Senior Health and Safety Advisor (Compliance) - Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE15 8NY Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year Contract: Permanent Working Pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours Reference Number: G Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Health and Safety Adviser (Compliance) to join our People Team at the NHSBSA. Our reputation as a partner of choice to the NHS is built on our people - they are our greatest asset and at the heart of everything we do. The safety and safeguarding of our colleagues and customers is a key priority, and this role will support the People Safety and Safeguarding Lead in developing and delivering a refreshed approach in these areas to deliver our responsibilities.
You'll be joining us at a pivotal moment as we launch our Safety, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Strategy. We're looking for a passionate and experienced health and safety professional who's ready to help bring this strategy to life. This is more than a compliance role - it's a chance to influence and embed a proactive safety culture where everyone plays a part in keeping people safe.
You will lead on the development and implementation of robust compliance frameworks that support our commitment to creating a safe working environment. You'll play a key role in embedding a proactive safety culture and advancing our progress toward ISO 45001 accreditation.
What do we offer?
27 days leave (increasing with length of service) plus 8 bank holidays Flexible working Hybrid working model Career development Active wellbeing and inclusion networks Excellent pension NHS car lease scheme Access to a wide range of benefits
Main duties of the job
What You'll Be Doing:
Lead health and safety compliance activity across multiple sites and services (this may involve travel to our other sites on occasion) Advise senior leaders and stakeholders on regulatory requirements and best practice. Support strategic programmes covering Health, Safety, Psychological Risk, Critical Incident Support, and Safeguarding. Drive continuous improvement through audits, risk assessments, and incident reviews. Champion innovation and cultural change in how we manage safety and risk. Contribute to our journey towards ISO 45001 accreditation.
About us
Here at the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), what we do matters.
We manage the NHS Pension scheme, process prescription payments and much more. Our services are used by NHS organisations, contractors and the public: we're proud to be part of something meaningful, that touches millions of lives.
We design our services around customer needs and place people at the heart of our organisation. That's why when you join us, you'll be empowered and supported to help your career grow.
As one of the UK's Best Big Companies to work for, we're connected to our values: Collaborative, Adventurous, Reliable and Energetic. We care about our people, our purpose, and your progress.
We strive to offer a fantastic colleague experience, where every colleague is heard, supported and respected. Wellbeing, diversity and inclusion is at the centre of this, and you can join our Lived Experience Networks who help us bring our authentic selves to work.
We're committed to being a flexible employer and we try to offer a working pattern that suits you where possible, through hybrid working, flexible hours and more.
Alongside a competitive salary with pay progression, we offer a people-centric benefits package, connecting you to the rewards and benefits you value most!
Ready to join us in delivering business service excellence to the NHS, helping people live longer, healthier lives? Apply today and see where the NHSBSA can take you.
We are people connected to care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As Senior Health and Safety Adviser (Compliance), this role is accountable for supporting the People Safety and Safeguarding Lead in developing a new approach to Health, Safety and Safeguarding within the NHSBSA, leading the transformation and alignment of our health, safety and safeguarding strategic agendas to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the organisation and the changing people safety risks we face. Working with the Lead, you will design a new approach to all safety issues which effectively manages the emerging risks the organisation is facing and ensure compliance with health, safety and safeguarding legislative requirements, protecting the health and wellbeing of colleagues and customers.
You will be responsible for leading and managing the compliance aspects of the NHSBSAs H&S Management System, ensuring effective identification and management of all compliance related risks, and delivery of a comprehensive advisory service as it relates to the management, and control, of related risks.
You will work alongside the Senior Health and Safety Adviser (People) ensuring a joined-up approach across all aspects of health and safety management including development and maintenance of the H&S Management System.
You will lead the design, implementation, management and monitoring of compliance activity within the H&S Management System, working collaboratively with key stakeholders and colleagues to enable their understanding, responsibility and delivery of robust health and safety practices across their business areas.
