East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Medical Employee Relations Advisor

The closing date is 18 January 2026

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join our busy yet supportive Medical Workforce team as a Medical Employee Relations Advisor.

This is a varied and enjoyable role, where you will be providing initial advice and support to clinical areas within the Trust.

The role will involve advising staff and managers on terms, conditions and policies as well as providing administration support to the Medical Workforce Employee Relations Team on a range of casework including conduct, capability and ill health.

You will have general admin experience, including experience of working in a high-volume environment and relevant NVQ2 or equivalent.

This is a full-time role and there is flexibility for you to be based at either Ipswich or Colchester Hospitals, you will be required to work across both sites as and when required.

Main duties of the job

You will provide a proactive and responsive first point of contact for staff and managers requiring advice.

Work from the Trust's policies and procedures, provide basic advice and guidance to employees and managers to resolve day to day queries.

Support the team with comprehensive administrative tasks including the gathering of information and undertaking enquiries as and when necessary.

You will facilitate the smooth running of the service under the direction and supervision of senior colleagues.

You will act as an ambassador for the Department and for the Trust, as the first point of contact to the Department.

Contribute effectively to ensure KPIs are achieved.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR1118-25

Job locations

Colchester / Ipswich

CO4 5JL

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Management/Business/Administration degree or proven management experience at equivalent level Certificate in Personnel Practice or equivalent qualification Advanced IT skills
Specialist qualification (or working towards) e.g. CIPD post graduate diploma
Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

Member of relevant professional body e.g. CIPD, ECDL
Undertaken Prince 2 or project management training
Leadership course/qualification

Experience

Essential

Human Resources generalist experience - working as an HR adviser/practitioner
Experience of handing employee relations casework
Experience of minute/note taking
Experience of working within a pressurised and busy environment
Microsoft Office and IT experience
Interpreting and analysing reports, databases and spreadsheet information
Demonstrable experience in dealing with sensitive and confidential information
Proven ability of working in a team environment and delivering team objectives
Experience of drafting HR policies and procedures

Desirable

Experience of working as a Medical ER advisor/practitioner
Experience of working with staff at all levels within a large & complex organisation
Experience of working in an environment which provides a front line service to customers
Experience of providing first line advice to managers & employees
Experience of managing staff
Experience of analysing complex information & highlighting key issues

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding and recognising the importance of confidentiality and data protection
Understanding of Freedom of Information Act requirements
Understanding of policies and procedures, regulatory and legislative rules
Knowledge of key issues within the Trust and wider NHS
Understanding of and commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity management

Desirable

NHS IT systems (e.g. ESR)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Management/Business/Administration degree or proven management experience at equivalent level Certificate in Personnel Practice or equivalent qualification Advanced IT skills
Specialist qualification (or working towards) e.g. CIPD post graduate diploma
Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

Member of relevant professional body e.g. CIPD, ECDL
Undertaken Prince 2 or project management training
Leadership course/qualification

Experience

Essential

Human Resources generalist experience - working as an HR adviser/practitioner
Experience of handing employee relations casework
Experience of minute/note taking
Experience of working within a pressurised and busy environment
Microsoft Office and IT experience
Interpreting and analysing reports, databases and spreadsheet information
Demonstrable experience in dealing with sensitive and confidential information
Proven ability of working in a team environment and delivering team objectives
Experience of drafting HR policies and procedures

Desirable

Experience of working as a Medical ER advisor/practitioner
Experience of working with staff at all levels within a large & complex organisation
Experience of working in an environment which provides a front line service to customers
Experience of providing first line advice to managers & employees
Experience of managing staff
Experience of analysing complex information & highlighting key issues

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding and recognising the importance of confidentiality and data protection
Understanding of Freedom of Information Act requirements
Understanding of policies and procedures, regulatory and legislative rules
Knowledge of key issues within the Trust and wider NHS
Understanding of and commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities and diversity management

Desirable

NHS IT systems (e.g. ESR)

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

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester / Ipswich

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Colchester / Ipswich

CO4 5JL

Employer's website

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