People Business PartnerNHS

Job summary

We have ambitious plans for our People Services, and we are looking for an experienced People Business Partner who shares that ambition and wants to make a real difference. You will join our forward-thinking People Services Leadership Team and a strong and collaborative team of People Business Partners.

As a People Business Partner, you will work in partnership with a designated Directorate, providing strategic workforce, HR and organisational development expertise to help shape and deliver its people priorities. You will develop a deep understanding of the Directorate's services, challenges and ambitions, using your professional expertise, insight and influence to support effective decision-making and organisational change.

As an integral member of the Directorate's Senior Leadership Team, you will build trusted relationships with senior leaders, bringing constructive challenge and acting as a catalyst for positive people and organisational change. You will also play an important role in ensuring Directorate priorities align with and contribute to our wider Trust workforce strategy and organisational objectives.

You will be joining a supportive and experienced People Business Partnering team where collaboration, professional curiosity and making a positive difference are at the heart of how we work.

The role is available on a full-time basis, with a hybrid approach combining home and on-site working.

Proposed interview date: Monday 23rd November 2026

Main duties of the job

You will work closely with senior leaders to shape and deliver the people agenda for the Directorate, providing strategic advice and challenge across workforce planning, organisational design and change, resourcing, development, and staff engagement and experience. You will bring together workforce insight and People expertise to develop solutions that respond to both current priorities and future workforce needs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a People Business Partner, you will work as a trusted strategic partner and critical friend to the Directorate Senior Leadership Team, providing expert People advice, insight and constructive challenge to support the delivery of service and workforce priorities.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering strategic workforce plans aligned with Directorate priorities and wider Trust objectives.
• Advising and influencing on workforce planning, organisational design and change, including new roles, ways of working and service transformation.
• Using workforce data and insight to identify priorities, risks and opportunities and develop practical, evidence-based solutions.
• Supporting senior leaders with organisational development, culture, staff engagement and experience, including responding to NHS staff survey insights.
• Working collaboratively with leaders and people colleagues on resourcing, talent and workforce development priorities.
• Providing expert advice and constructive challenge on people policies, employment practice and workforce matters.
• Contributing to the development and continuous improvement of Trust-wide People policies, approaches, tools and programmes.

You will work collaboratively across People Services, drawing on specialist expertise to provide a joined-up people offer to the Directorate.

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.