Employee Relations & People Partner

Employee Relations & People Partner
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent (35 hours per week)

Be the person managers rely on and the difference colleagues can feel

At BCHG, we re a people-first organisation supporting around 250 colleagues across housing, care and supported housing. That means our People team isn t removed from the business, we re visible, trusted and genuinely make a difference every day.

We re now looking for an experienced, organised and values-led Employee Relations & People Partner to join the team. This is a role where you ll take real ownership of a busy and varied caseload, working closely with managers to get things right, fairly, consistently and with the right balance of challenge and support.

You ll be joining us at an exciting time, as we deliver our new People & Culture Strategy, with a strong focus on colleague experience, manager capability and doing the basics well.

Why BCHG?

Working in HR at BCHG feels different to large, centralised organisations. Here s why:

• We re a c.250 colleague organisation, so you can really know your workforce and see the impact of your work day-to-day
• You ll partner directly with front-line services a busy, varied and meaningful part of the business
• You ll build strong relationships with managers and become a trusted adviser, not just policy support
• There s enough complexity to stretch you, but not so much that you lose oversight
• You ll be joining at the start of our People & Culture strategy, with real opportunity to influence how we work

This is a hands-on ER role in a values-led organisation, ideal for someone who enjoys working closely with operational teams and driving continuous improvement.

About the role

As Employee Relations & People Partner, you ll act as the main People contact for our front-line services.

You ll lead on employee relations casework and support managers to confidently manage their teams, ensuring a consistent and compliant approach across all people and H&S-related matters. You will:

• Lead a varied employee relations caseload, including absence, conduct, capability and probation
• Support and guide managers through formal processes, attending meetings where required
• Provide practical, timely advice on day-to-day people matters
• Build manager confidence in handling conversations, performance and absence
• Support recruitment activity across your services
• Contribute to a consistent approach across teams, improving outcomes and decision-making
• Support key H&S processes, including lone worker systems, DSE assessments and health surveys
• Ensure all casework and records are compliant, accurate and well-managed

This is a busy role, we re looking for someone who is highly organised, confident managing volume, and comfortable working with autonomy.

The kind of person we re looking for

We re keen to hear from people who:

• Are values-led, fair, consistent, supportive and confident to challenge

• Have solid experience managing employee relations casework in a fast-paced environment
• Ideally bring experience from housing, care or another operational/regulated setting
• Are confident advising managers and handling difficult conversations
• Are highly organised and able to manage a varied workload effectively
• Build strong working relationships with operational teams
• Have a strong understanding of employment law and HR processes

You should hold (or be working towards) CIPD Level 5 and have a full, clean driving licence.

Why join BCHG?

You ll be joining an organisation where people genuinely matter. At BCHG:

• We care about how work feels, not just what gets delivered

• We re a socially driven organisation, rooted in the Black Country
• You ll be part of a visible, trusted People team
• You ll have autonomy and ownership in your role

Rewards and benefits

We offer a strong total reward package shaped by colleague feedback, bringing together pay, wellbeing, flexibility and development.

This includes:

• Competitive, externally benchmarked pay - so you know you re being paid fairly and competitively for the work you do

• Flexible pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7% - helping you plan ahead and feel confident about the future

• Generous annual leave above statutory minimum, plus the option to buy or sell leave - so that you can enjoy a well-earned rest or tailor time off to suit your life

• Hybrid working arrangements with flexibility built around role needs - giving you the balance to do your best work while managing life outside of it

• Enhanced sick pay, maternity and paternity pay - because we want to support you when you need it most

• Health cash plan and 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme - providing practical support for your physical, mental and financial wellbeing

• Paid time off for volunteering and support for significant life events - so you can give back and be present for what matters most

• Access to professional development, funded qualifications and learning programmes - helping you grow your career, not just do your job

• Recognition schemes, awards and colleague-led initiatives - because your contribution should be noticed and valued

Ready to make an impact?

If you re an experienced ER practitioner who enjoys working at pace, building relationships and making a visible difference, we d love to hear from you. Applications close on Thursday 23rd July 2026, with interviews to be held at BCHG Head Office week commencing 27th July 2026.

Please note that this role requires regular on-site presence (typically around 2 days per week across Head Office and services) to support strong working relationships with colleagues.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we continuously strive to create a more inclusive workplace. We are proud to promote equal opportunities and welcome applications from all backgrounds, including those of different ages, disabilities, genders, sexual orientations, races, religions, and marital statuses. Reasonable adjustments will be made available if required during the interview process.

If you have any questions about this vacancy, or require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please get in touch with our HR team via (url removed) who will be happy to assist.