Associate HR Business Partner (FTC – 31/03/2026) | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 11 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £38,682 - £46,580 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 11 December 2025 |
| Location: | Reading, RG30 4EJ |
| Company: | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7610217/371-CS319-A |
Summary
Band 6 AFC - Associate HR Business Partner based at Prospect Park Hospital–Reading, support our mental health inpatient operation.Fixed term contract until 31stMarch 2026.
We are nowseekingaCIPD qualified, experienced HR practitioner tojoin our team to support in the Adults Mental Health division.
We are looking forsomeone who has a generalist HR background, particularlyemployee relationsas you will beworking closely withthe HRAdvisor andoverseeingthe full range of the employee relations casework within the Mental Health Services Division.It is essential that youare abletodemonstrateyour experience of advisingmanagersoncomplex employee relations casework up to andincluding dismissal, HRpoliciesand organisational change.
This role will provide opportunities to work more strategically in supportingyourservices with workforce planning, change management and transformation, engagement and building leadership capability.
As a Trust we are big on staff development and “grow your own” and can in return offer you a wealth ofboth inhouse and external development opportunities including the opportunity to doAffinaTeam Coaching.
You will report to the mental health services people business partner and work in partnership with the inpatient’s leadership teamsupporting the delivery of employee relations casework and the development of the inpatient team’s knowledge,capabilityand confidence in managing their teams HR processes.
• Provideprofessional HR advice to all levels of managers across the full range of employee relations issues
• Oversight and supervisionofband 5HR Advisor
• Build andmaintaincredible relationships with Service Managers within the divisionensuring complex or sensitive information is communicated in a confident way
• Act as a point of contact for managers and staff seeking advice on various policies, analysingqueries to offer solutions
• Advise managers on recruitment processes, providing advice on the writing of job descriptions and person specifications
• Work closely withyourPeople Business Partner to ensure thattheservices within your division are delivering their “people priorities”.
Interview will be held on 1st Dec 2025
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.
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
The “must haves” for this role:
• Degree or equivalent experience
• Working towards or holding a CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience in a generalist HR role)
• Experience working in a generalist HRrole withEmployee Relations in a multi-skilled professional and unionised environment
• Ability to travel to multiple sites with minimal impact on daily productivity
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.
We’recommitted to equal opportunities and welcome 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 welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Pleasedon’thesitate tocontact:Fran Langanonfrancisco.langan@berkshire.nhs.uk orMike Thomas onmike.thomas@berkshire.nhs.ukwho’llbe delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.
This advert closes on Thursday 20 Nov 2025
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