great Dover Street

200 Dover Street

London

SE1 4YB


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To provide an expert source of advice on employee relations best practice to managers and staff consistently across the Trust, that ensures the Trust becomes and remains an employer and provider of choice
  • Design, develop and implement a leading pro-active and responsive employee relations service which provides for all employee relations matters to be managed in a consistent, fair and respectful way and supports a culture that enables employees to contribute their very best to the Trust
  • Lead and inspire a team, overseeing all case management of employee relations issues both within the Trust and at Employment Tribunal
  • Advise and support the Chief Medical Officer with medical cases in line with Trust policies and MHPS
  • Provide workforce representation at Trust Safeguarding/Allegations panels as appropriate
  • To foster excellent working relationships with trade unions and professional organisations on specific employee relations practices to promote early and effective resolution of ER matters
  • Provide timely and effective interpretation of developing employment law and local and national NHS People policy and procedures
  • Responsible for People policy development that promote fairness, equity and inclusion
  • Provide expert information underpinned by analysis of trends, economic circumstances, laws and political factors to inform local action plans
  • Supporting the delivery of leadership and management development programmes
  • To work with colleagues to develop, build and maintain relationships and engagement with key stakeholders, promoting the function
  • To ensure services are provided in the context of statutory and regulatory compliance with accountability for delivery of nationally mandated, and locally agreed targets and standards

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To provide an expert source of advice on employee relations best practice to managers and staff consistently across the Trust, that ensures the Trust becomes and remains an employer and provider of choice
  • Design, develop and implement a leading pro-active and responsive employee relations service which provides for all employee relations matters to be managed in a consistent, fair and respectful way and supports a culture that enables employees to contribute their very best to the Trust
  • Lead and inspire a team, overseeing all case management of employee relations issues both within the Trust and at Employment Tribunal
  • Advise and support the Chief Medical Officer with medical cases in line with Trust policies and MHPS
  • Provide workforce representation at Trust Safeguarding/Allegations panels as appropriate
  • To foster excellent working relationships with trade unions and professional organisations on specific employee relations practices to promote early and effective resolution of ER matters
  • Provide timely and effective interpretation of developing employment law and local and national NHS People policy and procedures
  • Responsible for People policy development that promote fairness, equity and inclusion
  • Provide expert information underpinned by analysis of trends, economic circumstances, laws and political factors to inform local action plans
  • Supporting the delivery of leadership and management development programmes
  • To work with colleagues to develop, build and maintain relationships and engagement with key stakeholders, promoting the function
  • To ensure services are provided in the context of statutory and regulatory compliance with accountability for delivery of nationally mandated, and locally agreed targets and standards

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HR Degree level or equivalent experience at HR Manager level
  • Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
  • CPD or CIPD qualification

Desirable

  • Management qualification

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience leading across the full range of complex employee relations cases, including through Employment Tribunal
  • Current knowledge of current employment law and legislation
  • Demonstrable evidence of working autonomously and at a senior level in a generalist case management HR role, within a large, unionised organisation

Desirable

  • Experience of working with senior medical staff in the NHS

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills (including presentation and training skills)
  • Strong partnering, coaching, collaborative style at senior level
  • High attention to detail and quality administrative skills
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HR Degree level or equivalent experience at HR Manager level
  • Evidence of relevant continuing professional development
  • CPD or CIPD qualification

Desirable

  • Management qualification

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience leading across the full range of complex employee relations cases, including through Employment Tribunal
  • Current knowledge of current employment law and legislation
  • Demonstrable evidence of working autonomously and at a senior level in a generalist case management HR role, within a large, unionised organisation

Desirable

  • Experience of working with senior medical staff in the NHS

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent oral and written communication skills (including presentation and training skills)
  • Strong partnering, coaching, collaborative style at senior level
  • High attention to detail and quality administrative skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Dover Street

200 Dover Street

London

SE1 4YB


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Dover Street

200 Dover Street

London

SE1 4YB


Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Employee Relations

Tracey Firth

Tracey.firth@gstt.nhs.uk

02071887737

Details

Date posted

13 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£64,156 to £71,148 a year p.a inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-COF11014-S

Job locations

Great Dover Street

200 Dover Street

London

SE1 4YB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)