People and OD Advisor

Job Summary

Supporting the Deputy People and OD Lead you will work in partnership with the operational managers and their teams, providing operational advice on people and OD matters in line with the needs of the business. You will be forward thinking, operationally minded and informed by data using HRIS and workforce information systems to generate insight, monitor trends and support evidence-based decision making across the organisation. You will take shared accountability under the direction of the Head of People Services for the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] people strategy, providing guidance and operational advice on a range of matters to reach business focussed solutions. This will include operational advice and guidance relating to terms and conditions, absence, discipline, grievance, harassment and bullying, organisational change and ensuring consistent application of employment law.

Main Duties of the Job

• To provide professional People and OD Support and advice to the organisation on a range of people and OD issues, to include but not limited to, attendance/absence management, disciplinary and grievance matters, performance issues, policy interpretation and advice, organisational change, and development, bullying and harassment, employment legislation matters, retention, maternity, paternity and parental leave matters, redeployment, probationary periods, and flexible working.

About Us

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] (QEF) is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GHNT), based in the North East of England. We provide a range of non-clinical services to GHNT and other NHS organisations. Our services include: estates, facilities services, procurement, medical engineering and devices, endoscopy decontamination and sterile services, transport, out-patient pharmacy, and prevention & management of violence & aggression training (PMVA). In addition we provide consultancy services, advising clients on all aspects of establishing a subsidiary company within an NHS body to the provision of VAT compliance advice. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] work to their own Terms and Conditions and these are not the same as Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Terms and Conditions. This is not an Agenda for Change Pay Rate. We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement.

Details

• Date posted: 03 May 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £39,044 a year
• Contract: Fixed term (6 months)
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
• Reference number: 297-QEF-7983314
• Job locations: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Spire House, Spire Road, Washington, NE37 3ES

Job Responsibilities

Communication: Required to develop effective working relationships with colleagues throughout the organisation at all levels. Required to regularly communicate highly sensitive and contentious information effectively in writing and verbally with individuals (i.e., during disciplinary investigations or personal sickness meetings). Work in partnership to develop and maintain effective relationships with staff side representatives including actively demonstrating an inclusive and consultative approach when dealing with all staff. Policy & Organisational Development: To support the Head of People Services and Deputy People and OD Lead as required with organisational and group level projects and people policies, ensuring that they represent best practice, meet all appropriate employment legislation, drive improvements and effective people practices. Employee Relations: Interpret regulations, standards, employment legislation and case law, providing effective operational advice and guidance. To support all Employee Relations case work and associated panels, providing guidance and support and being responsible for ensuring the process is correctly administered. HRIS, Workforce Metrics and Insight: Maintain and utilise HRIS / workforce systems (e.g. ESR, rostering, absence and recruitment systems) to ensure data quality and accurate people records. Produce regular workforce dashboards and reports covering key metrics such as sickness absence, turnover, vacancy rates, appraisal compliance, training compliance and workforce trends. Judgement and analysis: Provide advice and support to managers on a wide range of complex or sensitive issues, working within policies and procedures. Making judgements on a case-by-case basis. Leadership: Use initiative, self-motivation and self-direction, to manage own workloads, projects and demands to ensure that work is delivered on time and meets quality and assurance standards. Continually developing your professional knowledge and skills by keeping up to date with external trends and best practice in the areas of expertise and people more broadly.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential: CIPD L5 qualified or working towards or demonstrable professional experience. Evidence of continued professional development.

Experience

Essential: Previous experience in operational People and OD work (i.e., investigations, 1:1 staff meetings, working with union representatives). Previous experience of working in a customer service or administrative environment. Experience/knowledge of utilising data to achieve success. Desirable: Experience of working in an NHS environment. Use of OD interventions/models and theories.

Knowledge

Essential: Specialist knowledge of HR policies and procedures and associated employment law. Ability to build effective and trusting business partnering relationships. Excellent emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. Up-to-date knowledge of employment law and case law. Strong communication skills to establish good working relationships with leaders, colleagues and external organisations. Able to use initiative, multi task and prioritise diverse workload and work to deadlines. Excellent verbal, numerical and critical reasoning skills. Planning and organisational skills with a flexible and adaptable approach to meet challenging deadlines, maintaining a positive attitude. Standard keyboard skills and highly developed IT skills, proficient use of MS Office packages including manipulating data, developing presentations and preparing high standard documents and reports. Ability to produce work that is consistently high quality, free from errors and keeps the Group 'safe'. Ability to work autonomously on cases and projects. Ability to stay calm in potentially emotionally charged environments.

Additional Information

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], Spire House, Spire Road, Washington, NE37 3ES

Employer's website: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Employer Contact Details

For questions about the job, contact: Deputy People & OD Lead, Danielle Burke - [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal], [contact hidden]