Oxford Health NHS Trust

Senior HR Advisor

The closing date is 26 May 2025

Job summary

We now have fantastic opportunity for aSenior HR Advisor to join our HR team working across our Community & Corporate Servicesdirectorates. This is a rewarding role which will give you opportunities to develop and excel in your HR career. The role is fixed term for 12 months in the first instance, with a possibility to extend depending on business requirements.

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is aspiring to be an outstanding provider of mental health and community services, and central to thisambition is a modern and progressive HR function that acts as an enabler for the published Trust Strategy and NHS People Promise.

The HR function within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is under dynamic leadership and a structure that enables a greater focus on the strategic mission and goals.

We support flexible working and can accommodate most hybrid working requests that are aligned to the business interest. From time to time you will be required to work across our trust sites as the need arises.

We're looking for candidates with a postgraduate level Diploma in HR Management and/or significant demonstrable experience of working in a large complex organisation handling employee relations issues including sickness absence management, employment law and performance management issues. Experience of managing multi-faceted employee relations issues is essential.

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

You'll be working on these key areas in your role:

Employee Relations & Organisational Change
People Management
Policy and Procedure Development / Project Work
Learning and talent development
Workforce Information

Main duties include:

Providing managers with comprehensive and professional advice on a variety of workforce issues.
Proactively support employees relations cases, work with operational managers to review structures and provide HR advice in relation to organisational change.
Support the implementation of organisational change, policies, and other workforce initiatives to enable the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives.
Support operational managers with the review of departmental structures, the management of change and providing appropriate HR advice (with support from HR Consultant/HR Business Partner as appropriate). This may mean taking the lead on managing organisational change programmes.
Managing a defined ER Caseload by undertaking investigations, hearings (and where appropriate Appeals and Employment Tribunals) with line managers, providing support and guidance during investigations ensuring that agreed Trust procedures are adhered to and provide support to HR Officers across the department on case work, including Grievance and Dignity at work, Performance and Conduct, Sickness Absence/Capability & Redeployment.

Please refer to the job description attached for a comprehensive list of duties

About us

Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.

As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

o Excellent opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists apply)o Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Date posted

12 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum | pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-CS7120191

Job locations

White Building, Littlemore Mental Health Centre

Sandford Road

Littlemore, Oxford

OX4 4XN

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key working relationships in this role will be:

Head of HR
HR Advisors & Senior HR Advisors
Head of Central HR (and People Hub team)
Directors, Senior Managers and other Trust Managers
All employees
Other Workforce Transformation staff including OD (Health & Wellbeing, EDI)
Staff Side representatives
Payroll
Occupational Health team

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key working relationships in this role will be:

Head of HR
HR Advisors & Senior HR Advisors
Head of Central HR (and People Hub team)
Directors, Senior Managers and other Trust Managers
All employees
Other Workforce Transformation staff including OD (Health & Wellbeing, EDI)
Staff Side representatives
Payroll
Occupational Health team

Person Specification

Essential

Thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices.
Significant demonstrable experience of Human Resources issues in a large complex organisation including sickness absence management, employment law and performance management issues, and intricate / multi-faceted employee relations issues.
Leads on and manages a defined ER Caseload
Provides advice and support to HR Advisors & Officers across the department.
Demonstrable experience of supporting the implementation of organisational change
Proven knowledge of Equality and associated legislation.
Proven knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers

Desirable

Experience in supporting and preparing case papers for Employment Tribunal.
Understanding of Restorative Just and Learning Culture and Kindness into Action principals

People Management

Essential

Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidelines to meet the needs and values of the Trust and the requirements of employment legislation, NHS Employers guidance and best practice.
Promote the effective implementation of agreed best practice through both HR and managers within the Trust

Desirable

Experience of supervising or managing staff

Policy and Procedure Development / Project Work

Essential

Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidelines to meet the needs and values of the Trust and the requirements of employment legislation, NHS Employers guidance and best practice.

Person Specification

Essential

Thorough understanding of contemporary HR practices.
Significant demonstrable experience of Human Resources issues in a large complex organisation including sickness absence management, employment law and performance management issues, and intricate / multi-faceted employee relations issues.
Leads on and manages a defined ER Caseload
Provides advice and support to HR Advisors & Officers across the department.
Demonstrable experience of supporting the implementation of organisational change
Proven knowledge of Equality and associated legislation.
Proven knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers

Desirable

Experience in supporting and preparing case papers for Employment Tribunal.
Understanding of Restorative Just and Learning Culture and Kindness into Action principals

People Management

Essential

Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidelines to meet the needs and values of the Trust and the requirements of employment legislation, NHS Employers guidance and best practice.
Promote the effective implementation of agreed best practice through both HR and managers within the Trust

Desirable

Experience of supervising or managing staff

Policy and Procedure Development / Project Work

Essential

Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures and guidelines to meet the needs and values of the Trust and the requirements of employment legislation, NHS Employers guidance and best practice.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

White Building, Littlemore Mental Health Centre

Sandford Road

Littlemore, Oxford

OX4 4XN

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford Health NHS Trust

Address

White Building, Littlemore Mental Health Centre

Sandford Road

Littlemore, Oxford

OX4 4XN

Employer's website

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