Senior Health, Welfare and Safety Practitioner

The post holder will support the Health, Safety and Welfare Manager in driving health and safety compliance efficiently and effectively by providing specialist advice, guidance and support throughout the organisation.

The Senior HSW Practitioner will carry out a diverse range of tasks as required to support the team in maintaining the Health and Safety Management system. This will include the management of service risk assessments, developing and delivering relevant training packages, supporting managers through the Incident Investigation process, and attending meetings and working groups to provide specialist and legislative advice. To see the full duties of the role and candidate criteria required please see the job description provided.

The Senior HSW Practitioner will act as deputy to the HSW Manager, and will manage members of the HSW team, therefore the ideal candidate should possess strong and influential leadership skills, and excellent communication skills.

The role is often dynamic and will involve travel across Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) sites to offer support and assistance where required. Service pool cars are available for travel across the sites and any travel expenses would be reimbursed accordingly.

Some of the things you will be doing

• Provide professional advice, guidance and support on all matters relating to health, safety and welfare, to assist the HSW Manager, Senior Leadership Team, line managers and employees across AF&RS to discharge their legal obligations under Health & Safety Legislation.


• Acting as Deputy to the HSW Manager, you will support the leadership of the function, directly line manage some team members, and oversee the team in the HSW Manager's absence.


• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and review of our health and safety management system, identifying any potential gaps or inconsistencies in compliance, and undertaking or assisting with system audits and workplace inspections.


• Support the completion of risk assessments and implement practical and effective measures to ensure a safe working environment. Recommend solutions to issues, improvement opportunities or new preventative measures.


• Develop, implement and review health & safety policies, safe systems of work, guidance and relevant procedures, to ensure AF&RS continues to comply with legislative requirements and best practice.


• Identify health and safety training and development needs across AF&RS. This will require you to review and support the delivery of guidance and training packages on health and safety matters including manual handling, incident investigation, and control of substances hazardous to health. Ensure all training and development activities are evaluated to assess their effectiveness and to highlight any further training needs.


• Provide the necessary input into an annual performance review of health and safety and produce reports on performance and compliance as required.


• Support the HSW Manager with the review, development and implementation of a suitable Health and Safety Strategy, including a suite of relevant key performance indicators.


• Prepare reports, briefings and training interventions as necessary in response to health and safety matters, training needs requirements, and in relation to performance and compliance.
  
  We are looking for a Senior Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) Practitioner with proven experience in the Health and Safety field., Significant experience of working within the health and safety field.


• Experience in leading, planning, developing, implementing and monitoring a health and safety management system, including audits and inspections.


• Experience in monitoring compliance with health and safety legislation.


• Experience in collating, examining and storing evidence, including producing statistical analyses, in relation to investigating accidents, illness, incidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences.


Desirable

• Experience in project management.


• Ability to produce professional reports, codes of practice and training materials.


• Ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels inside and outside the organisation, both orally and in writing, including giving presentations and leading training sessions, with strong skills to influence and guide managers and other staff.


• Effective organisational skills with the ability to work well with conflicting priorities and deadlines. Able to manage workloads and work effectively as part of a team.


• Ability and confidence to deputise for the Department Manager, as required.


• Computer literate with the ability to input, extract, manipulate and present information and statistics using appropriate software packages.


• Strong stakeholder ethic with customer orientated approach.


• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Occupational Health & Safety, Law or equivalent.


• Member of a professional occupational health and safety body such as Institution Occupational Safety and Health.


• Experience of dealing with an enforcing authority - Health Safety England.


• Experience in health and safety within a Fire & Rescue Service.


• Line management experience.
  
  27 days annual holiday (plus public holidays) rising to 31 days after 5 years, and 32 days after 10 years of service


• Local Government Pension - Defined Benefit Scheme


• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Welfare and Wellbeing services


• Staff Engagement Groups


• Access to Medical Intervention Scheme


• Access to Blue Light card with offers online and high street discounts


• Use of the multi-gym, sports hall, restaurant, free parking and beautiful open surroundings at our Headquarters in Portishead.


With effect from July 2023 legislation was amended to enable all Fire & Rescue Services to undertake standard DBS checks for all employees. All job roles require a standard DBS check, with certain defined roles requiring an enhanced check. These will be renewed throughout employment.