Overview

Are you an HR leader ready for your next challenge who thrives on developing teams and inspiring others? We’re looking for an experienced people professional with proven management skills to join us as our HR Lead in Business Partnering. In this senior role, you’ll use your HR expertise to lead, develop and support a strong, motivated team, helping them succeed in delivering excellent services across our Trust.

This is a full-time role, based at Upton Hospital. We are happy to consider part-time applications. It’s offered on a fixed-term basis initially, with a view to becoming permanent. We offer hybrid working with plenty of opportunity to work from home. You’ll need flexibility on hours and ability to travel to sites across Berkshire to support divisional needs.

Join our ‘Outstanding’ Trust - recognised for our supportive culture where staff feel valued.

Responsibilities

• Leading, developing and supporting our People Business Partners and their teams to provide consistent, high-quality HR support
• Partnering with divisional directors and managers to build and deliver effective workforce plans aligned to service needs
• Overseeing key people priorities including workforce planning, recruitment, retention, wellbeing, engagement and staff development
• Embedding HR policies, systems and procedures to ensure fairness, consistency and best practice across divisions
• Providing expert HR advice on complex and sensitive issues, and deputising for the Deputy Director of People when required
• Using workforce analytics and insight to inform decision-making and measure success against agreed objectives
• Driving staff engagement initiatives and ensuring divisions have strong action plans in response to surveys and feedback
• Building positive working relationships with colleagues, staff, and trade unions to foster a culture of collaboration and trust
• Supporting change management programmes and advising on workforce transformation and organisational development initiatives

Requirements / Must haves

• Masters level CIPD qualification or equivalent experience
• Substantial experience of leading a multidisciplinary HR team
• Significant experience of role-modelling and coaching an operational HR team to ensure their development and the delivery of objectives

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

About Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Benefits

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Equality and inclusion

We strongly encourage applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We have identified that this is a role where we have underrepresentation of ethnically diverse colleagues. As part of our commitment to inclusion and Unity Against Racism we offer guaranteed interviews to candidates who meet the essential criteria and identify as: Asian or Asian British, Black or Black British, Mixed and ‘Other’ Ethnic Groups.

How to apply and contact

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please call Tracey Sleggon on 07824 821844 or email tracey.slegg@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help. Please note, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Interview will be held on 1st October 2025.

This advert closes on Friday 19 Sep 2025.