Elaine Barrie

Responsible for HR, Learning and Development, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing, and latterly Payroll function covering approximate 10,000 staff across Highlands. Directly responsible for a team of 95 staff.

• Developed 5 year People Strategy and regularly presented reports and updates to Council Committees on progress.
• Working with senior leadership team and involvement in committee meetings/working groups (including chairing) to share and implement best practices including at national level via Society of Personnel Development Scotland (SPDS).
• Oversaw compliance with employment law and regulations, HMRC, SPPA regulations and mitigating legal, health and safety risks.
• Used staff survey findings to implement enhanced staff conditions and practices including wellbeing.
• Streamlined HR and payroll processes for improved efficiency.
• Delivery of high-impact training programmes to enable wider accessibility via online and boosting productivity levels.
• Delivery of succession planning strategy to ensure business continuity and mitigate identifiable risks through effective workforce planning. Successful recruitment of two chief executives and senior leaders.
• Developed and implemented effective HR policies, enhancing company reputation emphasising equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Established metrics-driven performance management system, driving improvement and best value.
• Steered change management initiatives during organisational restructuring and latterly as part of corporate Highland Delivery Plan to reform service delivery, flexible work practices, and reviewing Highland health and social care integration model.
• Managed complex employee relations issues, maintaining harmonious working relationships and actively involving unions.
• Nominated officer for ill health pension appeals.
• Nurtured positive workplace culture with effective communication strategies. Implemented Investors in People and rolling out accreditation across council.

HR Manager (Jan 2004 - Sept 2019)

• Collaborated closely with senior leadership team on strategic HR decisions including workforce planning.
• Developed strong relationships with stakeholders and partners through effective communication strategies.
• Promoted inclusive workplace culture respecting diverse perspectives.
• Delegated tasks effectively, ensuring timely completion of projects without compromising quality.
• Handled conflict resolution through HR team and introduced and managed in-house mediation service. Trained mediator.
• Adviser to elected member appeals committee.
• Involved in mentoring programme.
• Managed job evaluation team and chair of JE panel which included reps from union and service managers.
• Managed HR team dealing with redeployments and redundancies, ill health retirements.
• Implementation of negotiated single status terms and Job Evaluation exercise.
• Involved in ranged of TUPE transfers and setting up of ALO Highlife Highland circa 1000 staff. Transferred of staff as part of social care integration model - 1300 staff transferred to NHS Highland and 250 NHS staff transferred to council.

Area HR Adviser (April 1996 - Dec 2003)

• Leading team responsible for recruitment & selection including undertaking vetting checks, issuing contracts of employment, dealing with occupational health referrals and retirements on health grounds.
• Advising on legal and policy requirements covering disciplines and grievances, collective disputes, job evaluations.
• Actively involved in fostering positive employee relations liaising regularly with local and regional union representatives. Member of area consultative staff groups.
• Developed policy and delivered training to support new policy implementation.
• TUPE transfer of circa 100 IT staff to external contractor which was first council to embark on this type of partnership arrangement. Involved in subsequent IT partnership reviews until Council brought this back in house in 2023/4.

Senior HR Officer - Highland Regional Council (Dec 1993 - Mar 1996)

• Ensured compliance with employment law and Council policy. Provided advise on range of HR issues.
• Involved in preparation of Highland Council, recruitment of senior leadership team involving member appointments and developing transfer lists.

Personnel Officer (mat leave) - Perth and Kinross District Council (June 1993 - Dec 1993)

Traveling in Australia (April 1992 - April 1993)

Personnel Assistant - Dunfermline District Council (June 1989 - April 1992)