South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Strategic People Partner

The closing date is 27 July 2025

Job summary

The role will be accountable for several areas of the Trust, providing strategic planning and guidance to ensure continued and improved performance across a range of people specific metrics, and providing regular reporting to the Senior HR Team.

You will also provide support and advice to the Employee Relations Advisors on policy, sickness management, grievance and disciplinary matters

You will support the People Partner Managers in the management of Employment Tribunals, and all associated litigation under Trust Policy.

You will also be required to deliver on strategic projects to support the delivery of the HR Strategy including organisational change management; coaching and training of line managers; and delivering in-depth reporting and analysis of people data.Please note the JD is currently indicative subject to job evaluation review.

Main duties of the job

  1. Develop and execute strategic initiatives to support delivery of the Trust People Strategy, by leading on strategic projects such as organisational change, leadership development, new ways of working, and employee engagement.
  2. Work within Trust agreed time frames for investigations and all employee relations matters, proactively liaising with relevant colleagues to ensure deadlines are met.
  3. Advise and guide managers to confidently undertake formal employee relations hearings including disciplinary, grievance and capability, advising on best practice and employment legislation relevant to the case such as the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010)
  4. Identify trends relating to sickness absence and implement proactive, strategic initiatives to reduce absence in line with Trust targets.
  5. Work in an innovative and proactive manner, fulfilling the role of People expert, delivering high quality guidance on people management, development, and employment law.

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England of 10,000 square miles and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

At the heart of our beautiful and diverse region we employ over 6000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills, resources and development you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade and enjoy continuous professional development.

Benefits

  • Competitive NHS salary
  • A standard working week of 37.5 hours
  • Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
  • Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
  • Generous Pension Scheme
  • Career and salary progression
  • Car leasing scheme
  • Free parking across Trust sites
  • Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
  • Staff networks
  • Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Details

Date posted

14 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

202-7332166

Job locations

Trust HQ

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Grad CIPD (Level 7) or substantial evidence of continuing professional and personal development equivalent to this level
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist training and attendance at short courses in the areas of work of this post
  • Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable

  • Degree in relevant subject
  • Part qualified CIPD expected to achieve Grad CIPD within 12 months
  • ACAS accredited mediator
  • NHS Job Evaluation Trained

Experience

Essential

  • Significant in depth experience in general HR management or equivalent.
  • job) Significant in depth experience in general HR management or equivalent. Significant employee relations experience or equivalent, including management of Tribunals
  • Experience designing and implementing HR training modules and delivering training

Desirable

  • Experience within an NHS People function
  • Experience of change management and carrying out job evaluations
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Grad CIPD (Level 7) or substantial evidence of continuing professional and personal development equivalent to this level
  • Evidence of successful completion of specialist training and attendance at short courses in the areas of work of this post
  • Full UK Driving Licence

Desirable

  • Degree in relevant subject
  • Part qualified CIPD expected to achieve Grad CIPD within 12 months
  • ACAS accredited mediator
  • NHS Job Evaluation Trained

Experience

Essential

  • Significant in depth experience in general HR management or equivalent.
  • job) Significant in depth experience in general HR management or equivalent. Significant employee relations experience or equivalent, including management of Tribunals
  • Experience designing and implementing HR training modules and delivering training

Desirable

  • Experience within an NHS People function
  • Experience of change management and carrying out job evaluations

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).

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

People Partner Manager

Claire Rowswell

claire.rowswell@swast.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

14 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

202-7332166

Job locations

Trust HQ

Eagle Way

Exeter

EX2 7HY


Supporting documents

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