Senior HR Business Partner

Lead Employee Relations with impact at Cafcass

At Cafcass, our work supports children and families at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives, and the experience and support we provide for colleagues is central to how well we deliver that purpose. This is an exciting time to join a HR function that is continuing to evolve, strengthen and improve how it supports leaders, colleagues and services across the organisation.

We are looking for an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to join our HR Business Partnering team, with a clear focus on Employee Relations, complex casework, policy development, leadership support and continuous improvement. This is a senior role for someone who can provide confident, credible and pragmatic HR leadership across a complex organisation.

About the role

As Senior HR Business Partner, you will be a senior member of the HR function, working closely with the other Senior HR Business Partners, Head of HR Business Partnering and the Chief People Officer to provide professional advice, sound leadership and HR support aligned to Cafcass’ strategic plan and people priorities.

You will provide strategic interface between senior leaders, operational managers and HR colleagues, offering consistently high-quality Employee Relations advice, guidance and support. You will coach, support and mentor leaders through complex HR issues and casework, including dismissal and appeal hearings, employment tribunal preparation and organisational change activity.

This role will also play a key part in overseeing and improving ER case management across Cafcass, supporting the coordination and, monitoring of cases, developing management reporting, identifying trends and risks, and helping strengthen the confidence and capability of leaders to manage people issues effectively.

What you will be doing

• Provide expert HR advice and guidance on complex Employee Relations matters, formal procedures, organisational change and people management issues.
• Oversee and facilitate ER case management across the organisation, coordinating and monitoring cases so that they progress in line with policy and timescales.
• Develop weekly ER progress reporting and analysis, providing clear recommendations on hotspots, risks, trends and areas for improvement to support senior leadership discussions.
• Coach, support and mentor senior leaders in the application of HR policies and practices, including complex casework, dismissal and appeal hearings, and employment tribunal matters where required.
• Provide professional leadership, development, challenge, motivation and coaching to HR colleagues, including HR Officers and others within the HR Business Partnering service.
• Lead on policy development with a specific focus on Employee Relations, working with Senior HR Business Partners, HR leadership colleagues and trade unions to support timely policy change and implementation.
• Support the Head of HR Business Partnering with employment tribunal claim processes, liaison with employment lawyers and the development of ER systems that improve the efficiency of ER processes.
• Work with Organisational Development colleagues to support leadership upskilling initiatives that improve managers’ confidence and competence in handling people matters.
• Use HR data, insight and management information to inform planning, challenge areas for improvement and support better decision-making.
• Contribute to the development of a high-performing, responsive and innovative HR function that supports Cafcass’ workforce and future organisational resilience.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

It is anticipated the selection process will involve at least two selection stages.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.