Health & Safety Officer

Overview

St Helen's is looking to appoint a full-time Health & Safety Officer to ensure the school, its employees, contractors, volunteers and those who use the premises comply with all relevant regulations and specifications, with a focus on H&S, Fire and Legal Requirements.

Main Responsibilities

Main Objectives:

Ensure the school, its employees, contractors, visitors and those who use the premises comply with all relevant regulations and specifications not limited to but with a focus on: Health and Safety (H&S) and Legal requirements.

Ensure there is a robust operational risk management process, managers are aware of the risks to their parts of the School, and that individuals understand their accountability for individual risks.

Provide overall advice and support for Health and Safety across the whole school in accordance with School policies and procedures and to assist the Head of Estates on the monitoring, reporting, advising and oversight of H&S compliance coordination.

Key responsibilities:

Health and Safety

Advise the School and Enterprises on health, safety and fire matters and the interpretation of relevant legislation; promoting safety awareness and good safety housekeeping practices.

Ensure that statutory and regulatory inspections/audits and risk assessments are undertaken within the required timeframes; and acting on the required recommendations included within these reports;

Arrange and book statutory and regulatory inspections, audits, servicing and maintenance of equipment, buildings and processes where necessary;

Provide technical support and advice to all departments on the development of operational risk assessments, including the maintenance of the central risk assessment portal, ensuring any actions that need to be addressed by the School as a result of these assessments are implemented;

Provide advice, support and training to staff on the completion and recording of Risk Assessments as required;

Prepare and deliver annual H&S, risk assessment, Fire Safety and other required training to all staff members;

Organise emergency scenario drills (e.g. lockdown) in collaboration with the Deputy Head Compliance;

Oversee the accident and incident reports, conducting regular analysis of data and notifying the Business Operations Director of any trends, patterns or significant incidents;

RIDDOR reporting as required;

Maintaining a complete and up to date record of the status of H&S compliance;

Carry out and document periodic site inspections to ensure that the School and Enterprises compliance-related activities are taking place as expected. This is in addition to any independent health and safety audits carried out;

Maintain and oversee the central CoSHH Assessment portal;

Responsible for the development of the Health and Safety Policy and the health and safety management systems across the School and Enterprises.

Advise, or source external advice, on a range of specialist areas, e.g. hazardous substances, noise, vibration, machinery and occupational diseases; PUWER, LoLER, Machinery Directive, gas under pressure, lone working, contractors including Permits to Work. Review/implement effective PTW system.

Monitor the effectiveness of department health and safety management through regular auditing of these systems;

Work with the School's Health and Safety consultancy on regular external reviews;

Prepare and present to the Governors a report on the status of the School and Enterprises health and safety management systems and procedures.

Maintain the ISI Regulatory Audit logbook, ensuring documentation is in place and accurate;

Sit on the Health and Safety Committee;

Work in collaboration with the Business Operations Director to review and update the Critical Incident Plan and provide training to key staff members;

Collate and review health and safety documentation from external club providers and vendors for on-site events, where necessary;

Prepare paperwork for ISI inspections, where this relates to health & safety compliance.

Ensure compliance with the Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended, and guidance documents relating to this, including awareness of the Building Regulations (Approved Document B and Building Bulletin 100);

Arrange and book annual fire risk assessments and/or fire risk assessment reviews for all buildings on site;

Maintain the fire risk assessment action log, collaborating with the Head of Estates;

To review and update the School's Fire Policy and Procedure;

To ensure the School's emergency evacuation procedure remains fit for purpose and safety signage is accurate;

To provide, or source, competent fire safety advice, guidance, training and technical support;

To ensure the annual inspection and servicing of firefighting equipment takes place and that suitable records are kept and maintained;

To ensure that fire drills are undertaken in accordance with the School's Fire Policy and Procedures on a termly basis;

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of internal fire safety tests including drills, call-point testing, emergency lighting testing etc.

Work with the Estates Administrator to:

Arrange audits, surveys, inspections and training, as directed by the Head of Estates;

Request, collate and review documentation from contractors;

Ensure all statutory inspections, servicing and maintenance of equipment and estates needs are fulfilled

General Duties

Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people by adhering to, and ensuring compliance with, the School's Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy.

Implement responsibilities as set out in the School's Health & Safety Policy.

Support and promote the school's ethos, aims and objectives.

Any other tasks which the Business Operations Director or Senior Leadership Team may reasonably direct.

The Person

It is essential for the successful candidate to have the following qualifications, experience, and personal attributes:

NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent)

2+ years proven experience influencing health & safety in the workplace

Member of a recognised, relevant professional body (e.g. IOSH / IFE)

Practical experience applying health & safety processes (risk assessment; COSHH; hazard mitigation)

In-depth knowledge and understanding of health & safety legislation and guidance; RRFSO and related guidance; CDM Regulations and building standards

Proficiency in Microsoft Office; Microsoft Sharepoint; Microsoft Excel

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels and engage with stakeholders

Good presentation and public speaking skills, with the ability to deliver engaging training

Excellent organisation, prioritisation and time-management

Excellent written communication and good report-writing skills

Commitment to the values and ethos of St Helen's School

Current DBS clearance

Commitment to keeping children and young people safe

Commitment to maintaining relevant CPD portfolio, staying abreast of changing guidance, practices and standards

It is desirable for the successful candidate to have the following qualifications, experience, and personal attributes:

• NEBOSH National / International Diploma
• Experience influencing health & safety within an educational setting
• Chartered member of IOSH (or working towards)
• Understanding of HSG274 (Legionella Guidance) and HSG227 (Managing Asbestos)
• Knowledge and understanding of health & safety within leisure and/or performing arts environments
• Good understanding of Independent School Standards, where they relate to health & safety compliance
• Experience writing health & safety policies and procedures
• Experience delivering health & safety training
• Resilient problem-solver who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments
• Quick-thinker able to provide safe and proportionate solutions in situ
• Confident communicator who influences others through both written and verbal channels
• Conscious collaborator who works well with others at all levels, whilst positively contributing to conversations