Workforce Information Assistant
Job summary
We are looking for a motivated, organised and customer-focused individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about delivering high-quality workforce services. If you are a team player who embraces change, enjoys problem-solving, and wants to be part of an ambitious programme of workforce transformation, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
This is an exciting time to join the team. Bedfordshire Hospitals is delivering a significant programme of workforce digitisation and service improvement, with a strong focus on data quality, self-service technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, workforce analytics, and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). As part of this journey, the Workforce Information Team is at the centre of developing innovative solutions that improve efficiency, enhance the staff experience, and support informed decision-making across the Trust.
As a Workforce Information Assistant, you will play a vital role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of workforce information held within the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. You will be responsible for processing a wide range of workforce transactions, supporting managers and employees, maintaining employee records, and helping to ensure workforce changes are processed accurately and within required timescales.
Main duties of the job
The Workforce Information Assistant plays an important role in supporting the Trust's workforce information, payroll administration and Registration Authority (RA) services. Working within the Workforce Information Team, the post holder will be responsible for maintaining accurate employee records within the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system and processing a range of workforce transactions, including contractual changes, pay-affecting amendments, expenses and leaver administration.
The post holder will work closely with the Workforce Information & Payroll Supervisor and Workforce ESR & Registration Authority Lead to deliver a high-quality administrative service, support NHS Smartcard and system access processes, respond to workforce-related enquiries, and help ensure data quality and compliance standards are maintained.
The role will also contribute to workforce reporting, service improvement initiatives and digital transformation projects, supporting the ongoing development of workforce systems and services across the Trust.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Registration Authority (RA)
Administer the NHS Care Identity Service (CIS) and Registration Authority (RA) service, ensuring compliance with national and local policies and procedures.
Create, amend, maintain and revoke smartcard access for staff, ensuring appropriate system access is granted based on role requirements.
Complete identity verification checks and issue smartcards to new and existing employees.
Diagnose and resolve smartcard and system access issues, including unlocking accounts, resetting profiles and replacing cards where required.
Maintain accurate RA records and databases, ensuring leavers' access is removed promptly and audit requirements are met.
Support internal and external audits relating to Registration Authority activities and information governance compliance.
Provide advice and guidance to staff and managers on smartcard access and national system requirements.
Workforce Information, Data Quality and Reporting
Produce, validate and distribute workforce reports and management information from ESR and other workforce systems for managers, HR, Finance and senior leadership teams.
Analyse workforce data and identify trends, anomalies and data quality issues, escalating concerns where appropriate.
Maintain workforce databases, trackers and reporting tools, ensuring information remains accurate, current and fit for purpose.
Support statutory and internal reporting requirements through the provision of high-quality workforce information.
Assist with data validation exercises, audits and reconciliations to ensure the integrity of workforce records.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of workforce reporting processes and data collection methods.
Ensure workforce information is handled in accordance with GDPR, NHS confidentiality requirements and Trust policies.
Reconcile complex workforce data, identifying discrepancies and implementing corrective actions where necessary.
Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and Workforce Administration
Maintain a comprehensive understanding of ESR functionality and workforce administration processes.
Accurately process and maintain employee information within ESR, ensuring data quality and compliance with payroll deadlines.
Process a wide range of workforce transactions, including:
New starters and onboarding activity
Changes to contracted hours
Contractual amendments
Banding and pay changes
Expenses and payroll adjustments
Salary sacrifice schemes
Maternity, paternity and other employee life-cycle changes
Leaver and termination processing
Ensure pay-affecting changes are processed accurately and within required timescales to minimise the risk of payroll errors and delayed payments.
Act as a point of contact for workforce, payroll and pension-related enquiries, liaising with Payroll and other departments to resolve issues.
Produce ESR reports and management information to support operational and strategic workforce requirements.
Support the administration and maintenance of workforce-related interfaces and integrations, including national NHS systems.
Assist with the delivery of training and guidance to managers and staff on ESR functionality and employee self-service processes.
Customer Service, HR Helpdesk and Case Management
Manage and resolve enquiries received through the Trust's HR Helpdesk ticketing system, ensuring cases are triaged, assigned, updated and closed within agreed service standards and response times.
Provide a professional, responsive and customer-focused service to employees, managers and stakeholders, delivering advice and guidance on Workforce Information, ESR, Registration Authority (RA), payroll-related processes and workforce administration procedures.
Investigate, manage and resolve a wide range of workforce-related enquiries, ensuring accurate and timely responses are provided and complex cases are escalated appropriately.
Process and action requests submitted through the HR Helpdesk, including new starter administration, contractual changes, changes to hours, pay-affecting amendments, expenses, salary sacrifice schemes, onboarding activities, system access requests, smartcard queries and leaver administration.
Monitor and manage Helpdesk queues, ensuring priority cases, payroll deadlines, service level agreements (SLAs) and customer expectations are met.
Maintain accurate records of all enquiries, actions taken and outcomes within the HR Helpdesk system, ensuring a robust audit trail is retained.
Work collaboratively with colleagues across Workforce, Payroll, HR, Digital and operational services to ensure cases are resolved efficiently and to a high standard.
Identify recurring themes, trends and opportunities for service improvement through analysis of Helpdesk activity and customer feedback, escalating recommendations where appropriate.
Support the ongoing development of the HR Helpdesk service, including knowledge article creation, testing, user guidance and continuous improvement initiatives.
Contribute to the achievement of team KPIs and performance measures relating to response times, resolution times, customer satisfaction, data quality and service delivery.
Service Improvement and Digital Transformation
Support workforce system developments, service improvement initiatives and digital transformation projects across the Workforce Directorate.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, increase automation and enhance the user experience for managers and employees.
Contribute to testing, implementation and continuous improvement of workforce systems, HR Helpdesk processes and digital solutions.
Assist in the development of guidance materials, standard operating procedures and user documentation.
Support the delivery of innovative technologies, including self-service, workflow automation and workforce analytics initiatives.
General Administration
Provide administrative support to the Workforce Information management team, including project support, meeting administration, action tracking and documentation.
Maintain electronic filing systems, records and documentation in accordance with Trust policies, information governance requirements and retention schedules.
Support the administration of workforce-related systems and processes, ensuring records are maintained accurately and efficiently.
Assist with position management, establishment maintenance and recruitment-related workforce administration activities where required.
Support the production of presentations, reports and documentation required by the Workforce Information Senior Management Team.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade and responsibilities of the post.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Educated to GCSE level or equivalent
- Evidence of CPD
- European Computer Driving License (ECDL)
- Business Administration (Level 3)
Experience
- Experience of using ESR
- Administrative experience in a busy, customer-focused environment
- Experience of dealing with staff of all levels
- Experience of using a variety of computer packages and databases, including Microsoft Office / 365
- Experience of using SharePoint
- Experience of working in Workforce Information / HR environment
- Experience of project work and associated administration
Knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of ESR
- Knowledge of Data Protection and its application to workforce information
- Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
- Understanding of information governance requirements within the NHS
- Thorough understanding of Workforce Information in the NHS
- Understanding of NHS Terms and Conditions of Service
- Knowledge and understanding of the RA function
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Luton Site
Nova House - Luton and Dunstable Hospital
Luton
LU4 0DZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/