You will be forward thinking, innovative, have well developed communication and collaboration skills, and take an evidence-based approach, driving improvement. The aim is to create a culture where health and safety is the responsibility of all colleagues in effectively managing risk and ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, whilst safeguarding the health and well-being of our workforce and customers.
Accountabilities:
Support the People Safety and Safeguarding Lead to develop a new approach to Health, Safety and Safeguarding within the NHSBSA, leading the transformation and alignment of our health, safety and safeguarding strategic agendas to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the organisation and the changing safety risks we face. Design a new approach to all safety compliance issues which effectively manages organisational risk and ensures compliance with health, safety and safeguarding legislative requirements, protecting the health and wellbeing of colleagues and customers. Work in partnership with the Senior Health and Safety Adviser (People), to develop, implement and maintain an integrated H&S Management System, aligned to the requirements of the appropriate professional framework and standards, ensuring an organised and systematic approach to health and safety management, legal compliance and continual improvement. Develop, implement and monitor progress of the new strategy as it relates to the management of people risk, including setting appropriate objectives and targets, aligned to the NHSBSA Strategy (in partnership with key internal and external stakeholders). Ensure these strategies take into account best practice, government mandates, strategies and targets, national key initiatives and local plans and objectives to ensure that the NHSBSA meets its statutory obligations in respect of the full range of associated legislation with regard to health, safety and safeguarding, including appropriate arrangements for monitoring, consultation, involvement and reporting. Establish and manage a proactive support and advisory health and safety service, as it relates to compliance risk, to the organisation. Provide subject matter professional expertise, interpretation and support to all managers on all matters relating to safety issues including statutory and mandatory requirements, Government and NHS policy and terms and conditions, as well as best practice within these fields. This will include interpreting and assessing the implications of pending legislation, and government mandates. Work in partnership with the Estates Team and Commercial Team to transform the approach to managing property and facilities management related safety risks, including the creation of robust and comprehensive audit, governance, contract management and reporting arrangements to ensure clarity on responsibilities, reporting and escalation of any identified risk, including COSHH, Contractor Management, working at height, asbestos, water hygiene etc. Lead on managing compliance with, and reporting arrangements for, externally accredited audit and review programmes, ensuring risks are identified at an early stage and remedial actions put in place. Design, coordinate and monitor a robust internal health and safety audit and review programme in partnership with key stakeholders and external suppliers and partners. Ensure compliance risks are identified at an early stage and appropriate interventions put in place, including liaison with other key stakeholders such as Estates and operational colleagues. Ensure that effective risk assessment and control measures are in place to keep colleagues and customers safe when on-boarding or developing new services, and work in partnership with the Estates Team and other relevant teams to ensure the design of effective services and roles which minimise property and facilities management safety related risks. In partnership with the Senior Health & Safety Advisor (People) design a comprehensive impact assessment process for health, safety and safeguarding that will include establishing a robust engagement framework to be used and monitored at every stage of service review and redesign. Collaborate with and influence relevant managers to ensure all services are assessed against their impact on safety and ensure that all new services are compliant. Lead the research and development of safety related policies, procedures and guidance that are consistent with statutory and mandatory requirements and codes of practice, national initiatives, and best practice. Monitor, evaluate and review these policies for impact and effectiveness. Establish, maintain and review appropriate data sets in relation to property and facilities management related safety, working collaboratively with the Estates Team, suppliers and contractors, and People Data Team. Monitor, analyse and report progress and activity to internal stakeholders including the Leadership Team and Board, and external bodies where required (e.g. Health and Safety Executive, Department of Health and Social Care) in a timely manner in accordance with an agreed reporting timetable. Establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders e.g. internal corporate and operational teams, regulatory bodies, trade unions, legal representatives, and NHS Resolution. Make recommendations for change/improvement activity where required to manage risk and ensure compliance with statutory obligations. Ensure a thorough investigation