Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Health and Safety Manager to lead the strategic development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the Trust's Health & Safety and Fire Safety management systems. This pivotal role also encompasses responsibility for manual handling across both clinical and non-clinical functions.
With a workforce of approximately 14,000 staff across multiple sites, the Trust requires a dynamic professional who can ensure full compliance with statutory duties, national standards, and NHS regulations, while driving a proactive and positive safety culture organisation-wide.
As the Trust's principal expert advisor on all matters relating to Health & Safety, Manual Handling and Fire Safety, the post-holder will provide authoritative guidance to senior leaders and operational teams. They will lead and further strengthen our governance systems, setting Trust-wide direction, shaping policy, and championing transformational improvements in safety performance and culture.
The role includes representing the Trust in external inspections and legal matters involving the Health and Safety Executive, Fire and Rescue Services, and other regulatory bodies. The post-holder will work closely with executive and operational leadership teams to ensure robust risk management, incident prevention, and safety assurance across all clinical and non-clinical areas.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the Trust's Health, Safety and Fire Safety strategy, ensuring robust governance, effective policies and procedures, and high-quality assurance reporting to the Board, including annual and ad hoc updates.
- Ensure organisation-wide compliance with all relevant legislation, NHS requirements and standards (e.g. HSWA, Regulatory Reform Order, RIDDOR, CQC/HSE, HTMs, CDM, NHS England frameworks).
- Oversee the Trust-wide Health & Safety Risk Register, ensuring effective risk controls and continuous reduction of harm.
- Monitor, investigate, and analyse incidents, trends, audits and inspections, embedding learning and supporting directorates to strengthen safe systems of work.
- Ensure regular audits, inspections and risk assessments are completed across all premises, including fire safety, manual handling, COSHH and DSE requirements.
- Provide expert advice to the Board, Executive Team, and departments, and act as the primary liaison with regulators and partner organisations.
- Lead and develop the Health, Safety and Fire Safety teams, overseeing budgets, resources, and staff capability.
- Represent the Trust in enforcement actions, legal proceedings and regulatory inspections.
- Drive a proactive safety culture through targeted campaigns, engagement initiatives, training programmes, competency frameworks, KPIs and performance dashboards.
About us
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.
Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.
We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.
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Job description
Job responsibilities
A comprehensive and detailed job description and main responsibilities outline can be found in the attached Job Description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A comprehensive and detailed job description and main responsibilities outline can be found in the attached Job Description and person specification.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Occupational Health and safety at Level 6 or above (or equivalent Level 6 qualification)
- Batchelor's degree or postgraduate qualification in Occupational Health and Safety or Risk Managemen
- Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience (minimum 5 years) in a senior Health and Safety role in a large, complex organisation
- Experience reporting to senior and or Board-level committees
- Experience of regulatory inspections and representing organisations in legal matters
- Experience in a senior health and safety role within the NHS or healthcare sector.
- Proven track record of leading H&S in a complex, multi-site organisation Experience in conducting investigations, audits, and risk assessment
- Proven experience developing and delivering relevant organisational strategies
skills
Essential
- deep understanding of UK health and safety and fire safety legislation
- Good knowledge of CDM (2015) regulations
- Knowledge of NHS regulatory framework and standards (e.g. HTM/HBN, CQC, NHS England Safety Frameworks)
- Experience with incident management systems
- strong understanding of risk management, incident investigation, and governance structures
- Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
- Strong report writing and presentation skill
- Ability to lead change and embed a positive safety culture
- collaborative and inclusive leadership style
- Commitment to continuous improvement
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Occupational Health and safety at Level 6 or above (or equivalent Level 6 qualification)
- Batchelor's degree or postgraduate qualification in Occupational Health and Safety or Risk Managemen
- Membership of IOSH (CMIOSH) or working towards
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience (minimum 5 years) in a senior Health and Safety role in a large, complex organisation
- Experience reporting to senior and or Board-level committees
- Experience of regulatory inspections and representing organisations in legal matters
- Experience in a senior health and safety role within the NHS or healthcare sector.
- Proven track record of leading H&S in a complex, multi-site organisation Experience in conducting investigations, audits, and risk assessment
- Proven experience developing and delivering relevant organisational strategies
skills
Essential
- deep understanding of UK health and safety and fire safety legislation
- Good knowledge of CDM (2015) regulations
- Knowledge of NHS regulatory framework and standards (e.g. HTM/HBN, CQC, NHS England Safety Frameworks)
- Experience with incident management systems
- strong understanding of risk management, incident investigation, and governance structures
- Excellent communication, influencing, and negotiation skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure
- Strong report writing and presentation skill
- Ability to lead change and embed a positive safety culture
- collaborative and inclusive leadership style
- Commitment to continuous improvement
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
