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Job summary

Main area
Administration
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
354-CO-21781
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Portland House
Town
Worthing
Salary
£55,690 - £62,682 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
28/12/2025 08:00

Employer heading

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

People and Culture Business Partner

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

In line with our Trust Strategy (2025–2030), our ambition is to become a recognised employer of choice. Our working environment embraces diversity, supports professional development and offers people the opportunity to work in effective teams.

SPFT's People Function plays a crucial role across the organisation in supporting and empowering both the clinical and non-clinical workforce in the delivery of our Strategy.

The People and Culture Business Partners lead on all People related activities within their assigned division; playing a key role in the overall delivery of strategic People and Culture activities trust-wide and contribute to the development of the People and Culture Directorate as a whole.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role are summarised below:

  • To support the delivery of a professional, fair and consistent people advisory function across the Trust.
  • To work alongside the Divisional leadership team and act as the professional expert, influencing and helping shape the local People and Culture agenda.
  • Responsible for providing specialist advice on complex People matters advising and assessing the options available.
  • Providing management supervision to the Senior ER Advisors.
  • Working closely with the Associate Director for People Services to provide support on corporate/divisional people projects.
  • Promote a culture of belonging where we champion, celebrate and embrace diversity and inclusion, both within our workforce and the communities we serve.
  • Promote positive staff experience by supporting continuous learning, development and career progression.
  • Showcase staff wellbeing through innovative support programmes that address mental, physical, and emotional health, enhancing overall resilience and reducing burnout.
  • Modernise human-resources (HR) functions by leveraging technology to streamline recruitment, retention, and workforce management, ensuring an efficient and equitable employee experience.
  • Foster a culture where employees are actively engaged in decision making and service improvement, ensuring they feel empowered and aligned with the Trust’s strategic goals.
  • Take personal responsibility for actions, decisions and behaviours.

Working for our organisation

Sussex Partnership provides mental health and learning disability care for children, young people and adults across Sussex and Hampshire.

You'll be joining an organisation which is committed to improving patient care. We try to do this by listening to and learning from feedback, carrying our healthcare research and putting it into practice, developing new ways of providing services in partnership with others, and helping staff develop through access to education and training.

With services covering Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, there's plenty of choice about where to work and live if you join us. We've got the sea right on our doorstep, as well as the vibrant city of Brighton and Hove, areas of natural outstanding beauty and many historic towns. Excellent transport links make it easy to commute to work from London to many of our services and sites. Or you may be someone who has been doing the commute in the other direction and is now looking to work closer to home.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description for full details of the roles and responsibilities of the People and Culture Business Partner. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Masters level or equivalent experience gained through degree and professional HR Qualifications
  • Chartered CIPD (Level 7) or equivalent demonstrable experience

Knowledge/Experience

Essential criteria
  • In-depth experience of Human Resources Management (HRM)
  • Experience sufficient to mentor, coach, advise and support Senior HR Adviser and line managers in dealing with the full range of HRM issues
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of HR Business Partnering in a complex organisational environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - BronzeCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStep into healthPride In Veterans

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jo Russell
Job title
Associate Director for People Services
Email address
[email protected]
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