Job summary
We are recruiting for a Health & Safety Advisor who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.
The post holder is appointed to act as a competent person to provide expert advice, assistance, and support to all levels of the organisation as required under relevant statutory provisions. The post holder will be required to exercise their unique professional judgement to influence decision making at all levels and ensure the Trust can meet compliance or mitigate residual risks.
The post holder will work closely with the Safety & Security Manager and key stakeholders at all levels of the organisation, to review performance and identify risk reduction priorities, contributing to the formulation of the Trusts health and safety plans.
Our Values are Include, Respect and Improve. It is important that you understand and refer to our values during your recruitment process and beyond!
Main duties of the job
Undertake and provide support to all areas of the Trust in the development and implementation of uniquely complex Health and Safety risk assessments and its process to identify hazards and advice on remedial actions to be taken and the implementation of control measures to effectively manage the identified risks.
Provide a visible, accessible presence in all service areas across the wider Trust and deploy communication, engagement and influencing skills to convey complex and potentially contentious information to a variety of stakeholders in both formal and informal settings.
Work on own initiative to make judgements and decisions and take any necessary action in relation to Health and Safety issues in line with associated legislation, direction, and Trust policy.
Liaise with specialist managers, including Risk Management, Fire Safety, Manual Handling, Security, Head of Capital Planning and Estates, Health@work, Legal Services, and Infection Prevention regarding their specialist areas and provide expert health and safety advice /information.
About us
At East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general & specialist services we provide & our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible & innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
- The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
- New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
- Hertford County, Hertford
- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation; our staff & patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We understand that finding and starting a new job is an important life decision. If you need reasonable adjustments for a disability, or a life event, such as menopause - so that we can consider your application fairly & to get the best out of you during the selection process, please let us know.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. Employees are entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns & we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made & considered formally, & will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person Specification
Previous Experience
Essential
- Breadth and depth of Health and Safety knowledge and experience At least 5 years Health and Safety management experience
- At least 5 years' experience of audit and review processes
- Experience of liaising, influencing, engaging, and advising senior management across a large and diverse organisation.
- Practical experience of managing and monitoring construction activities
- Experience of development, implementation and monitoring senior level action plans across an organisation
- Experience of undertaking organisation-wide audits / reviews and feeding back results via action plans and recommendations.
- Experience of managing people / projects / strategic planning.
- Experience of multi professional working arrangements.
- Experience of managing the development, design and delivery of Health & Safety / Risk Management training and awareness programmes to audiences of a variable size and grades.
- Experience of investigating incidents.
Desirable
- Strategic engagement / involvement at Executive Team/ Board level.
- Setting/managing budgets and financial resources.
- Experience of working within the NHS / Healthcare Sector or Public Sector and/or a good understanding of NHS processes and systems
- Experience of working within security or risk management field
- Experience of working with committees
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills with the ability to interpret and influence at all levels of the organisation.
- Evidence of excellent written communication skills including ability to write reports and policy documents.
- Management and leadership skills.
- Computer literate (including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications).
- Self-motivated and able to prioritise own work.
- Ability to work independently and impartially
- Ability to work within rigid and challenging deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships both within and outside of the organisation.
- Flexible and adaptable to change in priorities.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate an ability to manage and influence difficult situations where there is completing and/or conflicting views and requirements that may impact on health and safety issues/concerns.
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet challenges and achieve significant improvement/change.
- Well-developed organisational and facilitation skills
- Prioritisation & planning skills
- Ability to manage own time effectively.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Manipulation of data supporting the production of quantitative and qualitative reports
- Ability to interpret and apply current and pending legislation.
- Excellent attention to detail
- Positive attitude
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent as recognised by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
- Chartered Member (or working toward) of IOSH
- Post graduate qualification in related safety field.
- Committed to Continued Professional Development
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Member of Risk/Safety Institute
- Risk Management qualification
- Suitable teaching/training certificate
Person Specification
Previous Experience
Essential
- Breadth and depth of Health and Safety knowledge and experience At least 5 years Health and Safety management experience
- At least 5 years' experience of audit and review processes
- Experience of liaising, influencing, engaging, and advising senior management across a large and diverse organisation.
- Practical experience of managing and monitoring construction activities
- Experience of development, implementation and monitoring senior level action plans across an organisation
- Experience of undertaking organisation-wide audits / reviews and feeding back results via action plans and recommendations.
- Experience of managing people / projects / strategic planning.
- Experience of multi professional working arrangements.
- Experience of managing the development, design and delivery of Health & Safety / Risk Management training and awareness programmes to audiences of a variable size and grades.
- Experience of investigating incidents.
Desirable
- Strategic engagement / involvement at Executive Team/ Board level.
- Setting/managing budgets and financial resources.
- Experience of working within the NHS / Healthcare Sector or Public Sector and/or a good understanding of NHS processes and systems
- Experience of working within security or risk management field
- Experience of working with committees
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills with the ability to interpret and influence at all levels of the organisation.
- Evidence of excellent written communication skills including ability to write reports and policy documents.
- Management and leadership skills.
- Computer literate (including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications).
- Self-motivated and able to prioritise own work.
- Ability to work independently and impartially
- Ability to work within rigid and challenging deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective relationships both within and outside of the organisation.
- Flexible and adaptable to change in priorities.
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate an ability to manage and influence difficult situations where there is completing and/or conflicting views and requirements that may impact on health and safety issues/concerns.
Planning and organisation skills
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to meet challenges and achieve significant improvement/change.
- Well-developed organisational and facilitation skills
- Prioritisation & planning skills
- Ability to manage own time effectively.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Manipulation of data supporting the production of quantitative and qualitative reports
- Ability to interpret and apply current and pending legislation.
- Excellent attention to detail
- Positive attitude
Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent as recognised by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
- Chartered Member (or working toward) of IOSH
- Post graduate qualification in related safety field.
- Committed to Continued Professional Development
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Member of Risk/Safety Institute
- Risk Management qualification
- Suitable teaching/training certificate
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
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).
