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Human Resources Adviser

Walworth Garden
Walworth, London

Posted: 18 Mar 2024

Deadline: 2 May 2024

Compensation: £30,000-35,000 per annum, pro rata, dependent on experience

Paid Flexible hours

Job description

Join us for this opportunity to help create the best possible environment not only for our employees, but all of the London communities we work with, ensuring all can flourish.

Hours: 3 days a week, flexible and hybrid (varied working hours are required to ensure access to the HR service is equally available to all staff who start and finish at different times of the day).

Walworth Garden also offers a generous benefits package that includes the following:

• 28 days annual leave exclusive of Bank Holidays

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Cycle to Work scheme

• Fully funded training courses such as level 2 in Work-Based Horticulture, level 3 in Assessors training, management training, and much more

• Free plant-based lunch every day for office-based staff and gardeners who are working locally

• Use of vans for licenced drivers (P11D)

• 15% staff discount on all items for sale

Are you an HR professional looking for your next opportunity in the charity sector? Are you equipped to take on the essential role of ensuring our dedicated colleagues have the skills, knowledge, and support needed to do what they do best? Passionate about employee wellbeing? Walworth Garden is now seeking an experienced HR professional to provide guidance and coaching to our management staff, develop team confidence and capabilities, and implement a supportive well-being provision for all employees. Join us for this opportunity to help create the best possible environment not only for our employees, but all of the London communities we work with, ensuring all can flourish.

About Walworth Garden

Walworth Garden is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee dedicated to knowledge and nurture. We aim to improve lives by providing excellent learning and horticultural therapy in an award-winning garden that is open to all. The charity is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees. Our main charitable work includes horticultural training for people not in work or education and horticultural therapy for vulnerable and disabled adults. We also provide services that individuals or other organisations pay for to generate surplus income to support our charitable work.

About the role 

The HR Advisor will work with the CEO to ensure the organisation has appropriate HR advice and support on all matters relating to employment so that the organisation is always compliant and serves the best interests of all stakeholders. The ideal candidate will therefore be a well-organised HR professional with excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships at all levels, across a diverse and hybrid workforce. They will have the experience to provide valuable support and advice, and a proven track record of working autonomously and thriving in a fast-paced environment. They will be detail-oriented, with the ability to analyse management information and other data to inform decision-making. 

Core Responsibilities 

HR Advisory:

The HR Adviser is responsible for providing a full generalist HR service by:

• Working collaboratively with the CEO and line managers to provide first-line advisory support and advice on all employee relations issues including but not limited to grievances and disciplinaries, absences, performance management etc., ensuring compliance with policy and employment contracts, and keeping accurate related data and records

• Advising and supporting managers per current employment legislation and relevant policies and procedures

• Supporting recruitment activity for the area ensuring recruitment practices are up to date, inclusive, and compliant with Walworth Garden and regulatory procedure

• Working with line managers to ensure all staff training and development needs are identified, well organised, cost-effective, in line with the organisation’s strategic plan, and delivered on time

• Developing and maintaining all policies relating to all stakeholders

• Providing employee support, ensuring any issues are identified in advance, reported to management where appropriate, and resolved promptly

• Overseeing the implementation of Health and Safety regulations, ensuring the health and safety of all trainees, staff, and visitors to the Garden, and recording and reporting any concerns to the CEO and board of trustees where necessary

• Working with the CEO to further the progress of the organisation’s strategic plan

• Providing support for or completing where necessary, all HR administration related to employees including recruitment, annual leave, salary and all other benefits.

Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

• Working with the management team to ensure safeguarding is at the heart of the Walworth Garden ethos and that all staff are supported in knowing how to recognise and respond to potential concerns

• Liaising with the CEO and chair of the HR sub-committee to keep them informed of any safeguarding issues, especially ongoing enquiries and police investigations

• If necessary, liaise with the local authority case manager or the designated officer at the local authority if a concern has arisen regarding a member of staff

• Liaising with staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies

• Acting as a source of support, advice, and expertise for staff

• Keeping detailed, accurate, and secure written records of safeguarding concerns

• In addition to formal training, the DSL should keep knowledge and skills current via online training, e-bulletins, opportunities to network with other DSLs and attend locally arranged briefings.

Overseeing HR Projects:

• Working with the CEO to administer and evaluate an appraisal or performance management system that suits the culture of the organisation and works for all departments

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining an appropriate staff wellbeing programme available to all employees

• Managing and delivering a holistic reward strategy

• Utilising employee engagement tools such as surveys and working groups to measure engagement levels, produce reports, and advise on systems to make improvements

• Working with the CEO to introduce a cost-effective workplace sick pay system that benefits all those eligible

Application information

Please see the full job description, person specification, and full details on how to apply here.

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