Capsticks’ HR Advisory team has been appointed as Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s (CNTW) sole advisor in HR and employee relations work from January 2022 until at least 2025.

CNTW is a specialist provider in mental health and learning disability services, employing over 8,500 people across more than 70 sites. Previously rated as one of the top 100 NHS trusts to work for, CNTW, a CQC “outstanding” rated Trust, is the strategic partner to NHS Improvement in developing its mental health improvement programme.

Capsticks will be providing all-encompassing, specialist HR services that will help line managers take ownership of day-to-day employee relations issues and investigations, as well as supporting with additional capacity when needed. The range of matters includes:

• Grievances, disciplinary and capability issues
• Sickness absence
• Whistleblowing
• Formal procedures and investigations
• Employment law and policies
• Best practice in people management and effective case management
• Leadership and management development

Claire Shaw, Head of HR Advisory, said: “We are delighted to be selected once again as CNTW’s preferred partner in HR matters. Our service gives us an unmatched level of insight into the challenges faced by the NHS, which means we can provide the best outcome for our clients. We will help manage caseloads and share best practice, so the Trust can fully focus on delivering excellent patient care.” 

Lynne Shaw, Executive Director of Workforce and OD at CNTW, said: “Capsticks has been instrumental in modernising our approach to managing employee relations issues, which has been essential in freeing up capacity on a range of strategic and operational business. We are delighted to have the HR Advisory team by our side to support our staff through ER processes and managing our risks.” 

Capsticks aims to be the firm of choice for organisations who work to make a difference. Our purpose is to be the advisers that clients want by their side, providing innovative and practical solutions tailored to our sectors’ unique challenges. Our experts work together as one team with similar values: putting people first, doing the right thing and always forward thinking.