Senior Health & Safety Adviser

Overview

Are you an experienced Health and Safety professional looking for a new challenge? Join our dynamic team as a Senior Health and Safety Adviser and help us deliver a high-quality Health and Safety Service.

As a key member of our team, you'll provide expert advice and guidance to Council Services, Schools, Managers, and employees, ensuring compliance with all statutory Health & Safety legislation. With opportunities for flexible working, excellent mentoring, and training, no two days are the same. Apply now and make a difference in creating the right conditions and culture for health and safety to thrive.

If that’s not enough reason to join us, you will be entitled to a range of benefits including a very competitive employer pension contribution, generous annual leave allowance, and access to discounts from a range of services and retailers.

This is role is offered on a 12 months fixed term or secondment 

About us

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.  

About the role

As a Senior Health and Safety Adviser, you'll play a pivotal role in delivering a high-quality Health and Safety Service; providing professional expert advice and guidance to Council Services, Schools, Managers and employees to enable the Authority to remain compliant with all statutory Health & Safety legislation through;

• carrying out health and safety audits for schools and services;
• reviewing accidents and incidents to ensure that they are fully investigated recommending preventative action as appropriate;
• preparing and delivering face to face and  remote health and safety training for schools and managers and employees within services,
• promoting continuous improvements to all aspects of the Authority’s Health and Safety service in continuing to meet client needs including the ability to develop and implement strategies/policies to constantly improve the Health & Safety service.
• The post is expected to participate in any Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committees and other Health & Safety working groups or associated groups as is appropriate. The ability to prepare management reports, complete with analysis and interpretation on Health and Safety matters for submission to Health and Safety Committees and other key stakeholders is essential.  
• To develop safety guidance and policies
• To provide support and advice to Schools and Services on how they can manage their services in line with health and safety statutory guidance and best practice.
• Provide support for the investigation of high risk incidents
• Conduct assurance audits, ensuring that legislative, regulatory and policy compliance of Schools and Services.
• Help to deliver the Schools Health and Safety Training Programme.

Mobile:

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

 

About you

We are looking for an experienced Safety Practitioner who ideally has experience working within a public sector organisation.

The successful applicant will have CMIOSH or equivalent and be used to working as part of a team.

Please see the attached job summary for further information.

Other information

For additional information please contact the hiring manager: Caron Owens, Head of Health and Safety

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Resources cover a wide range of specialisms, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT and Business Operations. Our main focus is supporting the other directorates to provide the best possible service to our residents. To do that, we have to make sure we have the right people in the right roles across the organisation. From our finance teams, working strategically to ensure the best value from public money; to HR keeping our employees healthy and happy, each service is vital in making sure Buckinghamshire Council has what it needs to run effectively and efficiently.

As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/