THE ROYAL MARSDEN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: Senior Employee Relations (ER) Adviser
Department: Specialist Team, Employee Relations, HROD
Directorate: Workforce and Corporate Affairs
Band: 6
Hours Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Conditions of Service: Agenda for Change
Location: Chelsea with travel to Community Locations and Sutton as necessary
Accountable to: ER Specialist Lead
Responsible to: Assistant Director of Human Resources
Liaises with: HR Specialist Teams
HR Business Unit
Line Managers,
Trade Union/Staff Representatives (local and regional),
External Networks e.g. specialist groups
Other NHS Trusts
JOB PURPOSE
The Senior ER Adviser will provide the full range of Employee Relations support to managers. Cases will be assigned by ER Specialist Lead, and will include cases up to and including dismissal, ER aspects of organisational change and TUPE. The post holder will contribute to policy revision and formalisation, and be a member of job evaluation panels.
The post holder will be expected to understand issues concerning equality and diversity, how this impacts in their role and across the Trust; and work in accordance with the Trust’s Equality Objectives and policies.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To advise and assist managers on the interpretation and application of Trust People Management policies and procedures, ensuring a consistent and timely approach.
2. To actively guide, advise and assist managers when managing with cases under the Trust’s People Management policies and procedures e.g. Disciplinary, Grievance, Sickness, Poor Performance and Harassment & Bullying Policies, including providing support with investigations and attending hearings and appeals to provide advice on policy and employment law as required.
3. To ensure all ER casework is logged and tracked on the ER case tracking system, and that casework is progressed in line with HROD KPI’s/SLA’s.
4. To provide professional guidance on employment related diversity matters and to facilitate the implementation of the Trust’s Equality objectives and policies.
5. To support managers with change management programmes including restructuring, redeployment, retirement and redundancy.
6. To contribute to the formulation, revision and implementation of the Trust’s People Management policies and procedures, managers’ toolkits, ER guidance and standard operating procedures (SOP’s).
7. To ensure that RM Trade Unions are consulted on any workforce changes or other relevant ER matters that the post holder is dealing with.
8. To have an understanding of medical workforce terms and conditions, and be able to advise and support on the handling of matters under ‘Maintaining High Professional Standards’ for doctors.
9. To work with colleagues within L&D, to contribute to course design and training delivery where appropriate.
10. To participate in the development of in-house training to meet the identified needs of both managers and staff.
11. To present and deliver training to staff and managers on HR policies and procedures. To take part in presenting the HR section at Trust Inductions.
12. To advise managers concerning NHS and local pay and terms and conditions of service.
13. To provide advice on contractual issues and terms and conditions.
14. To actively promote partnership working.
15. To be a member of the Trust’s job evaluation and matching panels.
OTHER
1. Actively seeks cost reduction opportunities in all areas.
2. All staff in the HROD directorate are expected to continually strive for service improvement to support the highest quality patient care and the Trust’s business objectives.
3. Maintains associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, including ensuring the requirements of Continuing Professional Development are met, and participates in Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) events
4. Develops an appropriate network of external contacts in the HR field.
5. Identifies and takes personal responsibility for maintaining and developing professional knowledge and expertise, agreeing and working towards the achievement of a Personal Development Plan.
6. Any other duties as may be required from time to time, which are consistent with the band and level of the post.
Confidentiality and Data Protection Act
All employees of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff (please also see the Trust’s policy on Whistle blowing). In instances where it is known that a member of staff has communicated information to unauthorised persons, those staff will be liable to dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
All staff must be familiar with and adhere to the Trust’s child protection and safeguarding adult policies and procedures. All staff are required to attend child protection and safeguarding adults awareness training, additional training and supervision regarding child protection relevant to their position and role.
Health and Safety
All staff are required to make positive efforts to maintain their own personal safety and that of others by taking reasonable care, carrying out requirements of the law whilst following recognised codes of practice and Trust policies on health and safety.
Customer Service Excellence
All staff are required to support the Trust’s commitment to developing and delivering excellent customer-focused service by treating patients, their families, friends, carers and staff with professionalism,respect and dignity.
Emergency Planning
In accordance with the Trust's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 all staff are required to undertake work and alternative duties as reasonably directed at variable locations in the event of and for the duration of a significant internal incident, major incident or pandemic.
Equal Opportunities
The aim of the Trust’s policy is to ensure that no job applicant or employee is discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, creed, sex, marital status, disability, age, nationality, ethnic or national origins. The Trust commits itself to promote equal opportunities and will keep under review its policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all users and provides of its services are treated according to their needs. The policy also applies to staff working within the Trust.
No Smoking Policy
It is the policy of the Trust to promote health. Smoking is actively discouraged and is prohibited in most areas of the Hospital, including offices, with the exception of designated smoking areas on both sites.
Review of this Job Description
This job description is intended as an outline of the general areas of activity. It will be amended in the light of the changing needs of the organization, in which case it will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.
THE ROYAL MARSDEN NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
PERSON SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE: Senior Employee Relations (ER) Adviser
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Education/Qualifications / How measured(Skills audit, Assessment Centre, Interview)
Essential
· MCIPD
· Evidence of Continuing Professional Development / application
Experience
Essential
· Current or recent operational experience of working in an employee relations function
· Experience of working in a unionised environment and dealing with representatives at a local and regional level
· Knowledge and relevant experience of a wide range of employee relations casework including application of policies, procedures and best practice to resolve diverse and complex issues.
· Good working knowledge of current employment law
· Awareness of current developments within the NHS and ability to evaluate the implications, apply to practice and make recommendations for change to policies, procedures and practice.
Desirable
· Experience of dealing with medical ER issues under MHPS, and of medical terms and conditions of employment
· Understanding and experience of using HR Metrics / Application
Application
Application
Application/interview
Application/interview
Application
Application
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
· Ability to analyse problems and risks, and to use judgement and problem solving skills to identify options and solutions to a wide range of ER cases, some of which will be complex and difficult.
· Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a clear, concise and effective way to staff and managers at all levels, this will include preparation of papers/reports for committees and panels.
· Knowledge of Agenda for Change terms and conditions
· Knowledge and skills to use Employee Staff Records (ESR) system and all Microsoft office applications.
· Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and complete tasks and casework on time
· Ability to demonstrate confidence and resilience when working under pressure
· Able to work well both as a member of the ER team and autonomously using own initiative. / Application/interview
Application/interview
Application
Application
Application/interview
Application/interview
Application/interview
Other
Essential
· Flexible attitude to work and willingness to travel to any site in which the Trust operates, to meet the needs of the role and service / Application/interview
1
Senior ER Adviser v2.0
November 2012