Health & Safety Manager, Adamstown, Lucan, Co. Dublin

Role Overview

The Health & Safety Manager will provide advice and support to the organisation on the management of health, safety and workplace risks across Giraffe Childcare Group early years childcare centres.

Reporting to the CEO, the role will provide practical advice, support and oversight to ensure safe environments and compliance with Irish health & safety legislation, food safety legislation, HSA requirements, Tusla Early Years requirements and company policies.

Project management will be a key part of the role, with responsibility for leading and delivering health & safety and wider business projects from planning through to successful implementation.

Key Relationships

Internal: CEO, European H&S Director, Director of Childcare, Area Directors, Centre Directors and Central Support Teams.

External: Health and Safety Authority, Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and other relevant external bodies.

Accountability

The Health & Safety Manager will provide advice, monitoring and assurance to the CEO while supporting management in maintaining appropriate Health & Safety standards and successfully delivering key projects across the organisation.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide health & safety advice and support across the organisation, keeping up to date with current legislation and best practice and ensuring this is shared with the wider organisation as appropriate.
• Ensure the health & safety and food safety management systems (including HACCP requirements), policies, procedures and guidelines are maintained, implemented and embedded, promoting a positive health & safety culture across all centres.
• Work proactively with all departments to establish and maintain a continuous health and safety improvement programme and develop tools to support this process.
• Plan, deliver and report on the health & safety and food safety audit programmes.
• Investigate accidents and incidents, ensuring that all direct and underlying causes are identified and learning is shared and effectively embedded to support our objective of continuous improvement.
• Ensure all accidents and incidents reportable to the HSA are notified in a timely way.
• Actively monitor accident, incident and near miss data and provide analysis to determine trends and potential weaknesses, making recommendations for improvement.
• Ensure that all actions arising from active and reactive monitoring are closed down.
• Support compliance with fire and building safety compliance, emergency planning, first aid and other workplace safety requirements.
• Support colleagues to address health & safety matters arising from Tusla inspections.
• Design and deliver health & safety training to colleagues, to improve their knowledge, understanding, confidence and competence to manage health & safety effectively.
• Liaise with Centres and external parties/regulators where necessary to help manage outbreaks and other health, safety or food related matters.
• Provide regular reporting to the CEO on key risks, incidents, audit findings and outstanding actions.
• Lead and deliver key projects and initiatives across the business, ensuring agreed objectives, timelines and outcomes are achieved.
• Ensure all personal and sensitive information is treated with discretion and in compliance with data protection legislation.

Required Qualifications Essential

• Recognised health & safety qualification (NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent).
• At least 2 years' experience in a health & safety role.
• Strong knowledge of Irish health & safety legislation and and how it applies to childcare or educational establishments.
• Strong knowledge of health & safety management systems.
• Practical experience of conducting audits, inspections, risk assessments and incident investigation.
• Project management experience with a proven ability to lead and deliver projects from planning through to implementation.
• Strong communication, organisation, influencing and report-writing skills.
• A genuine passion for health & safety and a desire to influence others to work safely and manage risk effectively.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities across a multi-site organisation.
• Willingness and ability to travel to the UK when required to attend business meetings.
• Full driving licence and ability to travel between centres.

Desirable

• Experience within childcare, healthcare or another regulated environment.

INDHS