Health & Safety Lead

• Acting as a Trust lead competent person for matters relating to Health & Safety.
• The day to day management of the health & safety team in the delivery of effective trust wide systems and processes to effectively gather and act upon health & safety information, in line with current Government Legislation, Regulations, Policy Guidance and good practice.
• Supporting a culture that improves quality by enabling the delivery of high quality care through the effective identification of lessons/areas for improvement and promotion of learning as a result of data analysis and investigation, using audit and evaluation cycles to seek assurance.
• The role is initially made available on a temp to perm basis, becoming permanent after a 3 month probation period.

• Support the development of the Health & Safety Programme of Work/Plan in meeting legislative requirements, national policy and best practice across the Trust.
• Support promotion of a culture of safety awareness amongst staff across the Trust
• Support the development and delivery of a Trust Wide Health & Safety training and staff development programme.
• Represent the Trust to external audiences and stakeholders, whilst influencing wider national, regional and local NHS policies, initiatives and developments.
• Establish links and excellent working relationships with external agencies, partners and organisations and groups that aid the patient safety agenda.

• Management, implementation and update of the Health & Safety Programme of Work/Plan with day to day management of health & safety activities.
• Act as a role model for working with people who use our services, their families, carers and others as well as staff to create an atmosphere of transparency, openness and candour, leading and chairing relevant groups/meetings as required.
• Represent the Trust and liaise as necessary with other NHS bodies, local authorities and government departments on matters relating to patient safety.

• Ensure the effective reporting of health and safety compliance and incident data to the Trust Board via Integrated Governance Structures.
• Developing and overseeing work plans which provide assurance of compliance to legislation through specialist and existing programmes of audit and assurance, developing action plans to address areas of non-compliance and for improvement in conjunction with divisional and corporate teams.

• Work with divisional teams and leads to implement action plans and improvements.
• To project manage and deliver key projects as identified by the Head of Health & Safety and co-ordinate rolling programmes of quality, patient safety and review of information based on local divisional and Trust priorities.

• Responsible for the management of direct reports supportively, participating in reviewing, developing and supporting the health & safety team through the appraisal system and the relevant HR policies.
• Ensuring the prompt and effective recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

• Demonstrate a high level of communication skill, specifically able to present complex and sensitive information to multidisciplinary teams

• Educated to degree level or higher, or relevant experience in the field of health & safety or a related discipline
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Previous Experience within the NHS is desirable
• Membership with the Institute of Safety and Health (IOSH) at Graduate Level (GradIOSH)
• Management / Leadership qualification and/or Quality Improvement Qualification is desirable
• Regonised teaching / training qualification is desirable
• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health is desirable
• Project management qualification or relevant experience is desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of statutory and regulatory, guidance and best practice frameworks requirements for health & safety such as;
• The application of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the regulations that fall under it
• The application of appropriate national NHS/DoH guidance (HTM’s, HBN’s, DoH alerts)
• Knowledge of relevant standards and guidance relating to health and safety such as ISO 45001
• Awareness of fire safety legislation applicable guidance for NHS premises and employees
• Understanding of Equality and Diversity issues
• Demonstrates up to date, evidenced based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• A comprehensive understanding of own development and others training needs
• Understanding of the health care environment in both acute and community settings is desirable

• Minimum of three years experience of managing health and safety in an acute hospital environment (post qualification)
• Specialist knowledge and experience across a range of work procedures in connection with acute health-care e.g. patient moving and handling, infection control, radiation, cleaning and estates services
• Experience of delivering compliance and assurance programmes and supporting staff to develop audit methodologies
• Able to apply confidentiality and information governance
• Motivated to improve the quality and safety of health care
• Ability to apply the evaluation, audit and improvement cycle
• Team player and able to work autonomously
• Experience of decision-making and prioritising in acute health care setting
• Analysing data or information and using this to influence practice
• Line management experience
• Experience of gathering and interpreting patient safety and compliance data and implementing measurable improvement plans
• Experience of managing resources across multiple teams and specialities
• Experience of audit and other bench marking strategies, using the result of interim change and improvement.