Employee Relations Advisor

Job Description

NHS Band 5: £32,073 - £39,043 pro rata per annum                       

Hours Per Week: full time 37.5

Contract Type: Permanent 

Base Location: Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust Corporate Hub, Block 4000, Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3EN

As the single corporate service will be delivered across both organisations, individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites.  The frequency and arrangements will be discussed on an individual basis and the staff mobility local agreement will apply.

Are you a motivated HR professional looking to further develop your employee relations expertise in a supportive, progressive, and high‑performing environment?

We are seeking a proactive and confident Employee Relations Advisor to join our Employee Relations (ER) team, supporting both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust as part of our Single Corporate Services model.  

As part of our single service offer, you will work across both Trusts and may be required to travel between sites depending on service needs. There is flexibility for some home working; however, the role requires a regular on‑site presence to deliver effective support to managers and staff.

About the Role

As an Employee Relations Advisor, you will play a key role in delivering a high‑quality, proactive HR service that supports improved staff experience, effective case management, and positive organisational outcomes. You will:

• Take the lead on managing absence and ill‑health cases, analysing sickness data, producing reports, and supporting managers with proactive attendance management strategies.
• Act as a primary point of contact for staff and managers seeking HR advice, providing guidance on a range of HR policies, terms and conditions, and best practice.
• Support investigations and ER processes, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, and performance management matters.
• Advise and participate in formal hearings for absence and less complex employee relations cases.
• Support organisational change processes and ensure managers understand and apply People Services policies correctly.
• Contribute to training delivery, including management essentials and employment relations learning.
• Support job evaluation processes in line with NHS job evaluation criteria.
• Analyse ER data and key indicators, particularly sickness absence, to support performance reporting.
• Maintain accurate records, support SOP updates, and ensure effective team resourcing across sites.
• Assist with Subject Access Requests (SARs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) responses in line with statutory requirements.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain broad ER experience, contribute to a just and learning culture, and develop your HR career within a large, integrated NHS Employee Relations service.

What We’re Looking For

Essential Requirements

Experience

• Experience in an operational HR role dealing with complex and sensitive issues.
• Experience advising managers on HR matters—particularly absence management.
• Experience supporting policy development and implementation.
• Experience taking minutes in formal hearings.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of HR policies, processes, and practices, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, and capability procedures.
• Understanding of employment law, data protection, and ACAS codes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, negotiate, and build rapport with managers.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and respond flexibly to changing demands.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with strong analytical and judgement skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and confidence in using digital systems.
• Sensitivity and professionalism when handling challenging or emotional situations.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Desirable

• Understanding of NHS terms and conditions (NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) and Medical).
• Training in job evaluation.
• Experience using ER case management systems.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a supportive ER team working across two innovative NHS Trusts.
• Gain hands-on experience across all aspects of employee relations.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Contribute to a culture of fairness, transparency, and continuous improvement.

For further details please refer to enclosed Job Description.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.

Additional Information

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. 

For more information, please see our People and OD Strategy 2026