Professional Lead - Human Resources

We are seeking an experienced and highly regarded HR professional to join our People Directorate as Professional Lead - Human Resources. This senior role provides professional leadership, assurance and expert advice across employment law, HR policy and complex employee relations, supporting consistent, fair and compassionate practice across the Trust. Working closely with the Head of HR and Operational Manager - Human Resources, you will help maintain high professional standards and manage organisational risk. While this is primarily a professional leadership and assurance role, the post holder will retain oversight of a small number of selectively identified complex cases, including matters involving senior or professionally regulated staff, to support learning, consistency and improvement. A key element of the role is enabling others - using insight from casework, governance and review activity to improve standards, build capability and strengthen confidence across the organisation. We welcome applications on a secondment basis and are open to exploring both internal and external secondment opportunities for this role., The post holder will:

• Act as the Trust'ssenior professional advisor on employment law and complex employee relations practice, providing authoritative advice to leaders, managers and HR colleagues
• Provide professional oversight and support onhigh-risk and sensitive matters, including formal processes involving senior or professionally regulated staff (e.g. MHPS)
• Retain alimited, targeted portfolio of complex cases for professional assurance purposes, supporting organisational learning and risk management
• Undertakestructured reviews of complex employee relations cases, providing professional challenge, assurance and identifying learning and improvement opportunities
• Use insight from case reviews, tribunal outcomes and governance activity toimprove professional standards, service quality and policy application
• Lead the review and development of HR policies, procedures, toolkits and guidance, ensuring legal compliance and clarity
• Design and deliver training and development activity to strengthen knowledge, confidence and consistency in employment relations practice
• Provide professional coaching, mentoring and supervision to HR colleagues, supporting capability building and reflective practice
• Work collaboratively with staff-side partners, senior leaders and external advisers to support effective and constructive employment relations
• Contribute expert input to workforce governance, assurance and audit activity as required
  
  We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services. Why work for us?
• Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
• Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staff
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values - Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence - guide everything we do.