Health, Safety and Compliance Officer

Reporting to the Health, Safety and Estates Manager and working closely with the Chief Operating Officer, you will help turn policy and good practice into practical, consistent arrangements across the organisation. This isn't a role that will keep you behind a desk. You'll spend time across our sites, carrying out inspections, supporting colleagues with risk assessments, monitoring compliance and following actions through to completion. You'll also contribute to incident investigations, audits, emergency planning, training and the ongoing development of our compliance systems and processes. A particular part of the role will be supporting fire safety, including undertaking and reviewing fire risk assessments where suitably trained and competent, developing action plans and monitoring remedial actions through to completion. You will:

• provide practical and proportionate health and safety advice and support;
• undertake planned health, safety and compliance inspections across Trust sites;
• support the completion and review of risk assessments and safe systems of work;
• support accident, incident, near-miss and hazard investigations;
• monitor statutory and operational compliance and follow up outstanding actions;
• undertake fire risk assessments where trained and competent to do so;
• support audits, external inspections and the preparation of assurance evidence;
• coordinate and support health and safety training, briefings and communications;
• maintain accurate compliance records, dashboards and action trackers;
• support emergency planning, exercises and business continuity activity; and
• help us continuously improve the systems and processes we use to manage health, safety and compliance., As part of our safer recruitment procedures, appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with children's barred list information where the role constitutes regulated activity. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, we may also carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence process.
Voyage Education Partnership is committed to safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and best practice. It is an offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity with children if you are barred from engaging in such activity. All employees are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of personal information and must comply with the requirements of UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We're looking for someone who combines a good understanding of health and safety with a practical, solutions-focused approach. You don't necessarily need to come from education. Experience within health and safety, compliance, estates, facilities, audit or a comparable operational assurance environment could all provide a strong foundation for the role. You'll need to be confident working with colleagues at different levels, comfortable providing constructive challenge when needed, and able to manage competing priorities across multiple sites. Strong organisation, communication and record-keeping skills will be important, alongside the ability to analyse information and spot where further action is required. A recognised Level 3 health and safety qualification, or equivalent, would be desirable, although we would also welcome applications from candidates with the ability and commitment to achieve one. Fire risk assessment or other relevant compliance qualifications would also be an advantage. Due to the Trust-wide nature of the role, a full UK driving licence and access to appropriate transport are essential.