Job overview

To provide a comprehensive employee relation advisory service to managers and staff at all levels. Support managers with employee relations casework in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Provide advice on terms and conditions, employment policies and procedures, undertake project work as required and propose changes to policies in light of practical experience on their implementation. Be a key employee relation contact for aligned Directorates and work in conjunction with their senior management teams to ensure delivery of employee relations KPI’s.

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

Main duties of the job

To provide day to day employee relations support to staff and managers within the Trust, specifically to aligned Directorates. 

To provide advice, guidance and support to managers on all areas of employee relations up to and including dismissal, including disciplinary investigations and hearings, capability management, absence management, probation management, grievance, bullying and harassment, etc.

To participate in change management initiatives with the support of the People Business Partner include TUPE transfers. Lead on redeployment of displaced staff. 

Support the Employee Relations Manager with the preparation of Employment Tribunal paperwork. 

Participate in Directorate meetings as required, presenting workforce information and reports and communicating strategies for achieving employee relations KPI’s. 

Utilise monthly workforce reports to pro-actively facilitate the management of absence issues. 

Assist in resolving pay issues for staff in conjunction with the Workforce team, the outsourced payroll service and other members of the wider People and OD team. 

Design and deliver employee relations related training courses. 
Participate in and lead job evaluation panels. 

Undertake policy reviews as requested in partnership with allocated Trade Union representative to negotiate revisions.

Undertake delegated pieces of work and projects from the Employee Relations Manager as required.

Working for our organisation

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