of accidents, incidents and near-misses, coach colleagues to enable their full participation, and recommend and monitor implementation of any actions required (using a lesson learned approach). In addition, responsibility for ensuring accidents, incidents and near misses are reported to appropriate regulatory bodies in line with legal requirements, and that any enforcement notices are dealt with appropriately. Working collaboratively with the Estates Team and external providers including Facilities Management suppliers to integrate health and safety considerations into the approach to identify and respond to property and facilities management related safety risks and management of risk. Working collaboratively with the Environment and Sustainability Team to integrate health and safety considerations into the organisations commitment to environmental responsibilities. Manage the Health and Safety Adviser, supporting colleague development and performance, and setting and monitoring personal objectives. As a senior member of the Safety and Safeguarding Team, enable the team to develop and grow their internal confidence and capabilities through an inclusive and compassionate leadership approach. The team will be the subject matter experts on safety and safeguarding within the NSHBSA and will continually be looking for creative and innovative ideas to support the design and continued transformation of these areas. Develop, manage and monitor Health, Safety and other safety-related Committees, Groups and Networks across the NHSBSA which meet consultative and engagement legal requirements, representing union and non-union members, to embed collaborative joint-ownership of health and safety, reporting compliance and effective management of identified risk (compliance). Develop relevant terms of reference, roles and duties, set agendas, provide reports and papers to chairs, members and the Leadership Team. Lead the design, delivery, reporting and evaluation of health and safety training and associated training plans (property and facilities management related safety risks) and work collaboratively with the Organisation Design and Development Team to implement this. Lead the creation and communication of information, awareness campaigns, and training in relation to all property and facilities management related safety issues, ensuring a continuous programme of communications.
For a full list of responsibilities, see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent) and Graduate IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health) or above (or significant equivalent experience).
Desirable
Lead Auditor qualification
Personal Qualities, Knowledge and Skills
Essential
Comprehensive understanding of the relationship across health, safety and wellbeing, and in particular knowledge of the impacts/risks associated with different working arrangements - office, home working, and hybrid working. In-depth knowledge, and application of, employer's statutory responsibilities in the workplace, i.e. DSE, Manual Handling, First Aid, etc. Knowledge of health and safety issues linked to property and facilities managements - COSHH, Contractor Management, Working at Height, Asbestos, Water Hygiene etc. Knowledge of health and safety issues linked to supplier and contractor management, and commercial implications. Excellent management and leadership skills gained from previous experience Ability to use evidence-based practice to develop new solutions to meet changing business need Good analytical and problem-solving skills Advanced communication and influencing skills to establish trusting working relationships with leaders, colleagues and external organisations Able to use initiative, multi-task and prioritise diverse workload and work to deadlines Competent IT skills e.g. word processing, designing and maintaining spreadsheets, designing Powerpoint presentations Advanced training and presentation skills Ability to maintain confidentiality and deal with difficult situations in a sensitive manner Evidence of on-going Continuing Professional Development.
Desirable
Car driver
Experience
Essential
Significant experience in a health and safety advisory role in a large, complex organisation Experience of continually improving health and safety effectiveness and efficiency Experience in planning and project delivery, with ability to deliver projects on budget and on time with benefits realised Experience of data analysis, producing and presenting reports, Annual Reports, and other official documentation to a high standard Experience of carrying out audits and inspections. Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating training courses. Experience of producing and presenting reports, Annual Reports, and other official documentation to a high standard.
Desirable
Experience of leading a team and managing their continuous development Experience of translating strategies into actionable plans at local or organisational level Experience of creating, maintaining and managing an externally accredited Health and Safety Management System. Experience of working with Estates and Commercial Teams and suppliers on property and facilities management related safety in respect of risk management, Knowledge of governance and assurances arrangements as they pertain to health, safety and wellbeing. **** When applying for this role, please read the Supporting Documents on the apply page. ***
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