Head of Employee Relations

Head of Employee Relations

Closing date: 22 May 2026

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Employee Relations to lead our ER function and drive a fair, compassionate and high performing workforce culture across the Trust. This senior role provides both strategic influence and hands on leadership, ensuring the delivery of a high quality, customer focused HR advisory service that supports safe patient care and a positive staff experience.

Working closely with the Deputy Chief People Officer, the wider people team and leaders across the organisation and beyond, this role will also play a pivotal role in developing and implementing our people strategy for all our people, in line with our ambition to deliver the best care to patients across our communities through integrated pathways within and outside the hospital, in line with the 10 Year Plan.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• Lead and develop the HR Advisory Team, ensuring consistent, compassionate and high quality ER support.
• Act as the Trust's senior advisor on complex and high risk cases, including MHPS and ET preparation.
• Oversee Trust wide employment policies, ensuring they are modern, inclusive and aligned to a just and learning culture.
• Build management capability through training, coaching and guidance.
• Use ER data and metrics to identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Partner with staff side colleagues to maintain positive and constructive industrial relations.
• Provide senior HR input into organisational change programmes and culture building initiatives.

About us

We offer:

• A hybrid work environment with three days in our Teddington or Kingston Hospital offices and two days remote.
• A supportive and dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration.
• A clear path for personal growth and professional advancement.
• Standard NHS staff benefits package.

In return, we are looking for someone with:

• Significant employee relations leadership experience within the NHS.
• Expertise in managing complex cases, including MHPS.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and NHS T&Cs.
• Experience developing policies and delivering ER related training.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A compassionate, inclusive and values led approach to people management.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached supporting document which contains more and person specification information about the role.

Person Specification Skills & Knowledge

• Demonstrable ability to draft clear and concise reports
• Ability to take the lead within a team context and drive forward improved ways of working.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree, Level 7 CIPD qualification (or working towards) or equivalent relevant experience
• MCIPD membership

Experience

• Demonstrable experience in team management, leadership and staff development
• Significant experience in dealing with employee relations cases in a unionised environment

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary

£72,719 to £83,505 a year (Per annum inc HCAS outer London)

Address

Kingston & Richmond Hospital
180 High Street Thames House
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full time

Reference number

OA

Job locations

Kingston & Richmond Hospital
180 High Street Thames House
Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust