Position: HR Generalist
Contract type: Permanent - 30 hours per week
Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer
St Luke's Home is a long-established, not-for-profit, voluntary organisation providing residential care and services to older persons in a warm, person-centred environment. For over 150 years, we have served the Cork community with dignity, compassion and clinical excellence. Our approach is rooted in tradition, yet responsive to the evolving needs of older people in modern healthcare.
Our home operates a range of services including long-term care, dementia-specific care, Daycare, and respite support. We are proud to offer high standards of care guided by our core values — respect, compassion, dignity, and community. St Luke's also offers a dedicated Education and Research Centre supporting ongoing professional development.
With over 200 staff members, we are now seeking to strengthen our Human Resources function with the appointment of a HR Generalist who will play a pivotal role in supporting our team and ensuring our HR practices remain compliant, compassionate, and forward-thinking.
Role Overview
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, HR Generalist will be responsible for providing a comprehensive and professional service across St Luke's Home, supporting our care teams, managers and administrative functions. The HR Generalist will work closely with department heads and senior leaders to ensure best practice in human resources aligned with healthcare sector standards, HIQA requirements and St Luke's organisational values.
This role offers an opportunity for a motivated professional, contributing to a well-respected institution with a long history of service excellence. You help bring St Luke's Home values to life through engagement initiatives, wellness programs, and cultural workshops. Your efforts contribute to a positive, inclusive environment where people feel connected and valued.
HR Generalist Responsibilities
Relationship Management
* Act as a first point of contact for HR queries across clinical and non-clinical departments
* Work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Director of Nursing and leadership team to support managers to provide HR support
* Develop strong relationships with Director of Nursing, Heads of Department, Nurse Managers and administrative leads
* Provide HR advice in line with employment legislation, organisational policies, and public sector guidelines
Recruitment Workforce Planning
* Maintain oversight of recruitment process from vacancy identification to interview support and onboarding, ensuring the process is fair, equitable and confidential
* Maximize the utilization of recruitment platforms to support vacancy administration throughout the recruitment process
* Liaise with external agencies where appropriate
* Facilitate/oversee interviews and ensure interview panel have all necessary documentation ensuring integrity of process and procedure
* Advise and update manager involved in the recruitment competition as appropriate and respond to recruitment queries from candidates /managers in a timely manner
* Deal with any complex/contentious issues related to the recruitment process as required or escalate to the Chief Operating Officer as appropriate
* Sourcing and interpreting prospective appointee's previous reckonable experience/ service and correctly assimilate appointees to the appropriate point on the salary scale
* Ensure all recruitment documentation and contracts are accurate, compliant, and up to date
* Assist in workforce planning, maintaining accurate staff rosters and staffing metrics
* Assist in employment permit applications and compliance processes where applicable for international recruitment
* Responsible for the coordination and administration of training for all employees
Employee Relations Staff Wellbeing
* Assist with performance reviews and probation processes, ensuring timely follow-ups and documentation
* Coordinate exit interviews and review documentation to identify emerging trends and report on same to Chief Operating Officer
* Support and advise line managers in relation to performance concerns
* Assist in investigative meetings (fact finding, Trust In Care, HR), disciplinary hearings and grievance hearings as required in line with company policy
* Promote a culture of wellbeing and staff engagement through communication, initiatives and feedback
Contracts, Payroll and HR Administration
* Assist in general administration duties for the HR Department and provide support to ensure the overall running over responsive HR service
* Create, update and maintain employee personnel files in line with applicable legal requirements i.e. GDPR and HIQA
* Liaise with payroll to ensure accurate fortnightly inputs and updates
* Draft and issue contracts (both permanent and temporary), ensuring alignment with current healthcare sector norms and HSE/public sector frameworks
* Manage HR records, absence, leave tracking, and staff benefits such as pensions, healthcare and CPD allowances
* Draft and submit monthly reports, statistics and metrics to the Chief Operating Officer as required
Compliance Regulatory Reporting
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of HIQA standards, public sector HR circulars, and employment law developments.
* Stay informed about employment law and best practices to support the development of HR policies and procedures
* Follow policies and legislation to process statutory and family leave applications (Maternity, Paternity, Parents, Parental, Carer's, Adoptive etc.), ensuring HR systems updates and payroll updates are done in a timely manner
* Prepare HR metrics and data for internal and external audits
* Maintaining and managing an up-to-date planner of training for all employees and linking with the nurse management team regarding compliance with same
* Support the Chief Operating Officer in the preparation of reports for the Board, HIQA, and funders as needed
Project Work Team Support
* Contribute to HR projects such as digital HR systems upgrades and staff surveys.
* Participate in cross-departmental initiatives aligned with the strategic direction of St Luke's Home.
* Offer flexible support across the HR and Operations team as required
* Assisting in the development of improved working practices in order to achieve improved service delivery from the HR function
* Contributing to the development of policies and procedures and best practice
* Develop, update and maintain policies and procedures
* Comply with legislative and regulatory requirements
* Participate in developing and achieving department goals and objectives
* Responsible for participation in identified projects required
* Undertaking other duties appropriate to the post from time to time
Essential Criteria:
* Minimum of 3 years' experience in a similar role, preferably in a healthcare, public sector or regulated setting
* Strong working knowledge of Irish employment law and voluntary sector pay structures
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Excellent attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills
* Ability to work on own initiative, in addition to working as part of a cross functional team
* Excellent time management administration and organizational skills
* Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure, to strict deadlines
* Ability to work with discretion, confidentiality and tact in a sensitive care environment
* Strong IT PC skills with experience of complete Microsoft Office suite
Desirable Criteria:
* CIPD qualification (part or full membership)
* Familiarity with HIQA requirements and voluntary sector HR protocols
* Experience using HR systems
* Understanding of nursing or healthcare workforce structures