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Job summary

Main area
Investigations, HR Generalist, Employee Relations
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent: Flexible
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week (Flexible)
Job ref
263-SS26-026-AB
Employer
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Remote
Town
Tanfield Lea, Durham
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust logo

Workforce Officer

Band 6

Hello!

We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).

We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’  We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.

Opportunities for you

Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.

We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.

  • Cultural diversity staff network
  • Disabled staff network
  • LGBT+ staff network

We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:

  • Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Network
  • Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
  • Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group

We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.

Always improving

CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?

Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post.  The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay

Job overview

Looking to make a real impact across NHS and non-NHS clients? If so, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

In 2020, AuditOne — one of the largest NHS advisory and assurance consortia — brought together a unique blend of HR, conflict resolution and investigation specialists to create a new kind of workforce support service: WorkforceOne. Our mission? To transform the way organisations approach workplace investigations, employee relations and workforce support. Learn more about our work and our values here: www.work-force-one.co.uk

Due to continued demand for our specialist service, we are entering an exciting period of expansion. We are now looking for a skilled and motivated Workforce Officer to join our team, supporting client organisations with complex employee relations casework and workplace investigations.

This role is ideally suited to HR professionals with experience independently managing complex investigations and providing ER advice to senior managers.


Important information for applicants

To progress your application, we require references from your current and previous employers covering at least the last three years. Please ensure your application includes contact details for each line manager, including address, telephone number and work email address

Main duties of the job

As a Workforce Officer, you will provide specialist HR and employee relations support to client organisations, managing complex workforce investigations and providing professional advice to managers and senior leaders.

You will independently lead workplace investigations from initial scoping through to completion, including developing investigation plans, gathering and analysing evidence, conducting interviews, and producing clear and comprehensive investigation reports with recommendations. You may also be required to present findings at formal hearings and provide evidence at tribunals or regulatory proceedings where appropriate.

The role will involve managing a varied caseload of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness absence and bullying and harassment cases. You will ensure investigations and advice are delivered in line with employment legislation, NHS policies and best practice.

You will work closely with HR teams, senior managers and trade union representatives across client organisations, providing expert advice and guidance on employee relations issues and supporting fair, consistent and evidence-based decision making.

The post holder will also contribute to the development of workforce insight by maintaining accurate case records, analysing investigation trends and producing management information to support organisational learning and improvements in workforce practice.

Working for our organisation

AuditOne is a values driven organisation,  our values underpin everything we do in relation to our people, our clients and our business and shape how we deliver our service. 

We call our approach The AuditOne Way:

Trust: In each other, with our clients and for our business

Respect: For one another, our clients and the organisation

Quality: At the heart of everything we do

Innovation: Always looking to improve

We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

NHS Employees identified as at risk of compulsory redundancy and those eligible for the NENC Re-Deployment careers hub will receive prior consideration.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date : 2nd April 2026

Closing date : 16th April 2026

We welcome your application.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

Essential criteria
  • Educated to degree level or equivalent with specialist knowledge of HR.
  • CIPD qualification to degree level or working towards.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Proven track record and specialist experience of leading complex ER activity including investigations involving senior managers across multiple complex organisations
  • Significant knowledge of employment legislation, case law plus knowledge of HR best practise and trends.
  • Evidence of continuous personal and professional development.
  • Excellent working knowledge of NHS terms and conditions and experience of working with multiple terms and conditions.
  • Extensive experience of writing witness statements in line with national best practice guidance.
  • Significant experience of presenting investigatory findings to hearing panels
  • Experience of completing investigation case files including liaison with the relevant external stakeholders.
  • Experience of leading independent reviews.
  • Experience of delivering HR activity and initiatives in a client facing role.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information
  • Ability to show empathy and build trust in relationships.
  • Ability to build credibility quickly with a variety of stakeholders.
  • Ability to interpret and apply NHS terms and conditions of employment
  • Coaching, negotiating and influencing skills.
  • Excellent analytical and judgement skills with the ability to analyse and interpret situations and data.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
  • Excellent presentation and report writing skills.
  • Proficient IT skills (to include as a minimum: Word Excel, PowerPoint, HR databases).

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare quality commission - OutstandingStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Becky Johnson
Job title
Senior Workforce Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07976761942
Additional information
If you have any questions about the role, or would simply like an informal conversation before applying, please feel free to contact Becky Johnson, who will be more than happy to discuss the opportunity and provide any further information you may need.
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