Employee Relations Specialist (PO4)
| Company: | Wax Recruitment Ltd |
|---|---|
| Salary: | from £29 an hour |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | London, N1 1XR |
| Working pattern: | Hybrid - 2 days remote |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Posting date: | 5 Nov 2026 |
| Closing date: | 5 Dec 2026 |
Summary
title: Employee Relations Specialist (PO4)
Job Category: Human Resources
Location: 222 Upper Street, London, Islington, N1 1XR, London Borough of Islington
Hours per week: 35
Salary £29.00 per hour
One day in the office is the minimum requirement; however, additional office attendance may be required depending on the needs of the service.
Our Ambition
We are determined to make Islington fairer by creating a place where everyone, regardless of background, has the opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy a good quality of life.
We are committed to becoming the best council in the country, with every employee understanding their role and feeling inspired, focused, and supported to perform at their best.
Our goal is to build an organisation where employees feel valued, empowered, and motivated to help achieve our objectives while delivering outstanding services to residents.
Our Values and Behaviours
"Be Islington" sets the standard for all employees and new recruits.
Employees are expected to demonstrate the CARE values:
Collaborative
Ambitious
Resourceful
Empowering
These behaviours support our vision of working together to create a fairer borough.
Our Commitment to Challenging Inequality
We are committed to tackling:
Inequality
Racism
Injustice
We aim to create a workplace that is:
Free from discrimination
Free from racism
Free from inequality
Inclusive and supportive for all staff
We achieve this by:
Ensuring our workforce reflects the diversity of our residents.
Creating equitable working environments and diverse teams.
Understanding residents' needs to design services that tackle inequality.
Appreciating and valuing individual differences.
Considering issues from multiple cultural perspectives.
Supporting employees with long-term health conditions and disabilities.
Promoting flexible working arrangements wherever possible.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Relations Advice and Support
Provide high-quality professional HR advice and guidance to senior managers on complex employee relations issues affecting individuals and groups.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with managers and key stakeholders.
Support managers in achieving positive employee relations outcomes.
Advise managers on the application of council policies, procedures, pay, and conditions of service.
Provide guidance on legal requirements and HR best practice.
Case Management
Manage and support casework involving:
Disciplinary matters
Capability issues
Attendance and absence management
Grievances
Other complex employee relations matters
Early Intervention
Support managers in addressing employee relations issues informally before formal procedures become necessary.
Promote effective people management practices across the organisation.
Trade Union Relations
Develop and maintain productive relationships with trade union representatives.
Facilitate constructive dialogue between management, employees, and unions.
Support service development, organisational change, conflict resolution, and workplace improvement.
Hearings and Appeals
Provide professional advice and support during formal hearings and appeals.
Review cases and ensure compliance with policy and employment legislation.
Advise on dismissal appeals and other complex employment matters.
Support Employment Tribunal cases in liaison with legal colleagues.
Settlement Agreements
Prepare settlement agreement documentation following authorised requests.
Undertake follow-up actions associated with settlement cases.
Change Management
Lead and support organisational change initiatives, including:
Restructures
Redundancies
TUPE transfers
Redeployment exercises
Responsibilities include:
Managing HR projects
Identifying and mitigating risks
Conducting due diligence activities
Assessing employment liabilities
Ensuring change programmes are delivered effectively
HR Information and Reporting
Ensure HR records are accurate, up to date, and compliant.
Maintain high-quality HR management information (MI).
Support organisational workforce planning requirements.
Manager Coaching and Development
Coach and develop line managers in employee relations best practice.
Equip managers with skills to handle employee relations matters confidently.
Reduce dependency on formal HR intervention through knowledge transfer.
Continuous Improvement
Monitor trends and emerging issues in employee relations casework.
Identify opportunities for improving HR policies, procedures, and working practices.
Develop tools, templates, and guidance to support managers.
Promote consistency and best practice across the organisation.
Resources and Financial Management
Ensure effective financial management and cost control.
Maximise value for money across all activities.
Manage resources efficiently in response to changing priorities and service demands.
Ensure resources are deployed effectively to achieve organisational objectives.
Compliance
Ensure compliance with:
Employment legislation
GDPR requirements
Health and Safety regulations
Internal policies and procedures
Responsibilities include:
Identifying risks and opportunities
Escalating issues where appropriate
Maintaining professional and legal standards
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
Criteria Assessment MethodCIPD qualification or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience Application / Interview
Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) Application / Interview
Essential Experience
Criteria Assessment MethodExperience advising on restructures, redundancies, TUPE and redeployment processes Application / Interview
Experience working within a unionised environment and building positive relationships with trade unions Application / Interview
Experience providing high-quality HR advice on complex employment relations issues Application / Interview
Essential Skills and Knowledge
Criteria Assessment MethodGood knowledge of employment legislation and its practical application Application / Interview
Knowledge of employee relations procedures and Employment Tribunal processes
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