The role provides first‑line employee relations support , offering consistent advice aligned with Trust policies, procedures, and Agenda for Change terms and conditions while exercising sound judgement on when to escalate issues.
It involves managing a personal caseload of routine ER matters—including disciplinary, grievance, dignity and respect, capability, sickness absence, and probation—while supporting wider case management processes, documentation, and performance monitoring.
The post‑holder contributes to continuous improvement by proposing service enhancements, maintaining accurate records, analysing ER and sickness data, and supporting updates to People Directorate resources. They act as a professional representative of the directorate, provide development support to junior colleagues, and ensure compliance with key Trust expectations around confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, health and safety, and infection prevention.
The role requires effective communication, teamwork, and the flexibility to travel across Trust sites, ensuring high‑quality, timely, and efficient HR support across the organisation.
Working as part of the Clinical Service Units and Corporate leadership teams across the University Hospital Tees Group (South Tees and North Tees), the post holder will:
To be the principle contact for the Workforce Department and provide first line Workforce operational advice to employees in line with Trust Policies and Procedures and Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions.
Support employee relations (ER) and sickness absence case management as part of the Workforce Team and manage own caseload for routine ER and sickness absence cases.
Process routine and complex/sensitive information where there may be a need to be varied communication methods as appropriate.
Support a high performing Workforce function and to ensure excellent customer care to the Clinical Service Unit / Corporate service managers, to support service delivery and patient care.
Contribute to the delivery of operational objectives in line with the People Plan, including effective and efficient employee relations processes, KPIs and Workforce reporting.
The postholder will be required to work within the multiple sites that form University Hospitals Tees on a regular basis
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.
At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.
We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development.
We support the ' Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Internal:
Will work closely with the Workforce Business Partners, Associate / Deputy Workforce Business Partners, Workforce Advisors to support the CSU’s business needs and priorities, enabling the provision of a high quality and responsive service.
To work in partnership to establish and maintain positive and effective relationships with staff side colleagues and union representatives.
Will provide developmental support regarding People processes and policies as applicable.
Supports the Staff Retention process with staff leaving or who have left the organisation, conversations, data collection analysis and reporting
Workforce Business Partner Associate Workforce Business Partner
Workforce Officers
External:
To work closely with other Trusts and NHS organisations and other external organisations such as but not limited to; Outsourced payroll provider; Trust’s legal representatives, NHS Pensions.
