Workforce Business PartnerNHS

Job summary

Join Bexley Health Neighbourhood Care (BHNC) as our Workforce Business Partner and play a key role in supporting managers, strengthening workforce practice and improving the experience of our staff.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional to provide proactive workforce advice and guidance across our organisation. You will support managers with employee relations, performance, attendance, organisational change and wider workforce matters, helping them manage their teams confidently, fairly and consistently.

Working under the strategic direction of the Head of Workforce, you will lead and support workforce cases and improvement projects, use workforce information to inform decisions, and provide professional guidance and day-to-day coordination to our HR Advisor and Recruitment & Compliance Officer.

If you are passionate about developing management capability, building strong working relationships and delivering practical solutions to workforce challenges, this role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to our organisation and the communities we serve.

Please note that BHNC is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

Main duties of the job

You will provide professional HR and workforce advice to managers, supporting effective people management and the consistent application of employment policies and procedures.

Key duties include managing employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, conduct and attendance matters; advising on employment legislation; supporting workplace investigations, formal meetings and appeals; and assisting managers with organisational change, consultation and workforce transformation.

You will coach managers to improve their confidence and capability, support attendance and wellbeing initiatives, and use workforce data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.

You will also lead and contribute to workforce projects, policy implementation, audits, reporting and service improvement initiatives. The role includes providing day-to-day professional guidance, work allocation and operational support to the HR Advisor and Recruitment & Compliance Officer, helping maintain a responsive and resilient Workforce Team.

You will work closely with the Head of Workforce, escalating complex or high-risk matters appropriately and contributing to the delivery of agreed workforce priorities.

Job description

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Workforce Advice and Business Partnering

• Provide proactive, professional HR and workforce advice to managers across BHNC, supporting effective people management and the consistent application of employment policies, procedures and best practice.
• Build effective working relationships with managers, PCN leads and colleagues, acting as a trusted source of advice on workforce matters and supporting the delivery of organisational priorities.
• Interpret and advise on employment legislation, HR policies and procedures, helping managers understand their responsibilities and make fair, informed and timely decisions.
• Support managers to resolve workforce issues at an early stage, promoting informal resolution where appropriate and ensuring matters are managed consistently and sensitively.

Employee Relations and Case Management

• Manage and support a varied caseload of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, conduct, dignity at work, attendance, flexible working and statutory leave cases.
• Provide advice and practical support throughout the employee relations process, including case planning, investigation arrangements, preparation of documentation, formal meetings, hearings and appeals.
• Support managers with workplace investigations, ensuring that appropriate processes are followed, relevant evidence is considered and cases are handled fairly, confidentially and in a timely manner.
• Identify complex, sensitive or high-risk cases and escalate these to the Head of Workforce where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case records, monitor progress and contribute to reporting on employee relations activity, themes and emerging risks.

Attendance, Wellbeing and Performance

• Advise managers on attendance management, sickness absence, return-to-work processes and the appropriate handling of ongoing attendance concerns.
• Support managers to address performance and conduct issues fairly, identifying appropriate interventions and supporting improvement where possible.
• Promote staff wellbeing and a supportive working environment, contributing to initiatives that help improve attendance, engagement and staff experience.
• Provide guidance on relevant policies and procedures to ensure that individual circumstances are considered appropriately and decisions are applied consistently.

Management Development and Organisational Change

• Coach and support managers to develop their confidence and capability in handling day-to-day workforce matters and employee relations cases.
• Contribute to manager training, guidance materials, toolkits and other resources that strengthen people management practice.
• Support organisational change and workforce transformation, including restructures, consultation, redeployment and changes to roles or working arrangements.
• Advise managers on appropriate processes and documentation, helping ensure that consultation and change activities are managed fairly and in line with organisational policies.

Workforce Planning, Data and Improvement

• Support workforce planning by gathering, reviewing and interpreting workforce information to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare workforce reports and provide insight to support decision-making, service planning and the delivery of agreed workforce priorities.
• Lead or contribute to workforce projects, policy implementation, audits and service improvement initiatives.
• Help identify opportunities to improve HR processes, strengthen compliance and deliver a responsive, efficient and effective Workforce service.
• Contribute to the development, review and implementation of workforce policies and procedures, working with the Head of Workforce as required.

Professional Leadership and Team Coordination

• Provide day-to-day professional leadership, coaching and technical guidance to the HR Advisor and Recruitment & Compliance Officer.
• Support the coordination and allocation of work within the Workforce Team, helping to manage priorities, maintain service continuity and ensure timely delivery of activities.
• Share knowledge and promote consistent working practices, supporting colleagues to develop their skills and confidence.
• Work closely with the Head of Workforce to deliver agreed objectives, provide updates on casework and projects, and escalate significant risks or complex matters appropriately.
• Contribute to effective governance, confidentiality, accurate record-keeping and compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with managers, GP practices, PCNs and relevant healthcare partners to support workforce priorities across BHNC.
• Promote a professional, fair, inclusive and solution-focused approach to people management.
• Undertake travel between PCN sites as required to provide effective workforce support across the organisation.

BHNC is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for all applicants. Reasonable adjustments will be considered throughout the recruitment process and during employment in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

About us

Bexley Health Neighbourhood Care (BHNC) is a GP Federation committed to strengthening general practice and improving the health and wellbeing of local communities. We support 19 GP practices and four Primary Care Networks (PCNs), working collaboratively with Erith Hospital, Queen Marys Urgent Treatment Centre and wider healthcare partners to improve services for over 260,000 residents.

Our organisation values collaboration, shared expertise and continuous improvement. We work together to support member practices and PCNs as they respond to the changing needs of the NHS and strive to deliver high-quality patient care.

As part of the Workforce Team, you will have the opportunity to build trusted relationships with managers and leaders, influence positive people management practices and contribute to meaningful workforce improvements. You will work alongside colleagues who value professionalism, fairness, inclusion and a practical, supportive approach to solving challenges.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive HR professional who enjoys working collaboratively, developing others and helping organisations create positive and effective working environments.