Human Resources (HR) Staff work across many different NHS and Social Care settings and make sure that those who work for these employers are fully supported in their roles and are supported to be able to deliver patient care. Human Resource functions can include recruitment, training, performance management as well as handling employee issues such as grievances and disciplinary matters.
Working life
Working in Human Resources will mean that you’ll take part in a variety of different tasks during your working day. These can include:
- Recruitment and Selection – Advertising job openings, managing applications, and conducting interviews.
- Training and Development – Planning and delivering staff training programs to enhance skills and knowledge.
- Performance Management – Supporting managers in evaluating staff performance and addressing any issues.
- Employee Relations – Handling grievances, disciplinary matters, and other employee relations issues.
- Employment Law – Advising on employment law, including equality and diversity, working hours, and rights.
- Workforce Planning – Analysing current and future workforce needs to ensure the right staff are in place.
- Benefits and Compensation – Managing employee benefits, salaries, and pay scales.
- Absence Management – Dealing with holiday leave, sick leave, and other types of absence.
- Employee Support – Providing employee support services like welfare and counselling.
- Data Management – Maintaining accurate and confidential employee records.
Requirements
Becoming a Human Resources team member has no set entry requirements but this will depend on the level you are joining an organisation at.
NHS and Social Care employers will expect excellent literacy, numeracy and IT skills as these are an important part of the role. Depending on the role, some employers may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. When applying for a role in Human Resources, there may be other skills or qualifications required but this will depend on the role and the team in which the role sits.
Employers may require you to have some relevant work experience or knowledge of having worked in a similar role previously. If you are considering a role in Human Resources, it is a good idea if you can demonstrate where you have previously worked or volunteered in an administration or customer service role.
Working in Human Resources will provide further opportunities to develop your career through apprenticeships and internal training and there are sometimes other ways to access employment in Human Resources such as traineeships or internships depending on the setting you work for.
Personal characteristics
To work successfully in Human Resources, you need to consider your own personal characteristics. You would need to have the following attributes or similar:
- Be accurate and methodical and have good attention to detail
- Be able to meet deadlines and organise your work to achieve this
- Be able to work as part of a team but also be able to use your own initiative
- Be willing to follow procedures and take instruction from senior team members
- Be able to work with all people from various backgrounds with different experiences
- Be reassuring and supportive when dealing with service users or their families
- Be interested in people
- Be interested in law
- Be able to stay calm in challenging situations
Skills required
To work successfully in Human Resources, you need to consider the skills that you have. You would need to demonstrate the following:
- Be well organised and able to plan your time
- Have excellent keyboard skills and be accurate in your typing
- Have excellent spelling and grammar
- Be able to communicate with a variety of people using different methods
- Be able to successfully demonstrate a good level of IT knowledge
- Be able to negotiate
Training and development opportunities
When you begin to work in Human Resources, you will receive the training you require to be able to undertake the role successfully. You will receive an induction which will introduce you to the department you will be working in, will support you in accessing the IT systems and will ensure you are aware of the policies and procedures you will be required to follow in the undertaking of your role. You will also have to complete any statutory and mandatory training that your employer requires such as fire training, data security training and customer service.
Depending on the healthcare setting you work for, you may be able to take additional vocational qualifications to support you in developing your knowledge and skills. These could include short courses or further qualifications such as those offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
With experience and qualifications, you could become a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development who offer further development opportunities, email updates and networking opportunities so that you are able to continue to learn from others who work in the same role as you.
Career development opportunities
Once you have experience working in Human Resources, there are many other roles you could progress into. You could lead a team, become a supervisor or develop your career into management. There are also lots of opportunities to work outside of the NHS and even overseas.
Pay and benefits
Human Resources team members usually work around 37.5 hours per week and will work general office hours between 9 am and 5 pm however, depending on the team or senior leader you support, you could be required to work evenings and weekends on occasion to ensure you are available for the team you support.
Human Resources team members in the NHS are paid using the Agenda for Change (AfC) system and will typically start their career on AfC band 2 or 3 but with experience, further training and additional qualifications, can progress further up the pay scale.
Human Resources team members working in Social Care settings will be paid according to the employer they work for and the remuneration for the role should always be shown on their job advert. Other benefits of working in Human Resources include access to a pension scheme, health service discounts such as a Blue Light Card and 27 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.