Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Health & Safety Competence and Compliance

Fulfilling the role of the competent person to provide advice on health and safety matters and arrangements within the Trust, as required under regulation 7 of The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Provide corporate advice on statutory and legal requirements for Health and Safety. 

·        Provide expert advice, guidance and support to staff at all levels on health and safety matters and arrangements. 

·    Be the corporate lead for professional advice and support in the continuous development of Health and Safety. 

·      Provide strategic leadership and direction for the overall management of health and safety within the Trust. 

·    Be the corporate lead for the development, review and implementation of The Health and Safety Policy as well as other policies on health and safety legislation that are assigned. 

·   Advise on and support the development of health and safety arrangements within other Trust policies and procedures for the purposes of achieving compliance with legislative requirements and safe practice. 

·      Keeping up to date with changes to health and safety legislation and ensuring any changes relevant to the Trust are communicated through the appropriate committees and to relevant policy owners to be incorporated within Trust policies and procedures.

 ·        Undertake an annual health and safety audit to monitor compliance with health and safety legislation. 

Accident/Incident Investigation and Monitoring

Actively promote a culture that encourages openness and honesty so staff feel they can report all incidents and near misses. 

·    Maintain oversight of all non-clinical accidents, incidents or near miss events reported through the Trust’s incident reporting system (Datix) and provide advice, guidance and support to investigators of these events, as required, to ensure appropriate investigation and mitigations to prevent reoccurrence. 

·   Approve closure of all non-clinical incident investigations that resulted in moderate or above harm to approve closure of other incidents, as required. 

    Take corporate responsibility for interpreting The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and deciding if incidents are reportable under the regulations. 

Reporting RIDDOR incidents to The Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

·  Developing and maintaining a robust RIDDOR investigation process and overseeing the investigation of RIDDOR incidents to confirm appropriate investigation and action, in line with Trust policy.

Analyse relevant accident/incident information and identify trends ensuring significant findings are reported to The Health & Safety Committee with recommendations. 

Risk Identification, Control and Management 

·     Be the lead for the development of the non-clinical risk assessment programme across the organisation to ensure risk assessment compliance. 

· Lead the development of risk assessment templates and supporting documentation for non-clinical areas and health and safety specific risks. (DSE, COSHH, Stress etc.) 

·  Support department leads and managers to undertake risk assessments, including the systematic identification and assessment of non-clinical risks and collaborating with local management to identify suitable solutions and actions to further control and mitigate risks. 

·     Develop and maintain a suitable and sufficient training programme to support staff with completing risk assessments, including generic risk assessment and specific health and safety risks assessments. Maintain oversight of high-level health and safety risks on the risk register and support the identification and implementation of suitable solutions to reduce risks, where appropriate.

 The Health and Safety Committee 

·     Subject matter expert for the Health and Safety Committee. Overseeing the management of, and arrangements for The Health and Safety Committee (HSC).

 Support the development of a robust Terms of Reference (TOR) for the committee.

Actively participate in the work of the committee and provide the committee with regular health and safety reports and information on significant health and safety matters.

 Information, Instruction and Training 

·      Facilitate the development and delivery of a suitable and sufficient Trust wide health and safety training programme. 

·      Provide advice to managers and department leads on role specific health and safety training, as required. 

·  Deliver health and safety education and training programmes for risk assessment and other health and safety matters identified. 

·   Undertake toolbox talks with individuals/teams on health and safety related matters, as required. 

·   Maintain communication strategies for the promotion of health and safety agendas. 

Performance Monitoring and Measurement 

·        Measure the health and safety performance of the Trust in line with The Health and Safety Management System and Health and Safety Policy. 

·     Plan and implement health and safety audits to assess compliance with The Health and Safety Policy, Health and Safety Management System and Health and Safety Legislation. Develop audit tools and where deficiencies are identified through audits ensure respective local managers are informed and supported to develop an action plan to rectify areas of non-compliance. 

·    Write the health and safety annual report and present the key findings at relevant committees and forums. 

Consultation and Collaboration 

·        Develop good working relationships within and outside the Trust, ensuring that all stakeholders understand, respect and recognise the Trust’s policies and procedures.

 Ensure Health and Safey representation at relevant health and safety related committees and groups.

 Work collaboratively on Health and Safety matters with:

           - The Fire, Security and Estates Managers

- The Occupational Health and Wellbeing Manager

- The Manual Handling Advisers.

- Radiation Protection Advisers.

·      Consult with union-appointed health and safety representatives on health and safety matters. 

·        Liaise with external enforcing agencies on Health and Safety issues. 

·        Attend all quarterly meeting which include but limited to: 

- Water Safety Committee

- Ventilation Safety Committee

- Medical Gas Safety Committee

- Fire Safety Committee

- Decontamination Committee

Organisational 

·    Establish and maintain an efficient office function including reference sources and records, including all sector correspondence.

When procuring equipment, health and safety manager should advise staff to prioritise safety by ensuring the equipment is suitable for the task, properly maintained, and that staff are adequately trained on its safe use. Additionally, risk assessments should be conducted, and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be provided and used.  

·        Manage the environment health and safety procurement and budget activities to t ensure audits and requisite equipment are purchased in accordance with procurement requirements.

To manage own time and work items ensuring fulfilment of the core tasks of this role.

Professional Responsibilities 

·     To maintain all appropriate professional registrations and uphold professional codes of Conduct and Standards. 

·     To maintain a high level of knowledge and competence within the field of health and safety.

 To maintain personal professional development and a record of professional development. 

Strategy and Improvement

 Develop and deliver a strategic approach for the services and compliance management ensuring that the underpinning policies, procedures, systems and processes are put in place to bring about a sustainable change.

 Providing Senior Management/Board-level advice and guidance on strategic and issues, including preparation of specifications and tendering procedures.

Policy and Service Development: 

To use your broad knowledge of national guidance, local policies and professional Codes of Conduct to demonstrate the ability to provide/receive and interpret complex or contentious information and then apply that information appropriately to achieve the aims of particular client briefs.

To be familiar with the DH - Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Performance (QIPP) agenda, CIP programmes and the Lord Carter Review as it relates to non-clinical and back-office functions and strive to implement relevant recommendations.

 Corporate Responsibilities 

The post-holder will be bound by all Trust policies and procedures. These can be found on the Trust’s intranet site.

The Trust expects individuals to act with honesty, integrity and openness towards others. Individuals will show respect for patients, staff and others. Individuals are expected to learn and adapt the use of technology where relevant; in order to transform the way, the Trust responds to patients. Staff should always be helpful to patients and their visitors, should respond constructively to criticism and praise and should work to foster teamwork both within the immediate team and across the Trust.

Other Job Duties 

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However, the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore, be amended in consultation with the postholder