Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

P&OD Associate Business Partner - Kent & Medway ICS

The closing date is 28 December 2025

Job summary

Please note this role is currently only being advertised to staff members who are currently working within the Kent and Medway ICS.

To support the Head of/People & OD Business Partners for designated Divisions in:

Providing first line advice, ensuring that "every conversation is a coaching conversation" when advising managers

Providing timely and effective creation, interpretation and delivery of people & OD plans, interventions and strategies

Analysing complex data from a range of sources (including: P&OD key performance indicators, staff surveys, Workforce Race and Disability Equality Standards) to identify areas for improvement and support Divisions to address them

Supporting Divisional and corporate strategic workforce priorities, including through organisational development interventions, change management and cultural change

Main duties of the job

Providingdetailed advice and guidance to leaders on the interpretation of P&OD policies and best practice

Work autonomously, support and challenge leaders in the identification of people & OD needs in respect of Divisional/Corporate agendas and in the application of best practice, providing advice and guidance on complex people & OD issues in order to minimise risk

Work closely with leaders to determine strategies to effectively manage workforce issues

Toadvise and support leaders in the implementation of organisational development interventions and change management

To work with the People & OD Business Partner and the transactional People & OD teams to ensure an effective People & OD service, utilising the expertise of the specialist teams

To analyse and interpret relevant workforce information and measures.

Work with the People & OD Business Partner to develop strategies and written plans to ensure that the workforce supports current and future performance targets and recommend and implement initiatives that meet the business needs

To plan, design and conduct projects to analyse and respond to current and projected workforce need

To adopt a coaching style to ensure leaders take responsibility for and are supported in the people & OD aspects of their roles

To ensure continuing, personal and professional development, taking ownership and accountability for staying up-to-date and professionally registered with the CIPD

About us

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it's adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Click here to hear what our staff say.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

  • At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
  • Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
  • Blue Light card eligibility
  • And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Details

Date posted

11 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per anum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359-7508992-T1-A

Job locations

Hybrid - Roundall, Cross Site, Home

Roundall

Barming

ME16 9NT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Weve provided all the details you need about this role in the job description and person specification. Please take a moment to review the criteria in the person specification and share specific examples in your application that demonstrate how you meet these requirements. Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience
  • Studying towards or prepared to study towards CIPD Level 7
  • Post-grad level study or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of relevant continued learning and development
  • Associate Member of the CIPD

Desirable

  • Coaching Qualification/Training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing employee relations, workforce and OD advice and support to managers in a large complex organisation, with union recognition
  • Experience of coaching and empowering managers
  • Experience of contributing to and supporting organisational development, change management and cultural change
  • Demonstrable experience of interpreting and applying employee relations and workforce policy and employment terms and conditions

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the NHS

Skills

Essential

  • Developed written and oral communication skills for a variety of formal and informal purposes, including delivering and facilitating training/presentations to large groups
  • Analytical skills to be able to assess and understand workforce issues in order that they are resolved in a pragmatic and timely manner
  • Ability to communicate and advise in a manner that enhances the People & OD function
  • Able to foster productive working relationships internally and externally
  • Proven ability to effectively manage a range of situations that may evoke a high level of emotional reaction
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience
  • Studying towards or prepared to study towards CIPD Level 7
  • Post-grad level study or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of relevant continued learning and development
  • Associate Member of the CIPD

Desirable

  • Coaching Qualification/Training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing employee relations, workforce and OD advice and support to managers in a large complex organisation, with union recognition
  • Experience of coaching and empowering managers
  • Experience of contributing to and supporting organisational development, change management and cultural change
  • Demonstrable experience of interpreting and applying employee relations and workforce policy and employment terms and conditions

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the NHS

Skills

Essential

  • Developed written and oral communication skills for a variety of formal and informal purposes, including delivering and facilitating training/presentations to large groups
  • Analytical skills to be able to assess and understand workforce issues in order that they are resolved in a pragmatic and timely manner
  • Ability to communicate and advise in a manner that enhances the People & OD function
  • Able to foster productive working relationships internally and externally
  • Proven ability to effectively manage a range of situations that may evoke a high level of emotional reaction

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.

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.

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

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Hybrid - Roundall, Cross Site, Home

Roundall

Barming

ME16 9NT


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Address

Hybrid - Roundall, Cross Site, Home

Roundall

Barming

ME16 9NT


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of People & OD Business Partnering

Lucy McDonough

lucy.mcdonough1@nhs.net

07730192885

Details

Date posted

11 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per anum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

359-7508992-T1-A

Job locations

Hybrid - Roundall, Cross Site, Home

Roundall

Barming

ME16 9NT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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