Job Description:

HR Advisor

A local authority is looking for an experienced HR Advisor to provide specialist HR advice and support to managers, with a particular focus on managing complex and long-term sickness absence cases.

The successful candidate will play a key role in reducing the existing sickness absence backlog, working closely with managers and employees to progress cases and support employees in returning to work as soon as possible.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional with strong employee relations experience and excellent organisational and relationship management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist HR advice and guidance to line managers on complex employee relations matters.
• Take a lead role in managing long-term and complex sickness absence cases.
• Work directly with managers to address and reduce the legacy sickness absence backlog.
• Support managers in managing legacy employee relations cases and progressing them appropriately.
• Advise on phased returns, reasonable adjustments, ill-health capability and attendance management.
• Support employees to return to work as soon as reasonably possible.
• Provide advice on a wider range of ER matters, including capability, disciplinary and grievance cases.
• Ensure HR advice is compliant with employment legislation and relevant policies and procedures.
• Coach and support managers to confidently manage employee relations issues.
• Attend formal hearings and appeals where required.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case management records.
• Work effectively with Trade Union representatives and other key stakeholders.
• Build strong working relationships with managers, employees and colleagues across the organisation.
• Contribute to improvements in HR processes, policies and guidance.

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant proven experience working as an HR Advisor or HR Business Partner.
• Strong and demonstrable experience managing complex and long-term sickness absence cases.
• Experience managing a broad range of employee relations casework.
• Excellent knowledge of employment legislation and HR policies and procedures.
• Experience advising and coaching managers on complex HR matters.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a high volume of cases and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
• Experience working with Trade Unions would be advantageous.
• CIPD qualification or relevant professional HR experience is desirable.
• Previous local authority or public sector experience would be advantageous.

Key Requirement

Significant experience managing complex sickness absence and long-term absence cases is essential for this role.