Human Resource Business Partner

About Us

Morden College is an almshouse charity that provides a supportive and enriching community for over 250 older people living in almshouse accommodation across two sites in Blackheath and Beckenham, as well as within our small Care Home. We are committed to enabling our residents to live independent, fulfilling, and healthy lives while receiving the right level of support when needed. Our work is guided by our values:

Integrity: acting with honesty, transparency and respect.

Fairness and equity: giving fair access to opportunities and resources.

Excellence: being led by expertise from our whole community, including staff, residents, Trustees and the communities around us.

This is a great time to be joining Morden College. We are launching our new strategy and focusing on providing excellent homes, high quality services, and supporting thriving communities. As part of our small People team, you will play a key role in developing and embedding proactive business partnering support for directors and senior managers, ensuring that we have the right capabilities, data, policies and processes in place to deliver our new strategy.

Job Purpose

The People Business Partner will provide operational and strategic HR support to directors and senior managers, working closely with the Interim Head of People. This will involve working collaboratively with senior managers to provide advice and insight, supporting managers to develop and maintain high performing teams. The People Business Partner will provide support at all stages of the employee lifecycle, often navigating sensitive and complex issues with professionalism and sensitivity.

This role will also support the Interim Head of HR to embed policies, procedures and processes that meet the needs of a small, commercial charity, whilst reflecting employment legislation and good practice. This will involve reviewing the Bamboo HR system to ensure that it is configured to meet the charity s needs.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor, supporting managers in decision making, performance management, employee engagement, and team development.
• Provide data and insight on people issues and recommend appropriate interventions.

Provide advice to managers on HR policies and procedures. Guide and coach managers through HR processes such as performance improvement plans, absence management, and probation reviews etc.

Support the Interim Head of People to create and develop HR workstreams, templates, and guidance to ensure the HR processes are consistent and compliant.

Employee Relations and Casework

• Work alongside the Interim Head of People by advising managers to manage complex employee matters through to conclusion in a proactive, efficient and professional manner.
• Support with investigations and provide recommendations and solutions in line with the charity s values, policies and legislation.
• Support on conflict resolution, mediation, and fostering positive workplace relationships.

Recruitment and Onboarding

Work with hiring managers and the senior leadership teams to ensure effective, inclusive and values-based recruitment.

Support the Recruitment and Training Specialist to create and develop the charity s recruitment process, including the development of templates and forms.

Support managers to strategically plan their resource and capability requirements and support the Head of People to review these holistically across the charity.

Work with managers to ensure consistent and effective onboarding of new starters and to ensure that probation periods are managed effectively.

Data and Compliance

Support the Interim Head of People to ensure that the charity remains compliant with employment law, safeguarding, and CQC Quality Standards. Ensure that the Bamboo HR system is updated to demonstrate compliance.

Support the Interim Head of People to review the configuration of the Bamboo HR system and associated reporting, ensuring that it meets the needs of the charity. Liaise with software providers to make changes as needed.

Provide organisational data and insight for strategic decision-making and onward reporting to the Board of Trustees. Identify and investigate trends, propose solutions.

Person Specification

Essential:

CIPD Level 5 qualified (working toward Level 7).

Experience working in the charity sector.

Substantial experience in an HR advisory or business partnering role.

Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations practices.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Experience supporting change management and organisational development.

Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and relationship-building skills.

Strong coaching skills with the ability to support and challenge constructively.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.

Proficient in HR systems and data analysis.

Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding principles.

Empathy, discretion, and a solutions-focused and value-led approach.

Desirable:

Project management experience in a HR/People context.

Familiarity with payroll and payroll systems.

This job description is not meant to be exhaustive and will be reviewed and amended as necessary to meet the changing needs of the organisation. It will also be used as the basis for determination of objectives and the contents will be used as part of the appraisal process.