Job overview

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality HR support and driving positive change? Join our dynamic HR team at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and play a key role in shaping our workforce experience.

The post holder will be an active member of the HR employee relations team working alongside the HR Manager and HR Business partners to provide a value adding service to an operational division.  The post holder will do so through engaging proactively with the business, working in partnership with managers, staff, unions and stakeholders to take a proactive, solutions focused approach to employee relations work.

This is a 6 month fixed term role to cover a secondment.  

Please note: Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules, this role may not be eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role.

Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes - GOV.UK

Health and Care Worker visa: If you’ll need to meet different salary requirements - GOV.UK

Main duties of the job

• Develop and maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment law, HR policies, and NHS terms and conditions.
• Review and update HR policies, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to managers and staff on:
  • Employee relations and case management
  • Attendance and sickness management
  • Performance management
  • Pay, contracts, and terms and conditions
  • Maternity, paternity, and adoption rights
• Manage a caseload of disciplinary, grievance, and capability cases, supporting investigations and hearings.
• Build strong relationships across HR & OD teams, including recruitment, workforce information, and learning & development.
• Lead and contribute to HR projects at local and national level.
• Monitor sickness absence and work collaboratively with managers and Occupational Health.
• Design and deliver HR training sessions to managers and staff.
• Supervise and support allocated HR team members.

• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex employee relations cases.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Confident in using HR systems and technology to maintain accurate records.
• CIPD or equivalent qualification 

Working for our organisation

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?
•    Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
•    Varied environments: community hospitals, patients’ homes, and bases across Sussex
•    Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
•    Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
•    Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
•    Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
•    Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
•    Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust

Our values—Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence—guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.