Head of Health and Safety

Head of Health & Safety

£63,000pa plus Company Car, up to 33 days Paid Holiday, Private Pension plus more

Home based – Nationwide cover

Are you a Health & Safety expert looking for an exciting new career move? If so come and join one of the UK's largest and most recognisable charities in the UK, providing 2.7 million hours of expert medical, practical and emotional support every year, in our hospices in people's homes and in the community. Along with our fundraising activities our 400+ shops generate funding so we can continue to be there when it matters.

The Role

This role is an opportunity to lead and develop the Health and Safety team to proactively support Directors, Managers and the whole organisation to establish and maintain a programme and culture of continual improvement in the management of Health & Safety.

You will develop the direction, strategy and related objectives for the Health & Safety to ensure that Sue Ryder provides a safe and compliant environment for its volunteers, employees, workers, service users, visitors and customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work proactively with the Health and Safety team collaborating across the organisation to embed and drive a positive safety culture, provide assurance to Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Trustees that Sue Ryder is a safe and compliant environment for everyone
• Build, develop and lead high performing and inclusive Health and Safety team
• Act as the Charity's 'Competent Person' on all matters of Health and Safety law, identifying and responding to current legal and best practice requirements
• Ensure Health and Safety resources efficiently and effectively deployed
• Monitor compliance with Health and Safety policies across the Charity and advise the Chief Commercial Officer, Company Secretary of all circumstances where the Charity is at risk of legal breach
• Collaborate across the charity to support the development and implementation of policies which support Health and Safety
• Oversee and ensure that effective training is delivered across the Charity to equip colleagues to be safe and compliant.

Minimum Essential Criteria

• NEBOSH National, level 6 Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health or similar
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Significant experience at a senior management level of providing advice and guidance on H&S issues in a complex multi-site environment (ideally healthcare environment)
• Experience of leading and developing a team

Desirable Criteria

• Business continuity planning experience
• Experience of compliance management and assurance
• Member of Institute of occupational health and safety (Chartered)
• Experience of residential healthcare

Competitive Benefits Package

• 27 days holiday rising to 33 with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata if part-time)

• Company pension scheme

• Staff discount with thousands of retailers

• Refer a Friend scheme - £250 payment

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay

• Enhanced sick pay

• Electric Vehicle Scheme

• Healthcare Cash plan, to claim back costs of routine healthcare

• Death in Service benefit

• Staff discount of 10% on new goods online at

• Structured induction programme and learning and development opportunities.

• Access to Employee support programme

• and lots more. Please visit our careers website for the full list.

Closing date: 1st December

Interview date: TBC

If you want more than just a job, we want you.

Join the team and be there when it matters.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

At Sue Ryder, we recognise that a diverse workforce allows us to provide the best care and support. We are committed to encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

We welcome applications from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and those living with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we're proud to support the 'Offer an Interview' scheme. This means we will offer an interview to all disabled applicants who best meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

We use inclusive recruitment practices including sharing interview themes or questions in advance, offering remote interviews where needed, and other accessibility support.

If you require support to compete an application or participate fully in the interview process, please email

Once in post you'll have access to staff and volunteer networks for LGBTQ+ colleagues, ethnic diversity and equity, people with disabilities, and women and non-binary individuals, plus an Inclusion Passport to record and carry your workplace adjustments.

For more information on our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work, please visit:

Join us in creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to thrive.

Sue Ryder is here to make sure everyone approaching the end of their life or living with grief can access the support they need. There is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need, but with our support, no one has to face dying or grief alone. We are there when it matters.