Human Resources Business Partner
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Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Business Partner to undertake a secondment or fixed term contract to join the corporate workforce team at UCLH. This position is maternity leave cover estimated to commence July 2025.
Partnering with corporate directorates with approximately 750 staff, you will be responsible for providing high quality strategic and operational workforce expertise, guidance, and advice. You will oversee best practice people management within your areas of responsibility, and contribute towards the development of a positive, compassionate, and inclusive working culture.
As part of the corporate workforce team, you will also lead on wider workforce initiatives and programmes.
There is scope for working hours to be flexible to fit round the preferred candidate’s commitments. We ask for a minimum of one day a week on site. We would welcome conversations with candidates about flexible working as part of the recruitment process so please get in touch if you are in any doubt about this.
Please note that an assessment will form part of the selection process.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for providing high quality strategic and operational workforce support to ensure best practice people management within your areas of responsibility and across the wider workforce function. Your duties will include:
Local workforce strategy / plans in place which reflect the business, opportunities for growth, plans for redesigned services and alignment to the overall Trust workforce strategy.
Corporate and managerial leaders are supported and equipped with the skills, confidence and expertise to lead their teams effectively.
Effective and efficient use of staff resources across all staffing groups, resulting in high quality and safe patient services and value for money.
High performing and motivated teams within Directorate / Functional areas, with agreed performance objectives and development plans in place.
Compliance with employment legislative framework and NHS and Trust workforce-related policies and best practice.
Workforce risks within Directorate areas are anticipated and mitigated to protect the Trust’s reputation, through proactive stakeholder engagement and in-depth understand of service / operations.
Supervision / coaching of HR staff within Corporate Services, as required, and sharing of learning within the HRBP community.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
- University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
- University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
- Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
- University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
- The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
- University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Insight, strategy and solutions
Develop actionable insights and solutions, prioritised and tailored around a deep understanding of the business, contextual and organisational understanding.
Leading HRProvide active, insight-led leadership: owning, shaping and driving themselves, others and activity in the organisation.
Organisational design
Ensure that the Directorates are appropriately designed to deliver Trust objectives in the short and long-term and that structural change is effectively managed.
Organisational development
Ensure the Directorates has a committed, ‘fit for the future’ workforce needed to deliver its strategic ambition. Play a vital part in ensuring that the Trust’s culture, values and environment support and enhance its performance and adaptability.Provide insight and leadership on development and execution of any capability, cultural and change activities within areas of responsibility.
Resourcing and talent planning
Ensure the Trust is able to identify and attract key people with the capability to create competitive advantage and that it actively manages an appropriate balance of resource to meet changing needs, fulfilling the short and long-term ambitions of the Trust’s strategy.
Learning and talent development
Ensure that people at all levels of the Trust possess and develop the skills, knowledge and experiences to fulfil the short and long-term ambitions of the Trust and that they are motivated to learn, grow and perform.
Performance and reward
Build a high-performance culture by delivering programmes that recognise and reward critical skills, capabilities, experience and performance. Ensure that the NHS reward system is applied effectively and with innovation.
Employee engagement
In the context of the Trust’s objectives, ensure that in all aspects of the employment experience – the emotional connection that all employees have with their work, colleagues and to their organisation (in particular line manager relationship) is positive and understood, and that it delivers greater discretionary effort in their work and the way they relate to their organisation.
Employee relations
Ensure that the relationship between the Trust and its staff is managed appropriately within a clear and transparent framework underpinned by organisational practices and policies and ultimately by relevant employment law.
Service delivery and information
Ensure that the delivery of all HR Services and information to leaders, managers and staff within the organisation is accurate, efficient, timely and cost effective and that human resource data is managed professionally.
Corporate Services consists of approximately 1300 staff across a variety of directorates which includes, Chief Nurse, Clinical Governance, Digital Healthcare, Estates & Facilities, Finance, Planning & Performance, Procurement, Research & Development, Strategic Development, Transformation & Innovation, and Workforce.
As HR Business Partner you will be responsible for some of the directorates, working closely and collaboratively with your other corporate workforce colleagues.
There will also be opportunities to get involved in interesting projects and programmes of work.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the third year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust- In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England – for the third year in a row.
UCLH top trust to work at in England – for the third year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person specification
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential criteria- Educated to degree level
- Masters Level or equivalent knowledge acquired by experience
- CIPD qualified or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development including regular attendance on internal and external study programmes
- Workforce planning expertise acquired through formal training or equivalent experience
- In depth knowledge of current thinking and policy affecting the workforce in the health and public sector
Experience , Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria- Proven track record of operational and strategic HR achievement at a senior level, working across a broad remit including OD
- Sound, up to date knowledge of HR best practice, employment law, current thinking and developments in HR
- Experience of leadership of complex change management
- Quality focussed with an innovative, flexible approach and the ability to solve complex problems.
- Experience of being able to balance competing priorities and meet personal and Trust targets within a fluctuating and demanding workload
- Demonstrated attention to detail and risk management expertise
- Experience of implementing new policies and new ways of working across a service
- Ability to design and deliver training
- Advanced analytical and judgement skills which require management of complex facts and problems
- Sound IT skills (Microsoft Office, Word), experience of manipulating HR databases
- Ability to respond to urgent situations in a calm, empathetic and logical manager and manage stressful situations
- Ability to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively and to prioritise work programmes in the face of competing demands
- Proven NHS/public sector experience and knowledge
Communication
Essential criteria- Outstanding interpersonal skills, demonstrating an ability to build relations and influence at a senior level and with external stakeholders
- Strong strategic influencing, persuading and negotiating skills
Personal and People Development
Essential criteria- Ability to work with and through others
- Demonstrable record of successful line management of staff and proven team leadership and motivational skills
Resource Management
Essential criteria- Demonstrable experience of working with financial management systems
Values
Essential criteria- Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving.
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria- Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality
At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.
At UCLH we take equality of opportunity seriously and are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer, with a culture that creates a real sense of belonging and trust. It is our fundamental aim, to recruit, retain and promote a diverse mix of people who are representative of our local communities.Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to support our world class research, innovation and creativity.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff and has a dedicated policy which allows staff to apply for flexible working right from the beginning of employment. For more information please go to: https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/work-with-us/why-choose-uclh/flexible-working.
We offer our permanent staff an interest free season ticket loan for travel, all our staff have access to free independent and confidential support, large retail discounts, a staff discount platform, cycle to work scheme and on-site accommodation to name a few.
Additionally, UCLH Arts and Heritage’s staff wellbeing programme, Creative Comfort, offers a variety of ways to engage with the arts as a member of UCLH staff. You can try out the weekly choir, weekly art club and join the Culture Club for exclusive access to free and discounted tickets for opera, exhibitions, theatre and more.
We recognise, reward and thank colleagues by nominating them for our annual Celebrating Excellence Awards, which are funded by UCLH Charity.
We are also members of www.mytrustbenefits.co.uk/ which offers discounts on high street retail stores, offers on travel deals, and also to take advantage of cash back schemes.
This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. You are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
Please note that all correspondence regarding your application will be via email. The emails will be sent to you via TRAC.jobs and not via NHS Jobs, we encourage you to check your inbox regularly.
Please note that if you are at present in a training position on the 2016 new junior doctor’s contract and are applying for a Trust doctor role your salary will not be pay protected.
You will be placed on the appropriate point of the Trust Doctor pay scale based on your previous experience.
Please note that if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date of the advert to assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.