Health and Safety Lead

Main duties of the job

The post holder will lead on health and safety across the organisation, providing assurance to the Executive Board and promoting a strong safety culture throughout. Key responsibilities include developing, implementing and reviewing H&S policies and procedures, supporting managers with incidents, training and compliance, and delivering organisation-wide training both in person and via virtual platforms. The role will involve designing and maintaining audit frameworks to monitor compliance, overseeing lone working procedures, and reviewing incident reports to ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken. The post holder will liaise with external regulators and inspectors, investigate accidents and near-misses, and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. Working closely with the Governance team, they will support audits, inspections (including CQC), and wider compliance activities, as well as contribute to quality assurance strategies and service improvement initiatives. The role also includes preparing reports for senior management, analysing H&S trends, and staying up to date with legislative and industry developments to continuously enhance organisational practices.

About us

ABL is an exciting fast-paced, growing community health organisation. As an experienced, CQC registered, provider of community health services, we are passionate about delivering evidence based, innovative, effective and relevant health care services in partnership with individuals, communities and stakeholders.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will play a key role in ensuring the effective operation and maintenance of all organisational health and safety (H&S) compliance systems. A central aspect of the role is coordinating and delivering H&S training across the organisation. The post holder will manage relevant internal audits, support Governance in preparing for external inspections by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and contribute to the continuous improvement of service quality and delivery. This role requires excellent communication skills.

The post holder will be required to work closely with the Operational Leadership Team. The position will report to the Head of Governance.

• Providing leadership for H&S across the organisation and assurance to the Executive board.
• Promote a strong safety culture across the organisation.
• Develop and implement health and safety policies and procedures.
• The role will provide support and advice to Managers in dealing with H&S incidents, training and procedures. This will include site visits.
• Organising and providing training across the organisation for H&S, on site and via MS Teams.
• Develop and maintain a practical audit framework to monitor service compliance with H&S and identify opportunities for training and optimisation.
• Develop, implement, and monitor lone working procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff operating independently.
• Review and analyse incident reports, providing support to services in implementing corrective actions where necessary.
• Liaise with external inspectors and regulatory bodies.
• Investigate accidents, incidents, and near misses.
• Assist with identifying hazards and recommending corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with legal standards (e.g. workplace safety laws).
• Provide support to the Governance team in areas such as audits, compliance and investigations.
• Work with the Governance Lead and relevant stakeholders to prepare for and successfully navigate external inspections by the CQC or other regulatory bodies, ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations.
• Assist with developing and implementing a strategy to ensure quality assurance, compliance and development of service excellence regarding H&S. Support operational managers in understanding key H&S themes and trends across the business.
• Prepare and submit timely reports on H&S, audit findings, and service quality improvement initiatives to senior management and regulatory bodies as required.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, legislative changes, and emerging best practices in H&S, and apply relevant knowledge to enhance ABL's governance framework.

Qualifications and Skills

• NEBOSH certification.
• Have a minimum of 2 years experience in a similar position: H&S, healthcare leadership, governance, or a related field.
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Extensive experience in H&S compliance and audit management.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements and standards, particularly those pertaining to H&S and healthcare provision.
• Ideally, a strong understanding of healthcare service delivery processes.
• Analytical and problem solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and multitask effectively.
• Proficiency in relevant software applications, including document management and audit tools.
• Full UK driving licence.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH certification or equivalent recognised Health & Safety qualification.
• Qualification in healthcare, governance, quality, or management.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years experience in a similar Health & Safety, Governance, Compliance, or Healthcare leadership role.
• Experience developing, implementing, and reviewing H&S policies and procedures.
• Experience conducting internal audits, inspections, and compliance reviews.
• Experience delivering H&S training face-to-face and virtually (e.g. MS Teams).
• Experience investigating accidents, incidents, and near-misses, including corrective actions.
• Experience producing reports, analysing trends, and presenting findings to senior leaders.
• Experience reporting to Boards or Executive teams.
• Experience working within community healthcare, public health, or regulated care services.
• Experience in a multi-site or geographically dispersed organisation.
• Experience preparing for or supporting CQC inspections.

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.

Full time, Flexible working, Home or remote working.