HR Advisor
Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Swindon Borough Council
Service Area: Enabling Services
Contract End Date: 30 September 2027
Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 18 September 2026

Location

Swindon – hybrid working

You must be able to work from the Swindon office for at least two days each week, including Wednesdays. Additional office attendance may be required to manage sickness absence cases effectively.

Pay

PAYE Rate: £21.14 per hour

Job Overview

Fix Space Recruitment is working with Swindon Borough Council to recruit an experienced HR Advisor for a major sickness absence project.

Reporting to the HR Operations Manager, you will help implement and embed the Council's new sickness absence policy. You will provide specialist advice on complex absence cases, coach managers, support cultural change and help improve organisational performance and employee wellbeing.

Important – Please Read Carefully

You must be able to work from the Swindon office for at least two days each week, including Wednesdays. Additional office attendance may be required to manage sickness absence cases effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to managers on complex short-term and long-term sickness absence cases.
• Manage a caseload from initial referral through to resolution.
• Support occupational health referrals, reasonable adjustments and phased return-to-work plans.
• Lead welfare meetings and advise on formal capability meetings, health-related dismissals and ill-health retirement cases.
• Work closely with managers, HR colleagues, Occupational Health, Health and Safety, payroll and recognised trade unions.
• Run sickness absence clinics for leadership teams and managers.
• Train and coach managers and HR colleagues on the new sickness absence policy and supporting guidance.
• Help embed consistent and legally compliant absence-management practices.
• Support initiatives relating to musculoskeletal health, manual handling and psychological wellbeing.
• Interpret sickness absence and wellbeing data, identify trends and target areas requiring intervention.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the new policy and associated programme.
• Produce clear reports, correspondence and case records.

Essential Experience & Skills

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or above, or equivalent relevant HR experience.
• Current knowledge of employment law.
• Strong knowledge of ACAS guidance and best practice relating to sickness absence management.
• Substantial experience managing complex short-term and long-term sickness absence cases.
• Experience advising on formal capability procedures, health-related dismissals and ill-health retirement.
• Experience working with recognised trade unions on employee relations cases.
• Experience advising and influencing senior leaders and line managers.
• Ability to coach and train managers confidently.
• Experience interpreting HR data and reporting findings to senior leaders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong IT skills, including Outlook, Teams, databases and spreadsheets.
• Ability to produce and work with pivot tables.
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Desirable Experience

• Previous public-sector or local-government HR experience.
• Experience supporting an organisational change or sickness-reduction programme.
• Experience using AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot or Magic Notes within HR practice.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of two days each week in the Swindon office, including Wednesdays.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate strong sickness absence case-management experience and the confidence to advise managers on complex and sensitive employment matters.

Fix Space Recruitment Limited is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client in relation to this vacancy.

It is your responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirers or organisations to which you do not want your details submitted.

Job Reference

137767