HR Lead
Employer: Chiltern Music Therapy
Location: Remote - UK based. Two team days per year in London / South East or online.
Working hours: Minimum 12 up to 16 hours per week. Can be worked flexibly but there are some essential meetings on a Monday.
Salary: £35,000-£38,000 full-time equivalent, depending on experience. This salary is in line with our organisational pay structure
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Role overview
This HR Lead role will support a unique, employee-owned, self-managed organisation. You'll play a key part in ensuring the smooth running of HR practices, advising on employee relations, and contributing to a positive, self-directed work environment.
As a self-managed organisation HR is distributed between a number of different roles. You will be working alongside our Organisational Development Lead, Training & Development Lead, Compliance Lead, HR Support, Onboarding/Offboarding Lead, Team Companion and the leadership team.
As this is a new developing role, the responsibilities listed in the Job Description are areas where Chiltern has identified HR expertise is needed at this current point in time. This gives the role holder the opportunity to further develop and shape this area of our business.
Key duties include advising on employee relations, supporting self-managed teams, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and employee ownership, and you'll also work closely with individuals to ensure HR policies are adhered to, individuals feel empowered and engaged and that the organisation's culture aligns with its values in the delivery of HR practices.
Accountabilities
Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
1. HR Strategy & Organisational Development
Collaborate with the leadership team to drive the organisation’s People Management Strategy
Devise and deliver HR projects to improve business efficiency and effectiveness
Lead succession planning initiatives across the organisation
Horizon scan for emerging HR practices and employment law developments
2. HR Policy, Compliance & Risk Management
Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and the Employee Handbook to ensure legal compliance
Ensure compliance with UK employment law across all HR functions
Lead on:
Third Party Risk Policy
Equality Impact Assessment Policy
Stakeholder Engagement Policy (ensuring service user perspectives are integrated)
Monitor adherence to internal policies, including whistleblowing, grievances, and dignity at work
Audit EDI data bi-annually and create strategies to promote diversity and inclusion
3. Employee Relations & Case Management
Providing advice and leading on the process for :
Grievances
Disciplinaries
Bullying, harassment, and capability issues
Redeployment and redundancy
Lead meetings prior to disciplinary sanctions in collaboration with our HR administrator
Mediate disputes and facilitate conflict resolution within the context of HR discussions
4. Compensation and Benefits
Developing and maintaining salary structures
Conducting salary benchmarking and market analysis
Overseeing annual salary reviews
Ensuring compliance with pay equity laws
5. Recruitment, Onboarding & Talent Management
Oversee advertising and attraction strategies
Support onboarding processes to aid efficiency
Review terms and conditions, contracts, and engage with external advisors as needed
6. Attendance & Performance Management
Manage absence cases including statutory and contractual entitlements
Support the leadership team with performance and attendance-related challenges
7. Systems & Process Improvement
Maintain and enhance HR systems, ensuring lean processes and the integration of e-systems
Regularly review and improve the Staff Portal alongside our Training & Development Lead
8. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
Stay updated on EDI legislation and best practice
Support the organisation in being legally compliant, culturally relevant, and innovative in its EDI approach
Lead data audits and present an equal opportunities review every two years
9. Professional Development & Networking
Engage with local HR support networks, including CIPD and ACAS
Maintain continuous professional development (CPD)
Be an active member of Social Enterprise UK HSC HR group and attend relevant meetings
Person specification
We are looking for an efficient, well-organised, friendly person to join the team with the following qualities:
CIPD qualified or equivalent professional HR qualification (Level 5 or above)
Experience in a generalist HR role, including employee relations, policy development, and HR project delivery.
Experience working on or leading Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across all levels
Confident facilitator and leader of sensitive meetings and discussions, with a culture of care
As this is a hands on role, a high level of organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously is needed
Commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive work environment
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, with the ability to adjust to changing priorities and respond effectively to new or unforeseen challenges.
Job benefits
A key benefit in working for Chiltern is being a part of a forward thinking employee owned team, where our culture celebrates and values the voice of each individual.
Staff members benefit from a flexible working environment, creating a personal schedule based around the requirements of the role.
Ultimately, at the heart of what we do is our value of ‘care’, which is felt strongly across the team.
Additional benefits include:
Flexible working
32 Days (FTE) per annum annual leave allowance (including bank holidays)
High street discount shopping portal
EAP package - access to confidential support and wellbeing services
About Chiltern Music Therapy
Chiltern is an award-winning social enterprise that provides music therapy, community music services and training to over 1700 people of all ages and many different needs across England each year. Formed in 2011 from a desire to change how music therapy was offered in the UK, we hold accessibility and financial inclusivity at our heart, working across health, education, social care and community settings.
Proud to be a self-managed and employee-owned organisation, we strive to create a world where music therapy is the transformative thread in the lives of the children and adults we support. At Chiltern we recognise the different strengths within our team. We provide an environment where people can take charge of the work they do and make informed decisions using professional judgement and life experience, alongside peer support. We’re welcoming, inclusive, and have worked hard to create a positive environment that we are proud of.
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