People Support (HR) Advisor

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Please note this vacancy is available as a secondment opportunity for up to 12 months – internal

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in Chelmsford 1-2 days per week, with the remaining time for remote working if desired, in line with the organisation’s needs.

The Role

People Services are committed to providing a high level of customer services for our employee and managers, through a variety of digital channels. The People Support Advisor will be the first point of contact for all HR related queries. They will be responsible for providing customer focused and professional advice, support and guidance to managers and employees across the whole of ECC. This role provides a great opportunity for someone wanting to build on the experience working within an HR setting in a large and complex organisation.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

The Opportunity

People Services sits within the People & Organisation Development function at Essex County Council (ECC). People Services delivers a high standard of service to both ECC employees and to external customers, with our employees and customers at the heart of what we do. We have high expectations of our teams and aspire to be high performing in all aspects of our delivery. We provide a comprehensive, quality service which supports the delivery of our ambitious corporate people plan. We are on a journey to underpin our services with robust technology, and we strive to create an uncompromising culture to deliver service excellence that delights our customer. People Services seeks to continuously improve and to stay ahead of the curve, leading the way in the public sector and delivering services which offer innovation, value for public spend and above all else a customer centric approach. 

The People Support Adviser (PSA) will be the first point of contact for the business for HR related queries. They will be responsible for managing stakeholder expectations, providing a customer focused and professional advice, support and guidance service, for people related queries across all channels: online, telephone and face to face. You will provide support and resolutions quickly and efficiently

Accountabilities

• Be the first point of contact for our customer queries via phone, web chat and email providing high quality HR advice and guidance ensuring request are escalated or filtered accordingly.
• Provide pragmatic and professional expertise and advice on specific topics, e.g., family friendly policies (maternity, paternity, etc), flexible working requests, managing absence, performance, resolution, onboarding processes, Occupational Health referrals.
• Improving manager and business confidence and capability by coaching through workplace issues.
• Provide consistent and up to date advice on employment legislation and developing issues within the organisation.
• Contribute to the increase in self-service of HR queries, by coaching employees and managers of online self-service support, and identifying areas for improvement to People Casework Manager.
• Strong team working motivation and ability to build effective working relationships across People and Organisation Development including with People Business Partners, People Consultants and other teams in People Services
• Support organisational change and initiatives that may involve consultation and result in redundancy or TUPE
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Skills, Knowledge and Experience
• CIPD membership and a minimum of level 5 CIPD qualification or to be achieved within 2 years of taking up the post
• Experience of working in a busy, fast paced team providing professional support to customers
• Proficient IT skills, MS Word and MS Excel are essential. Hands on experience with IT programmes and HR systems
• Highly motivated with excellent attention to detail, a result orientated approach and continually seeking to improve.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience of dealing with customer queries and a track record of providing exceptional customer service.
• A high level of interpersonal skills to deal with extremely confidential and sensitive issues, providing support with empathy and professionalism. Ability to develop strong working relationships and to influence a wide range of stakeholders including colleagues and customers.
• Ability to work independently, organise and work accurately to tight deadlines
• A basic knowledge of HR policies and employment legislation and experience in providing coaching, support and building confidence

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email jamielea.wallis@essex.gov.uk

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