Assistant HR Business Partner

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a role as an Assistant HR Business Partner within Corporate Workforce and OD. This is a fast-paced role, working in a team with a wide and varied portfolio.

As an Assistant HR Business Partner within the Corporate Workforce team, you will provide comprehensive support for employee relations matters and strategic aspects of identifying proactive HR interventions to a wide range of services. You will also have the opportunity to shape the organisational position for people practices through the Trust-wide projects led by the team.

Corporate areas supported by the team are across a wide spectrum of roles, in innovative and influential areas including Research, Sustainability and Digital and include medical and clinical staff and VSMs whose remit is driving the organisation forwards, in line with the People Plan and Trust objectives.

You will form strong partnerships with managers and support in developing effective solutions in response to a rapidly evolving workforce agenda, in order to improve staff and patient experience.

Main duties of the job

To excel in this role, you must be someone who thrives in a high performance, fast paced working environment. You will have experience of dealing with HR issues across all aspects of employment relations and you will need excellent interpersonal skills as you will be liaising with a wide range of people including HR colleagues, Trade Union representatives, senior managers and staff.

You will be able to adapt your approach in line with different manager requirements and experience and to confidently work with senior management teams as an HR partner.

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, supported by strong approaches to time management and organisation. You will be computer literate with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise work on a daily basis. You will also be a flexible and enthusiastic team player.

You will also provide assurance to the HR Managers and Business Partners that employee relations case work is appropriately managed, highlighting risks and identifying actions to address. You will support investigations, hearings and panels, providing advice and guidance, coaching where appropriate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place. This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.

You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.

All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations.

While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment.

If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

Essential

Essential

• An understanding of the national NHS agenda and the Human Resource contribution at both a strategic and operational level.
• Detailed understanding of Employment Law, current HR Practice and medical employment issues.
• An understanding of the principles of change management.
• High level of general education to degree level or equivalent.
• Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management or equivalent relevant professional qualification.
• Demonstrate through CPD, employment law updates and various other training courses an up- to-date knowledge of HR practices and evidence to continuous personal and professional development in current role.
• Operational experience, gained across a range of HR specialties in a progressive HR function.
• Supervisory experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and personal credibility, with the ability to quickly gain the confidence of and build relationships with others, including managers, clinicians and staff.
• Persuasion and influencing skills – ability to present ideas and proposals effectively.
• Analytical & Decision Making skills – ability to explore, evaluate and interpret information and options and make decisions and recommendations based on an analysis of options.
• Achievement focused – ability to set targets and get things done to achieve continuous improvement.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Medical Staffing employment issues
• Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Agenda for Change Job Evaluation training
• Workforce Planning expertise
• Experience of Trade Union consultation and negotiation.