Job Overview
Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Salary: Subject to experience and qualifications
Location: Office based, Lowestoft, Suffolk
We are looking for an experienced and highly organised HR Administrator / Advisor to join the corporate team of an independent company operating across Home Care, Independent SEND Schools, a Day Nursery and Children’s Residential Homes.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a HR professional who is looking for a varied and rewarding role, where you will take ownership of the HR function across five companies, working closely with the Company Director, wider management team and internal Finance department.
You will lead the organisation's HR team of two (we have a Recruitment Support Administrator) and be amply supported by our external HR and legal advisers.
About the Role
This is a broad HR generalist position covering the full employee lifecycle. You will provide practical HR advice, manage key HR processes and documentation, support managers with employee relations matters and ensure the organisation remains compliant with employment legislation and relevant regulatory requirements.
You will be a key point of contact for managers and employees, providing professional, confidential and practical HR support across the five companies. Managing the company’s Single Central Record of appointments (for our schools) will be a key task.
Key Responsibilities:
HR Administration & Employee Lifecycle
- Manage employment contracts, amendments, variations and other HR documentation.
- Prepare job offer letters and employment documentation.
- Maintain accurate and confidential employee records.
- Manage the employee lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to changes in employment and leavers.
- Manage training agreements and associated documentation.
- Work closely with the internal Finance department on employee and payroll related matters.
- Ensure HR processes and records are accurate, consistent and compliant across all five companies.
Recruitment & Safer Recruitment
- Manage and oversee recruitment processes across four of the five companies.
- Manage Indeed job listings and candidate shortlisting, with support from the Recruitment Support Administrator.
- Arrange and coordinate interviews.
- Liaise with managers regarding vacancies and recruitment requirements.
- Manage pre-employment checks, including references and DBS checks.
- Ensure appropriate safer recruitment procedures are followed.
- Work closely with the Recruitment Support Administrator to ensure recruitment administration is efficient and well organised.
Single Central Records & Regulatory Compliance
- Hold and manage the Single Central Record (SCR) for Education and Early Years settings.
- Ensure the SCR is accurate, complete, up to date and maintained to a consistently high standard.
- Ensure the SCR and associated safer recruitment documentation are audit ready and available for inspection by bodies including Ofsted, County Councils and other relevant regulatory or commissioning bodies.
- Identify and address any gaps or discrepancies in records promptly.
- Work with managers to ensure ongoing compliance with safer recruitment and employment requirements.
Employee Relations & HR Advice
- Provide practical HR advice and guidance to managers and the wider management team.
- Advise on company policies, HR procedures and employment legislation.
- Support managers with employee relations matters, including performance, conduct, absence and other employment issues.
- Attend and support disciplinary, appeal and employee relations meetings.
- Assist with investigations and ensure HR processes are followed fairly, consistently and appropriately.
- Identify areas of HR risk and work with management to address them.
- Liaise with external HR and legal advisers where specialist advice or guidance is required.
- Support the consistent implementation of HR policies across all five companies.
About You
We are looking for an HR professional who is confident working independently, can manage competing priorities and is comfortable being the main HR point of contact for a diverse organisation.
You will need to be approachable and professional, with the confidence to provide sound HR advice to managers while knowing when to seek specialist external guidance.
Essential requirements:
- Minimum CIPD Level 3 qualified, preferably Level 5.
- Minimum 2 years' experience working in HR.
- Good working knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.
- Experience supporting employee relations matters, including disciplinary and appeal processes.
- Experience managing recruitment, references and DBS checks.
- Experience with, or a strong understanding of the Single Central Record and safer recruitment requirements within Education and/or Early Years.
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent attention to detail, particularly when managing compliance records and sensitive documentation.
- Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
- Confident advising and liaising with managers and senior leaders.
- Ability to work autonomously and take ownership of the HR function.
- Ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload across multiple companies.
- A practical approach to HR.
Pay: Up to £30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
