Our vision for Single Corporate Services  
Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) have a shared vision of a single corporate service across our two organisations, supported by a single set of identical systems and processes, under joint leadership, to drive significant efficiencies, improve employee experience, and return time to patient care. 

This vacancy is part of the Single Corporate Services Division.

Why are we changing the way we deliver Corporate Services? 
Working as a partnership, both IWT and PHU have a shared vision for excellence in care for our patients and communities; with a set of strategic aims underpinning how we will achieve this. The creation of a single corporate service is essential for us to support our clinical and operational services, and our wider transformation programme. 

The vision for our single corporate services is to:

• Be an employer of choice for corporate talent, attracting and retaining people who share our values for excellence in care and welcome the opportunity to benefit from the broad range of flexible career and development opportunities we can offer.   
• Improve efficiency through simplified and standardised policies, processes, and systems, drawing on the best from both Trusts.  
• Do things once and reduce any duplication on transactional tasks giving corporate staff the ability to focus on higher value and more diverse activities.  
• Co-invest in the latest digital solutions and standardise our approach, meaning we do things once for both organisations. 
• Improve learning and development opportunities and sharing best practice, upskilling both Trusts.  
• Co-locate teams in purpose-built facilities on the Island and in Portsmouth to enable closer working and sharing.  
• Build resilience for individuals and our teams. 

The single corporate service is delivered across both organisation.  You may be based at either IWT or PHU and individuals may be required to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staff across multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in person leadership. The arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally.

Location: Across sites, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (frequency of visits to each site, to be agreed locally)
Position Type: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: Band 6  £37,338 - £44,962 per annum

The role of Assistant Employee Relations Manager at Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust offers vital HR expertise to managers and staff, particularly in addressing complex and sensitive employment matters.

In this capacity, you'll actively oversee employment relations cases, ensuring they align with policies and deadlines. You'll also work closely with managers to review intricate cases, extracting lessons learned and improving management effectiveness. Your guidance will cover a broad spectrum of employment issues, all while supporting the trusts in meeting its strategic and operational goals in accordance with national and medical terms and conditions.

By fostering a culture of learning and improvement, you'll help ensure consistent service delivery across both trusts while contributing to the overarching aims of a Single Corporate Service. As a key player in the Employee Relations function, you will provide essential support and advice to Employee Relations Advisors, particularly in managing employment relations cases and ensuring adherence to Trust policies and regulatory standards.

In your role, you'll collaborate with the Employee Relations Manager to analyse ongoing cases, identify trends, and generate insights that lead to improved processes and management practices. You'll prioritise transparency, fairness, and teamwork, effectively communicating with both employees and management to address their concerns.

Moreover, by facilitating training sessions and sharing best practices, you'll be instrumental in cultivating a just and restorative culture within the team while driving continuous improvement initiatives across both trusts.

For further details, please see enclosed Job Description

Single Corporate Service summary document 

Please note, this position has also been advertised on the Isle of Wight NHS Trusts jobs page. If you are interested in this position and wish to apply, there is no requirement for you to submit two separate applications. 

Essential

• Educated to degree level or to be able to demonstrate knowledge to the equivalent level
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Professional Qualification (Post graduate level 7) or equivalent

Desirable 

• Membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a customer focused environment responding to management needs
• Experience of advising on complex issues e.g. providing advice on TUPE transfer leading on due diligence, organisational change including redundancy situations, Ill health dismissals, Conflict resolution cases – experience of  facilitating meetings
• Understanding and interpreting of employment legislation
• Facilitation skills to deliver training
• Mediation skills to resolve conflict situations
• Experience of taking minutes at formal hearings

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of a range of HR policies, processes and practices e.g. absence and capability, disciplinary and grievance procedures
• Knowledge of current employment law, data protection and ACAS Codes of Practice
• Understanding of best practice in HR
• Understanding of redeployment processes
• Understanding of NHS Medical and AfC Terms and Conditions
• Excellent interpersonal effectiveness including diplomacy, influencing, negotiation and facilitation skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a particular emphasis on writing of reviewing letters, terms of reference (TOR), guidance, management cases and training.
• Able to establish credibility and rapport with line mangers
• Sensitive and responsive when dealing with challenging  or emotional  circumstances.
• Able to prioritise and respond flexibly to changing demands
• Ability to work autonomously and show initiative
• Commitment to equal opportunities
• Excellent ‘PC User’ skills including all basic Microsoft packages
• Ability to analyse situations and exercise independent judgement

Desirable 

• Trained in Job Evaluation

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.

Please note your application may be transferred to the Isle of Wight Applicant Tracking System (ATS) if you are selected for an interview

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.