Head of HR

The role of the Head of Human Resources and Employee Relations is to work closely with the Senior Management Team to provide a specialised HR service to managers, staff and associates across the Organisation.   The role will require good relationships with managers and management teams to improve the standard of HR practices, ensuring that best practice is developed. 

A key function of the role will be to lead on the review, development and implementation of best practice systems and processes to support a consistent, robust, and excellent HR and ER service and lead on planning for growth and development. 

The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the HR team, which will include providing support and guidance on all HR matters and identifying new ways of working. 

The role will support the development of the skills and capability of managers to empower them to manage people effectively and independently and build confidence in dealing with complex people-management issues and to drive initiatives and projects that add value to the organisation and are in line with the overall values of Communitas Clinics. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities 

Partnership Working 

You will establish the role of Head of HR and Employee Relations by developing effective working relationships with our managers and senior leaders, influencing and developing workforce plans to support the delivery of services.  You will provide sound counsel to the Senior Management Team and the Board of Directors in relation to all HR legislation and be a visible and engaged presence with our managers and staff across all sites. These plans will include, but are not limited to: 

Workforce planning – Talent/reward, recruitment and retention 

Organisational change, development and growth 

Engagement strategies 

Staff communication 

Employee relations 

 

Championing people and raising line manager’s capabilities 

You will be required to identify, plan, drive, support and coach managers and senior leaders to deliver best HR management practice 

You will influence key decisions made in all HR areas to ensure that staff are managed effectively and fairly and that any implications of proposed changes are fully thought through 

You will support and coach managers to understand their line management role and to use HR policies and procedures effectively and confidently 

You will equip our managers with the appropriate tools, training and knowledge to effectively manage their teams in line with their individual plans e.g. performance management, absence management, career management 

You will be expected to contribute to the continuous development and improvement of the whole HR team. 

Change Management and implementation 

You will be required to work in parallel with managers in relation to all the HR aspects of planned changes and ensure they are implemented effectively and in line with good practice/employment law/organisational policies and within the agreed budget. 

You will provide advice and support on change management initiatives, organisational and departmental restructures, job role design, outsourcing, TUPE transfers, and redundancy situations to improve cost and efficiency and clarify the goals for change. 

You will develop and implement a robust Employee engagement strategy (including employee surveys). 

Workforce Planning and employee resourcing 

Working with the Senior Management team and the Business Development Team you will plan ahead and set objectives for changes in demand for staffing, monitor employee numbers and WTE in line with growth. 

You will develop and implement effective retention plans including exit interviews and leaver process management and contribute to a review of the overall organisational statistics to monitor trends in turnover and take action to address concerns and areas for improvement. 

You will be required to advise and assist in the preparation of recruitment documentation: application forms; job descriptions; job specification, interview scorecards and advertising platforms and advise on remuneration packages. 

Oversee the shortlisting, interviewing and selection process. 

Employee performance, attendance and wellbeing 

Where required you will liaise with Occupational Health experts to discuss issues around short and long term absences and ensure that all absence issues are addressed in a supportive and timely manner. 

You will be required to drive a performance management culture within the organisation as a means of promoting continuous improvement, ensuring clear objectives are set, feedback is given and behaviour aligned to our values is encouraged. 

You will develop a robust training plan for all employees to develop to their full potential in line with the organisation’s values. 

Support the creation and implementation of HR Scorecards and KPI’s to ensure performance and activity can be monitored again established targets. 

Proactively identify areas of continuous improvement in HR practices and initiatives to better meet customers and business needs.  

Where there is poor performance, you will support the managers in setting appropriate performance improvement objectives and ensure that these are monitored and reviewed according to the policies. 

You will be required to investigate any complex disciplinary, grievance, sickness and performance cases, and provide casework supervision designed to encourage reflective practice and develop confidence in decision-making among managers. 

Act as company representative in any HR appeals or hearings ensuring consistency and appropriateness of recommendations. 

Pay Issues and annual pay review 

Working with the finance team you will be required to ensure all staff are paid appropriately. 

You will ensure that all new roles across the organisation are evaluated and lead the overview of pay benchmarking. 

You will support the Senior Management team with the annual pay review and ensure that all pay changes are communicated effectively and in time. 

Other Responsibilities (General) 

Take responsibility for the accurate recording, updating and production of management information on all HR matters. 

Maintain and develop knowledge on the application, interpretation and monitoring of up-to-date employment legislation, terms and conditions, policies and procedures, both national and local, in order to give advice and information to managers and employees. 

Review and revise all company HR policies and procedures in line with current legislation. 

Develop and maintain effective and proactive communication mechanisms with staff, their representatives, and any relevant organisations in order to develop a partnership approach when dealing with complex employee relations and change management issues. 

Maintain regular communication with the Senior Management Team and attend meetings, both virtual and face to face when required.    

Participate in quarterly planning meetings to identify and plan HR developments in line with the company’s quarterly and annual objectives. 

From time to time you will be required to travel to our different clinic and admin locations to support staff.   

To undertake any other duties which are commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the post. 

To actively and continuously review all activities and suggest areas for improvement. 

To support colleagues in the provision and delivery of all services provided by the organisation as required. 

Confidentiality: 

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters.   They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately 

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, staff and other healthcare workers.  They may also have access to information relating to the organisation as a business.  All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential 

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the organisation may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. 

Health & Safety: 

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the company’s Health & Safety Policy, to include: 

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to  guidelines 

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks 

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills 

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards 

Reporting potential risks identified. 

Equality and Diversity: 

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: 

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation 

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues 

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. 

Personal/Professional Development: 

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the organisation as part of this employment, such training to include: 

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development 

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work. 

Quality: 

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the organisation, and will: 

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk 

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision 

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team’s performance 

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs 

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. 

Communication: 

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: 

Communicate effectively with other team members 

Communicate effectively with patients and carers 

Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. 

This job description is designed to reflect duties currently incorporated in this post.  These may change in light of a change in the services provided by the organisation, but any such change will be fully discussed with the post holder.  This job description is subject to an annual review.