Head of People and Culture: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We are pleased to be recruiting a Head of People & Culture (Band 8b) to act as the senior strategic people partner for our Community & Specialist Services Care Group, alongside support to a number of corporate services. This is a key leadership role within People & Culture, working day-to-day with the Care Group Director while remaining line managed within the People Partnering team.

The successful postholder will build strong, influential relationships with operational leaders across the services they support, as well as colleagues across People & Culture. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Care Group’s strategy and the Trust’s People Plan providing informed, pragmatic advice on organisational change, workforce planning, staff engagement, and learning and organisational development.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward thinking, collaborative People function committed to achieving our ambition of being a diverse, inclusive and great place to work.

You will bring a strong proven track record of improving performance against key people metrics and delivering solutions to complex workforce challenges. You will be credible, confident and able to quickly build trust with senior stakeholders, coaching, influencing and supporting them to deliver their strategic objectives.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

A relevant people professional or management qualification to master’s level (or equivalent experience).

Chartered CIPD membership

Significant senior level experience in a generalist HR role within a complex organisation.

Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to shape strategic thinking.

Expertise across the full People & Culture portfolio, including organisational change and employee relations.

Proven record of effective partnership working and relationships with key stakeholders including P&C, Care Group, Staff Side, ICS.

A commitment to modelling and promoting our Trust values.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (MCIPD).
• Masters’ qualification experience in a relevant management subject or demonstrable equivalent experience

Desirable

• Project management qualification
• Workforce planning qualification
• Coaching qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant relevant experience within an HR setting.
• Experience of working at a senior level, presenting proposals, developing strategy, representing the organisation externally and articulating data.
• Experience of working in a complex unionised environment.
• Significant experience of planning and supporting the delivery of transformation and change.
• Experience of project management.
• People Planning
• Proven experience of delivering on objectives
• Experienced in the full range of employee relation matters
• Organisational development experience.
• Understanding of agenda for change terms and conditions including medical terms and conditions

Knowledge

Essential

• Relevant and up to date knowledge of Employment Law.
• Relevant and up to date knowledge of the NHS and Social care agenda including national, regional and local agendas
• Contemporary knowledge of Human Resource, Learning and Development and Organisational Development matters impacting work.
• Sound understanding of business and service delivery scenarios to develop effective workforce strategy.

Skills

Essential

• High level communication written and verbal skills that can be adapted in accordance with the environment and needs of the audience.
• Ability to collate, interpret and present data.
• Ability to coach staff and managers.
• Demonstrable leadership skills.
• Ability to be organised, work autonomously and be accountable for meeting targets and deadlines.
• Stakeholder management.
• Line management and Supervision.
• Microsoft office skills
• Ability to use VDU and keyboards

Closing Date: 2 September 2026