Berry Recruitment is looking for a Corporate Health & safety Advisor.
4. Main Duties:
To devise, review and regularly monitor health and safety systems and procedures in consultation with service managers, to ensure they are up to date and comply with current legislation.
To review and advise on external/ in-house health and safety training sessions, monitor attendance and co-ordinate/ deliver training as required. To assist with the internal e-learning health and safety training modules.
To provide advice and guidance to managers on H & S issues relevant to their own service areas.
To keep up to date with current health and safety legislation, codes of practice and national guidance to ensure that good/ best practice in health and safety is implemented across all service areas.
To review and research new and changing legislation, proposing new Health and Safety policies and procedures are suitable for the Council and its employees.
To co-operate with Service Managers on the implementation of corporate health and safety policies and procedures including risk assessments, health and safety audits, safe operating procedures and emergency procedures.
To undertake a programme of health and safety audits as required, and make recommendations for any action required in consultation with the Corporate Health and Safety Manager. To monitor actions plans.
Where appropriate, develop and advise on service safety plans which meet the health and safety at work guidelines and support the Council's health and safety policy.
To record all accidents and incidents, conduct investigations and reviewing processes, producing regular accident reporting information in line with KPIs, identifying where a RIDDOR report is required and subsequently submitting it. Taking and recommending further follow up action where necessary.
To attend all relevant Safety Panel meetings and service management meetings as required. Co- ordinate the work of service based health and safety representatives.
Advise on the preparation of health and safety expenditure plan bids for individual service areas in consultation with service managers and the Corporate Health and Safety Manager. Support Service Manager(s) in making a business case for changes which will enhance the health, safety and welfare of staff.
To work proactively with managers and staff to establish and maintain a programme of continuous improvement and compliance in the management of health and safety including undertaking regular site inspections and audits of both staff and contractor activities
Represent the Council at external health and safety practitioner groups / meeting.
Any other duties as assigned by the Corporate Health and Safety Manager or Service Manager.
All employees are required to support the Council's safeguarding policy and undergo any associated training to ensure its functions are delivered having regard for the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
5. Skills, Knowledge & Experience:
Essential:
A sound knowledge of health and safety legislation, regulation and best practice and their relevance and implementation in the context of local government service delivery.
Tech Membership level Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH). A NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health or equivalent.
A good standard of general education including English and Mathematics.
Practical experience working within office based or and operational services relevant to a local government setting.
An excellent level of ICT skills to include a working knowledge of M365 applications.
Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels within the organisation giving specialist advice which will be relied upon by the recipient.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Able to act independently and work well within a team environment.
Hold a current full driving licence.
Progression Criteria
NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and CertIOSH membership.
Substantial practical experience working within office based and/or operational services relevant to a local government setting.
Previous experience of carrying out health and safety audits
Desirable:
Ideally hold a specialist or higher-level health and safety qualification.
An in-depth knowledge of other specialist service areas such as vehicle maintenance, construction and building maintenance, waste management, grounds maintenance and fire safety.
An in-depth knowledge of specific health and safety issues such as noise, hand/arm vibration, asbestos, dust, fumes and solvents.
6. Problem Solving:
The majority of problems will relate to interpreting existing and in particular new legislation in the context of the council's services.
The postholder will be required to demonstrate a practical approach to developing policies and procedures to ensure that health and safety arrangements within services meets all statutory requirements.
The postholder will be required to exercise judgement and initiative regarding the effective implementation of health and safety legislation and best practice within allocated service areas. More complex problems and decisions will be discussed with the Corporate Health and Safety Manager.
Progression Criteria:
When interpreting existing and in particular new legislation in the context of the council's services, a professional attitude to research legislation, understand the Councils corporate requirements for Health and Safety and the risk appetite of the organisation. The confidence to give advice tailored to the specific service/ team need.
Ability to undertake a thorough and systematic accident, incident or ill health investigation, and make recommendations for improvement.
To have the ability to challenge managers where risk management practices deviate from nationally accepted methods.
The post holder will have the ability to resolve problems autonomously, only referring the most complex problems to the Corporate Health and Safety Manager when it is outside of their existing knowledge.
7. Decision Making:
Work relating to the operational nature of the post will be largely self-determined but the post holder will work within the framework determined by health and safety standards, legislation and best practice to make day to day decisions. More complex and difficult decisions falling outside of this framework will be discussed with the Corporate Health and Safety Manager. Decisions made are likely in general to be accepted and could have a significant impact on services.
Progression Criteria:
Using their professional expertise, the post holder will research new legislation and recommend policy updates accordingly. Advice will be based on professional judgement and knowledge that is tailored to service areas across the Council.
The post holder will produce corporate statistics relating to Health and Safety matters and make recommendations based on these for improvements. For example accident reporting and subsequent changes to training.
Only the most complex decisions will be discussed with the Corporate Health and Safety Manager
8. Operational Responsibility:
Although operational responsibility for health and safety within services will remain with the service managers the post holder will provide competent advice on all matters relating to health and safety across all service areas.
The postholder will be expected to work across a range of different service areas (office based and operational) to ensure the most effective and efficient deployment of resources.
Progression Criteria:
The postholder will contribute to corporate projects in relation to Health and Safety and be responsible for delivering these
9. Communication:
Communication will be 80% with internal staff (office based and operational), Service Managers, Safety Representatives, Union and Employee Side, and externally 20% with HSE, other external agencies, training providers, specialist suppliers, contractors, H&S practitioner groups, etc.
Communication will involve the provision of specialist technical information and advice to services either on a 1-2-1 basis, management teams or the delivery of training to groups. The content of communications may not be easily or well understood by the recipients as health and safety issues can be complicated. The postholder will be relied upon to possess a good understanding of the issues being communicated.
The postholder will need to communicate effectively at all levels within the organisation giving specialist advice which will be relied upon by the recipient. They will communicate professionally and competently so that the advice of the post holder is followed across the organisation with confidence.
10. Working Conditions:
The post is a hands on role that will require daily assessment of health and safety risks. These assessments may need to be undertaken in harsh weather conditions, at different sites across the New Forest District Council area.
The postholder will need a flexible approach to working hours to enable early morning, evening and weekend working as necessary for non-office based services.
Hybrid working is available approximately 50% remote working and 50% at our head office or out across our sites around the district. The candidates will also need to be available for attending urgent investigations across the district at very short notice on any working day.
Working hours are between 08:00 - 17:30 and there can be some flexibility on how these are worked, totalling 37 per week, bearing in mind the needs of the business will need to be put first.
Contact Anna & Tiffe at the Berry Recruitment office for more details!
Please note that no terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of a person's gender, marital status, race, religion, colour, age, disability or sexual orientation. Every candidate will be assessed only in accordance with their merits, qualifications and ability to perform the duties of the job.
