Senior People Business Partner - NW Based

About the Role

The Senior People Business Partner will be responsible for effective business partnering and advisory provision of sustainable business focused workforce solutions to support effective employee relations and stakeholder relationships across the business.  The postholder will lead on a day-to-day basis and work collaboratively with the People Advisers and Policy, Compliance and Improvement Lead to provide an effective people service managing key aspects of the HR employee lifecycle activity and support both leaders and employees across the business.  The postholder will be instrumental in driving continuous improvements to enhance performance, culture and engagement aligned to AFG’s business strategy. 

The postholder will also oversee the People Policy, Compliance and Improvement Lead on the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of People policies, ensuring the organisation maintains robust compliance with employment legislation, governance requirements, and best practice. The role will drive policy modernisation, strengthen HR frameworks, and ensure consistent, fair, and legally compliant People processes across all services.

Reporting to the People Manager (Group), the postholder will receive direction, guidance, coaching and support to ensure alignment with the People & OD Strategy and the operational needs of the People Team. The role will contribute to delivering a high-quality, customer-focused People & Organisational Development service by providing expert advice, enabling leaders to confidently manage people-related matters, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement in organisational performance.  The postholder will work collaboratively with the People Core Services team to ensure effective and efficient service to our internal customers.

Dimensions

• 3 Direct Reports
• x1 People Compliance & Improvement Lead, x2 People Advisors

   

Principal Accountabilities

• Support the People Manager (Group) in the definition, planning, delivery, and dissemination of aims, objectives and strategic direction for our People & OD Strategy and Annual Business Plans.
• Provide expert leadership, oversight and guidance to our People Adviser team and Policy & Compliance Lead.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team, providing expert advice, coaching, mentoring, guidance, and support in all aspects of our people agenda and the delivery of strategic business objectives.
• To support and collaborate with the People Core Services Team in the definition, delivery and governance of our transactional people support activities. This will include the effective management of our people systems, processes, workflows and core controls to ensure that a professional, responsive and compliant service is consistently delivered.
• To provide expert leadership, oversight and guidance to our HR Advisors in the delivery of advice, support and procedural guidance to operational managers in the delivery of people practices, the management of employee relations casework.
• To deliver a comprehensive and professional people partnering approach to senior managers, managers and employees ensuring high standards of advice and performance.
• To provide representation of the People & OD function on a range of governance groups, ensuring that the wider team re kept informed on relevant actions, updates or matters arising.
• To lead on the management of complex employee relations cases of processes.
• To develop collaborative relationships with the ICT Team ensuring continuous improvement, quality and compliance to our people systems, workflows and data.
• To work with the People Manager (Group) to manage and provide corporate oversight of any employment litigation, providing assurance to the Director of People, Culture & Communications and the Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive on the effective handling of such claims. This will include the tendering of employment advice and the management of the relationships with legal advisors, ensuring value for money and high-quality service.
• Responsible for ensuring that the organisation is both aware and prepared for changes in legislation that affects employment practices, taking the necessary action and to raise awareness with key stakeholders.
• Leading on any changes to be embedded in policy, processes and systems that arise as a result of changes in legislation, including working with Learning & OD colleagues to implement and embed training & development to managers as required.
• To work with the People Manager (Group) to lead in the delivery of corporate change programmes – this may include organisational restructures / change processes, TUPE, mergers, or acquisitions.
• To lead and oversee the review and the development of all HR policies ensuring they are in line with the policy review cycle.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, or the assessment of risk, on complex employee relations issues, accessing external professional advice as and when necessary.
• Support organisational internal audit processes as required.
• To support the Employee Experience Manager, People Manager (Group) and Head of People & Payroll in nurturing of relationships and the management of activities associated with our trade unions, AFG’s Staff Forum, or any elected employee councils.
• Operating within organisational frameworks and operating procedures at all times identifying risks and escalating where appropriate to the Head of People & Payroll.
• As a people professional, you will be expected to maintain your professional knowledge and competence within this field. You will influence and develop AFG policy, procedure, practice, information resources and communications on employee experience related activities.

Person Specification - please only apply if you meet the below criteria:

Experience

• Significant experience of HR business partnering in a fast-paced environment
• Significant experience of providing HR advice and managing complex employee relations cases
• Experience in employee/industrial relations.
• Managed multiple tasks and prioritised workload to match objectives.
• Experience of practical problem solving and solving complex HR problems.
• Experience of leading and managing a team, supporting them to be the best they can be.
• Experience of working as part of a team to meet shared goals.
• Experience of managing TUPE transfers both in and out of organisations.
• Experience of analysing people related organisational information and developing strategies to ensure the delivery of people metrics and continuous improvement.
• Experience of managing supplier contract relationships.

Skills & Knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of UK employment legislation
• Excellent decision-making skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to liaise effectively with employees and managers at all levels of the organisation and build effective partnering relationships.
• Able to influence, negotiate and persuade others.
• Able to analyse and resolve problems speedily and effectively.
• The capacity to prioritise many different tasks simultaneously, including the ability to plan and organise workload effectively, both of self and others, delegating where appropriate and successfully meeting tight deadlines

Values & Attitudes

• Empathetic approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to get things done in co-operation with others, and as part of a team.
• Personal leadership qualities including enthusiasm, tenacity, flexibility, patience, and a positive, solution-focused outlook.
• The ability to relate to and understand the needs of staff and the emotional resilience to deal with difficult and distressing situations.
• Ability to work under pressure at times and effective at working to deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and to use own initiative with appropriate.
• Ability to use discretion.
• Embraces change, viewing it as an opportunity to learn and develop
• Confident to lead the way - is able to inspire others with their passion and enthusiasm.
• Is solution focused and has a “can do attitude”.
• Is people focused, has strong interpersonal skills and encourages others to speak up.
• Takes personal responsibility and holds others to account

   

  Qualifications & Training

• CIPD Level 5 and willing to work towards Level 7

We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition.

We’re proud to have been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years.

We have a vision to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create a personalised, outcome-focused plans to achieve their aspirations.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team.  If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make.  We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you!

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.