Health and Safety Officer

North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Health and Safety Officer: Band 5
Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

Are you interested in a career within the Ambulance Service and have a passion for Health and Safety? The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is looking to appoint a Health & Safety Officer (HSO).

Someone who shares our commitment to delivering high standards through ongoing training and development, ensuring quality and safety for our patients and staff alike.

With the support and direction of the Health and Safety Manager, the HSO will provide expert advice and guidance on health and safety issues to all directorates/departments, whilst monitoring the Trust's compliance with the requirements of relevant Health and Safety legislation and guidance.

The successful candidate will support the Health and Safety Manager to develop, implement, and manage relevant policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines in relation to the management of Health and Safety.

The HSO will provide specialist advice and guidance regarding the development of Health and Safety arrangements, as well as promote a positive safety culture that is committed to learning at all levels.

Main duties of the job

1. Interpret legislation and guidance to support the H&S agenda whilst helping to develop, implement, or assist with the implementation of Trust corporate policies and procedures.
2. Support the Health and Safety Manager to identify the Trust's compliance with current and future H&S legislation and guidance, escalate non-conformities, and put in place/recommend corrective actions and forecast resources.
3. Update the Trust H&S Manager on potential risks. Support the H&S Manager to develop, implement, monitor, and audit the Trust's H&S Annual Plan, assuming the lead for areas delegated.
4. Help develop, maintain, and take operational ownership of monitoring and reporting tools to demonstrate actions to ensure compliance with H&S regulations. Escalate reports to the H&S Manager and provide reports.
5. Ownership for policies, procedures, training, and audits. Ensure policies and procedures are in place and adhered to, escalating to the relevant committee/group.
6. Support the H&S Manager in responding to non-compliance notices from external bodies for H&S, escalating and acting upon as necessary.
7. Support the reporting of RIDDOR reportable events to the Health and Safety Executive in a timely manner.
8. Interpret and research legislation, best practices, and guidance to assist the development, production, and implementation of corporate policies and procedures.
9. Support the H&S Manager in developing effective networks with external organisations and bodies.

About us

We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3,230 square miles.

Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more!

Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, allowing us to provide more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.

We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of their journey.

We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART, which deals with explosions or terrorist attacks.

Ultimately, patients are at the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective, and responsive care for all".

We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims regarding diversity and inclusion, we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are an ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of the Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network, achieving across all objectives in the NHS Equality Delivery System.

From 01/04/25, if your role needs a DBS, you'll be subject to a salary deduction totaling £49.50, spread over the first and second pay.

Job responsibilities

The detailed job description and person specification can be found attached to this advert. This provides further details around the role requirements.

Person Specification

Education Qualifications and Training

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs grade A-C or equivalent (including English and Mathematics) or at least 5 years demonstrable knowledge and experience of safety management systems and processes within a complex public or private sector, with a proven record of achievement.
• NEBOSH certificate or equivalent.
• Chartered Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CMIOSH) or equivalent.

Key Skills, Knowledge and Aptitude

• Working with external stakeholders such as the Health and Safety Executive - Communication skills - Horizon Scan on matters of Risk Management.
• Knowledge of implementing Health and Safety Management Systems, i.e., OHSAS 45001.

Experience

• Significant experience in Health and Safety, including advising and assisting management in the interpretation and application of health and safety legislation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.