Head of Health & Safety

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Head of Health and Safety is the lead and designated competent person for all health and safety matters, including fire safety at The Children's Trust underpinning the three key work streams: safe care, safe workplace (including occupational health and well-being), and safe retail and (fundraising) events. The role holder has the authority to require the immediate cessation of any unsafe working practices.

Responsibilities

Act as the responsible Head providing The Childrens Trust with health and safety advice at both strategic and operational level.

Develop and lead the operation and promotion of an integrated health and safety management system, ensuring there is effective, integrated governance and risk management oversight, including reporting to the Board via the relevant operational and executive governance committees.

Develop and embed a health and safety strategy which embraces robust management systems to ensure compliance with all statutory requirements.

Develop and deliver health and safety key objectives and annual plan.

Promote a pro-active environmental and health and safety culture across the Trust

Facilitate delivery of health, safety and well-being audits and inspections across the organisation

Establishment high standards and expectations on employees of safety awareness behaviours and performance.

Advise on matters relating to the environment and health and safety at work including the obligations and responsibilities of managers and employees; and provide comprehensive and practical advice to managers on best practice.

Facilitate the risk assessment process to identify, assess, report on, and monitor the scale, nature and distribution of all health and safety risks and hazards created by the organisations activities including facilitating training and support to others who need to carry out their own risk assessments.

Work collaboratively on health and safety matters with colleagues across Occupational Health, People team, Clinical Services, Infection Prevention and Control, the School, Fundraising Events, Retail and Estates and Facilities.

Monitor and report on adverse outcomes (incidents) resulting in injuries, ill health, loss, and incidents with the potential to cause injuries, ill health, or loss.

Ensure root cause analysis is undertaken following incidents and that findings are used to strengthen policies, procedures, and training.

Maintain up to date emergency procedures and ensure these are promoted and cascaded effectively.

In conjunction with the Training and Development Manager, facilitate the the delivery of comprehensive health and safety training to promote, develop, and sustain a positive health and safety awareness culture throughout the organisation.

Ensure legislative compliance, in that all HSE aspects of the organisation are conducted in accordance with all relevant statutory requirements and Codes of Practice and that Managers are informed of any changes.

To liaise with Local Authority Inspectors and enforcement officials as required including the Health and Safety Executive, the Fire and Rescue Authority, OFSTED and CQC.

Manage the health and safety budget and provide timely reporting on budget issues to the Head of Strategic Estates Management.

Monitor the timely implementation of agreed management actions resulting from internal and external health and safety audits and risk assessments and capture and report on management progress.

Prepare reports, discussion papers and KPIs for relevant working group and committee meetings.

Prepare an Annual Health and Safety report for the Health and Safety Committee, Audit Committee and Board of Trustees.

Health and Safety

Adheres to all health and safety guidelines, including infection prevention and control.

Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.

Promotes the health and safety of others.

Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (IRAR), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.

Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems

Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary

Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience

Remains organised and focused when under pressure.

Responds constructively to feedback and or criticism.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Accomplished health and safety professional with experience in a health care setting
• Demonstrable experience of leading effective change and driving positive health and safety culture in a comparable setting
• Experience in health and safety auditing
• Experience of designing and delivering an effective and efficient health and safety training programme within a health care setting

Desirable

• Experience in working across multiple departments within a health care setting

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Commitment to the vision and values of The Childrens Trust
• Flexible and can do attitude to competing commitments in workload
• Highly motivated and reliable
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment

Skills , Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Excellent organisational and communication skills and production of concise information
• Ability to produce strategic health and safety reports for presentation to the senior board
• Ability to influence colleagues at all levels of the organisation effectively to achieve objectives
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular experience of writing policies and preparing committee and board papers
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales and within financial constraints
• Experience of managing a team to deliver plans and objectives to budget and on time
• Demonstrated experience of working on and assisting with projects in a health care setting
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships at all levels
• Ability to demonstrate achievement of continuous improvement in the workplace

Qualifications

Essential

• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent
• Accredited member of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)

Desirable

• NEBOSH Fire Certificate or equivalent Desirable
• Sound knowledge of relevant health and safety and associated legislation relating to a health care setting - Desirable

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.

Employer details

Employer name

The Children's Trust

Address

The Childrens Trust

Tadworth Court

Tadworth

Surrey

KT20 5RU

Employer's website

https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/jobs (Opens in a new tab)