Job Description

Do you aspire to work for a London NHS Trust which is at the forefront of innovation and employees some of the best staff in the NHS? At Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, we will strive to give you the best possible experience in the next stage of your career. As the Senior Employee Relations Advisor, you will bring with you significant experience of employee relations. You will be driving change, in improving the experience of our staff and leaders, through the provision of bets in class employee relations practices that are based on developing a just culture and excellent people experience.
You will work closely with the Employee Relations Specialists to provide a specialist employee relations and resolution service to managers and staff across the Trust. The post holder will be responsible for managing their own complex employee relations case work, including but not limited to, advising on and supporting on the investigation of cases of all staff including medical and senior staff.
You will need to possess excellent IT skills with the ability to manipulate data to create and display standard and ad hoc ER reports.
3 days working on site
***PLEASE NOTE***
Band 6 (Band 5 Developmental Role Would Be Considered)
We will consider candidates who have ER experience and are willing to work towards the Band 6 as a developmental opportunity.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for managing a complex employee relations case load including disciplinary, grievance, bullying and harassment and capability cases, by working proactively with managers to agree outcomes and propose recommendations, ensuring that risks are dealt with efficiently.
The post holder will be a senior advisor on the team, providing specialist advice to staff and managers in relation to a range of complex employment related issues and will be required to make subsequent recommendations for development of policy, flow-charts, templates and best practice guidelines. The Employee Relations team will adopt a coaching approach in the delivery of advice to managers in order to build confidence in dealing with complex people-management issues and interpreting policy so that balanced decisions can be made without recourse to HR.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that advice and support to managers complies with HR best practice and employment legislation and fosters good employee relations.
Key working relation relationships

• Other colleagues and staff in the Human Resources Department.
• All line managers within the Clinical/Corporate Directorates.
• Local and regional Trade Union representatives.
• Internal staff in the Trust.
• Occupational Health.
• External, for instance applicants, members of the public and agencies.

About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a 30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an 80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence. As part of our dedication to equity, we actively welcome applications from individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."
If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Details
Date posted
25 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
46,419 to 55,046 a year per annum inc HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
289-CR-51
Job locations
Harbour Yard
Chelsea
SW10 0XD
Job description
Job responsibilities

• Provide professional ER advice, support and coaching to staff and managers on a wide range of Employee Relations issues, policies and procedures ensuring that best practice is applied and equal opportunities principles are adhered too.

• Ensure advice is balanced and pragmatic and takes into account clinical and operational issues concerning patient safety and cost.

• Provide regular reports on all ER activity and ensure the employee relations database is updated on at least a weekly basis.

• Provide advice on a range of complex queries escalated from the service desk and HRBP teams on matters including fixed term contracts, probationary periods, flexible working appeals and other Trust terms and conditions and benefits.

• Work collaboratively and assist the Human Resources Business Partners in providing support with workforce related incidents in their respective areas.

• Analyse and interpret people-related metrics to identify trends and inform the development and improvement of ER policies and processes, management development activities and employee engagement

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Provide professional ER advice, support and coaching to staff and managers on a wide range of Employee Relations issues, policies and procedures ensuring that best practice is applied and equal opportunities principles are adhered too.

• Ensure advice is balanced and pragmatic and takes into account clinical and operational issues concerning patient safety and cost.

• Provide regular reports on all ER activity and ensure the employee relations database is updated on at least a weekly basis.

• Provide advice on a range of complex queries escalated from the service desk and HRBP teams on matters including fixed term contracts, probationary periods, flexible working appeals and other Trust terms and conditions and benefits.

• Work collaboratively and assist the Human Resources Business Partners in providing support with workforce related incidents in their respective areas.

• Analyse and interpret people-related metrics to identify trends and inform the development and improvement of ER policies and processes, management development activities and employee engagement

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• CIPD qualified or significant experience in an employee relations role
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience

Experience
Essential

• Experience of advising a range of stakeholders on a broad range of ER issues including sickness, disciplinary, grievance and performance management
• Significant experience in supporting disciplinary investigations
• Experience supporting and advising managers in presenting cases at hearings
• Experience of managing multiple complex ER cases from start to finish
• Experience in a development role which includes design, delivery and evaluating development programmes
• Experience writing policy and procedures

Desirable

• Medical staffing experience
• Experience delivering training
• Experience using a coaching approach to build competence and confidence

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Knowledge of current employment legislation and best practice in ER policies, principles and procedures
• Analytical skills, able to analyse information effectively identifying the causes of problems and proposing practical solutions to address them based on knowledge and application of policy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills engaging effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Very strong report-writing skills; able to offer critical feedback to managers to improve narrative
• Exceptional listening and questioning skills that enable empower and get to the heart of the issue
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver multiple concurrent activities within agreed deadlines and to agreed standards with consistent attention to detail
• Ability to develop strong relationships and coach, challenge and influence to ensure effective ER solutions, balancing risk and commerciality and resolve conflict where necessary

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• CIPD qualified or significant experience in an employee relations role
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience

Experience
Essential

• Experience of advising a range of stakeholders on a broad range of ER issues including sickness, disciplinary, grievance and performance management
• Significant experience in supporting disciplinary investigations
• Experience supporting and advising managers in presenting cases at hearings
• Experience of managing multiple complex ER cases from start to finish
• Experience in a development role which includes design, delivery and evaluating development programmes
• Experience writing policy and procedures

Desirable

• Medical staffing experience
• Experience delivering training
• Experience using a coaching approach to build competence and confidence

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential

• Knowledge of current employment legislation and best practice in ER policies, principles and procedures
• Analytical skills, able to analyse information effectively identifying the causes of problems and proposing practical solutions to address them based on knowledge and application of policy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills engaging effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Very strong report-writing skills; able to offer critical feedback to managers to improve narrative
• Exceptional listening and questioning skills that enable empower and get to the heart of the issue
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver multiple concurrent activities within agreed deadlines and to agreed standards with consistent attention to detail
• Ability to develop strong relationships and coach, challenge and influence to ensure effective ER solutions, balancing risk and commerciality and resolve conflict where necessary

Skills Required