Job Description
The Vacancy
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR Advisor to join our busy, friendly HR team.
In this varied role, you will provide generalist HR support across the organisation, with a particular focus on managing employee relations cases.
This will include advising on sickness absence, probation reviews, appraisals, performance management, disciplinary and grievance matters, and maternity and paternity leave. You will also support the HR Management Team with change management processes, including TUPE transfers where required, and contribute to HR project work from time to time.
About the role:
You will:
- Proactively advise on and manage capability, disciplinary and grievance processes, helping to ensure Second Step meets its legal obligations and responsibilities to employees.
- Support and guide managers through HR activities, including performance management, appraisals, probation reviews, recruitment and selection, and salary reviews. You will also ensure staff data is recorded in line with policy and data protection legislation and submitted to the HR team for processing.
- Provide effective advice and support on change management processes, including restructures, redundancies, TUPE transfers, and changes to terms and conditions.
- Proactively manage complex sickness absence cases, including Occupational Health referrals and medical capability processes.
- Advise on and support the development of policies and procedures that help Second Step achieve its objectives while meeting its obligations to employees.
- Support the wider HR team with HR transactions such as recruitment, onboarding and contract changes.
About you:
To succeed in this role, you will need:
- A minimum of three years’ experience in an HR Advisor role.
- Up-to-date practical knowledge of employment legislation and its impact on HR practice.
- A proven track record of managing and advising on complex employee relations issues
- Experience of working within unionised structures.
- Experience advising on and supporting change management processes, such as TUPE and restructures.
- Associate membership of the CIPD, or be working towards it.
Full details of this exciting opportunity can be found in the Role Profile attached at the top of this advert.
For an informal chat about the role, please email Ola.MyszkoJackson@second-step.co.uk.
For this vacancy, we may shortlist candidates and invite them to interview before the published closing date.
No Agencies at this time.
Closing date for applications: 26 July 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive applications from suitably qualified candidates before the closing date.
Proposed interview dates: W/C 27.07.2026
Interviews will take place via Teams.
For more information and to apply please see our website www.second-step.co.uk. Second Step is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community and from people who have personal experience of using mental health services. Unfortunately, Second Step is unable to sponsor applicants from outside the UK.
What you'll earn (you won't find "competitive salary” written instead of a figure on our watch!)
What you'll receive in return (Benefits)
Annual Leave
We offer 26 days, plus 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time working). An
additional day's holiday is granted to all staff after 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 full years'
service, subject to a maximum of 5 working days.
Pension Scheme
After three months’ service you will be automatically enrolled in our pension
scheme if you are eligible. The Association will contribute 6% of gross basic
salary into the scheme if you contribute at least 3% of gross basic salary.
Sick Pay
Our Sick Pay scheme is service-related and pays incrementally between 1
weeks’ full pay and 1 weeks’ half pay for new entrants and 13 weeks full pay
and 13 weeks half pay after 5 years’ service.
Enhanced Maternity Pay
We offer enhanced maternity pay.
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Our EAP scheme is hosted by BUPA and is a confidential telephone line
where staff, their partners and any children over the age of 16 living at home
can seek advice on a range of personal and work-related issues.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Second Step is part of the Cycle to work initiative which allows employees to
claim tax relief on the cost of a new bike and accessories.
Eye Care Vouchers
All employees are entitled to an eye voucher which can be redeemed against
the cost of eye test or glasses required for VDU work.
Flexible Working
Second Step aims to provide employees with as much flexibility within their
working hours as possible to enable a better work/life balance. We offer
flexible working, flexi-time and blended working dependent on job role.
Team Development Days Out
Each year, every team is given an allowance to spend on a team day.
Free Flu Vaccinations
Second Step funds the cost of an annual flu jab.
CIPD Requirement
Email Contact for candidates
Closing Date
Second Step is a mental health charity established in 1987 to support people with mental health problems to live independently in their communities. Originally founded by a group of social workers and community psychiatric nurses, the organisation was created to provide both housing and support for people leaving hospital.
Today, Second Step continues to put mental health first, delivering services across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.
Our approach is built on four key principles: being trauma-informed, supporting recovery, valuing peer support, and working in partnership with the people who use our services. We work alongside individuals at their own pace, building safe, trusting relationships and ensuring their experiences help shape the services we provide.