Building Assurance Specialist

NHS Property Services have a fantastic opportunity for a Building Assurance Specialist. The location of this role will based in the Woking Area in the South region. The role attracts a salary of £36,000 - £48,600, Car Allowance, Bonus & 27 Days Holiday.

This role will see you undertaking both Fire and Asbestos risk assessments, so your time will be split between working onsite and home to then complete your reports. Although you will also have access to local hubs if you prefer.

The working hours are Monday to Friday 0900-1730.

**About the role**

The main remit will be to undertake inspections as required and in the provision of building safety related advice to various departments. The core role will include:

- To take the lead for all fire safety matters on behalf of NHSPS, in accordance with company policy and procedures, within your allocated Region and to support all National fire related projects as required.
- Implementing and conducting audits, assessments and inspection routines, in line with the company's policies, processes and procedures, supporting the Senior Facilities Services Managers in their surveillance activities.
- Identifying and supporting the development of transformational schemes which improve the quality, safety and customer experience of NHSPS buildings.
- Actively liaising with customers to ensure the building management and Health & Safety profile of the company is professional and efficient.
- Contributing, as required, to accident/incident, dangerous occurrence and near miss investigations promptly and to a high standard, working with the Regional Health & Safety Specialist and aligned to company requirements.
- To reinspect all ACMs that have been identified during the Asbestos Management Survey Project. This will include assessment of the Condition, Surface Treatment, Extent and Accessibility of the ACMs identified and recording of the findings using Hardware /Software.
- To implement all continued development of asbestos management and operations in relation to NHSPS policy and procedures.
Key duties and responsibilities of the role
- Provide expert professional guidance and support to Regional colleagues in building safety inspection matters, in conjunction with the Regional Health & Safety Specialist, Technical Services Manager and Operations Compliance Manager as required.
- Act independently in the management of building safety inspection risk management in response to issues raised, up to and including the authority to require the cessation of work by in-house staff and contractors if warranted, e.g. poor standard of work / incorrect work or Health & Safety issues.
- Instigate or require corrective work or controls in areas covered in risk assessments.
- Assist with the implementation of Operations-wide projects, policies and procedures as required.
- Work in partnership with Construction and Minor Works colleagues to ensure projects are correctly specified to meet NHSPS requirements.
- Work in partnership with the relevant managers, including the Operations Compliance Manager and Regional Health & Safety Specialist to support the investigation of incidents and dangerous occurrences, to identify causes and provide expert advice in relation to appropriate risk reduction methods for area of specialism.
- Network with other organisations and specialist groups to ensure that NHSPS is in
- possession of up-to-date information for best practices.
- Attend any training provided to ensure competency within the role and obtain accreditation in specialist areas relevant to the post.
- Develop site assessment/survey plans for approval by Senior Facilities Services Managers for those building and safety elements that require monitoring and inspection. This includes but is not limited to Fire Risk Assessments and Building Risk Surveys.
- Prepare reports and prioritise action plans following completion of Building Risk Surveys and ensure relevant departments and advised of actions within their responsibility.
- Demonstrate Health & Safety leadership behaviours to continually develop our Safety culture ensuring all our employees and those we serve go home safe every day.
- Development of a performance focused culture that emphasises collaboration, accountability and compliance obligations.
- Act in a way that is aligned to the values of NHS Property Services with personal integrity and is commercially solutions focussed.
- Undertake periodic site visits in line with company frequency guidelines to each of the NHSPS premises for which the company has HSE responsibility.
- Ensure that building fire preventative and suppression arrangements meet the standards set out in the relevant documents issued, including NHSPS requirements and those by the Department of Health (which should include the other statutory requirements and recommendations of relevant codes of practice). If in doubt seek clarity from the National Technical Fire Manager, Report all deviations from building standards, statutory requirements and codes of practice to the Senior Facilities Services Managers.
- In conjunction with the National Technical Fire Manager, provide advice on structural fire protection and safety for existing and new NHSPS buildings and proposed alterations to buildings.
- Ensure that relevant risk assessments are undertaken within the designated Region managed by NHSPS.
- Support, with advice, on the proposals outlined in the fire action plan.
- Monitor the implementation of the action plan generated following a FRA and report any deviations from the plan to the responsible Regional Manager.
- Provide advice and guidance to Facilities Services Managers and customers on fire drills and evacuation strategies as required to support coordination and cooperation.
- Support the delivery of all fire related national projects and play an active role in ensuring project goals and targets are met e.g. Tier 2 fire compartmentation.
- Undertake the role of Authorised Person in respect of fire related permits permissions to work.
- Ensure that the Fire Service, Health & Safety Executive, Environment Agency and Local
- Council Authority are informed of current and planned changes to: Fire protection arrangements Site and building layout and Availability of water supplies for firefighting.
- Ensure that the Fire Service is informed about any special fire or life risk, even if only of a temporary nature and that they are advised of changes in conditions or situations of any such risk.
- Embed, within the FM team, a culture of reporting fire related incidents via the company incident reporting system. Support the monitoring of fire related incidents and the provision of reports to Regional Senior FM Managers.
- Undertake, as directed by the Technical Fire Manager, investigation as to the cause and, if appropriate, put forward proposals to reduce the risk of a recurrence of fire related incidents
- Conducting asbestos reinspection checks on-site, across all properties in the designated region in line with the training provided.
- Recording the findings of the reinspection check on the asbestos data capture software using procured hardware.
- Producing Asbestos Building Risk Profiles (ABRP) inclusive of the Reinspection Check report and adopting quality assurance processes.
- Providing key support to the development and implementation of new asbestos management and operational procedures. As and when required, supporting regional teams with understanding, and adopting new procedures.

**This role will require you to demonstrate the following Qualifications and Experience**
- NEBOSH National General Certificate Level 3 or equivalent
- NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety Level 3 or equivalent
- Asbestos reinspection course (recognised 3rd party provider)
- Specialist knowledge of legislation, including but not limited to: Building Safety, Fire Safety, Asbestos.
- Knowledge of risk management and corporate governance issues, tools and approaches / strategies.
- Knowledge of limitations of competency and when to ask for competent support. Effective communication skills to engage a range of stakeholders in service development and change issues.
- Developed analytical and problem solving skills will be required for assessment of complex facts or situations and formulation of improvement strategies Facilitation skills
- Training, coaching and mentoring skills
- Numerate and highly IT literate (capable of producing own reports /documents/presentations as appropriate)
- Knowledge of CAR 2012 and HSG 264
- Willingness and capability to undertake on site activities to complete Asbestos Reinspection checks
- Significant demonstrable experience in a Fire Safety role
- Experience of implementing policies and procedures
- Experience of using a range of techniques and best practice such as risk assessments, audits and investigations.
- Experience of producing high quality reports and correspondence, and giving clear reports/presentations
- Proven experience of building strong and effective relationships with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally
- Membership of a professional body
- Personal integrity and commitment to openness, inclusiveness and high standards
- High standards of confidentiality and ethics
- Takes initiative and consistently drives for improvement and high quality service
- Inspires confidence and empowers others to achieve organisational goals
- Role models' appropriate corporate behaviour and contributes to wider corporate change management
- Proven ability to set own priorities and work plans and work with limited supervision
- Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation
- Able to travel to remote locations around the Region and occasionally across England
- Flexibility regarding working hours and days
- They will have the highest professional integrity and deliver a responsive and proportionate service