Location
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£38,488 per annum

About the Role
The Employee Relations Specialist will assist in managing attendance to support the reduction of sickness absence rates by advising line managers on the interpretation and application of the Trust's sickness absence procedures and ensuring adherence. You will work closely with the Associate People Business Partner to analyse sickness data and trends within the Division, proactively advising managers on case management next steps and actions. The role involves assisting managers with Occupational Health referrals and maintaining a close working relationship with the Occupational Health Department. You will support managers in drafting and presenting management cases for sickness and other employee relations matters.

As the first line Employee Relations contact for designated care groups, you will provide advice on Trust policies, employment legislation, Agenda for Change terms and conditions, and handle queries related to sickness, performance, conduct, Early Resolution (bullying, harassment, grievances), and flexible working. Complex cases will be escalated to the Associate People Business Partner for guidance and support.

You will support hearings for alleged minor misconduct and establish effective working relationships with managers, staff, Occupational Health, Finance, Trade Unions, and external professional organisations. Additional duties include managing your own workload, updating professional knowledge, reviewing working practices, participating in special projects, and providing cover and support within the People Team.

The role also involves dealing with day-to-day informal complaints, supporting the job matching process in line with Agenda for Change regulations, accurately recording job matching details, and working in partnership with Staff Side representatives to ensure fair and consistent job evaluation.

You will be responsible for logging all Employee Relations activity accurately and promptly onto relevant systems including Selenity/Assure (ER Tracker), ESR, and internal spreadsheets, producing activity data and reports, and attending regular sickness case conference and divisional meetings to provide updates and act as the Employee Relations link.

Experience
Experience in employee relations, attendance management, and providing HR advice to line managers is essential. Familiarity with sickness absence procedures, employment legislation, and Agenda for Change terms and conditions is required. Experience working collaboratively with Occupational Health, Trade Unions, and multi-disciplinary teams is advantageous.

About you
You are proactive, organised, and able to manage your own workload effectively. You possess strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credible and effective working relationships at all levels. You demonstrate sound judgement in handling sensitive and complex employee relations matters and are committed to delivering a first-class Employee Relations service. You are adaptable and willing to participate in special projects and team support activities.

Qualifications
Relevant HR qualifications or CIPD accreditation would be desirable but are not explicitly stated as mandatory. A commitment to continuous professional development and updating knowledge in employment law and HR best practice is expected.