Health and Safety Lead

Avenues is a community where people smile, laugh, grow and achieve great things, we know that well-supported people support people well, which makes them want to do their very best for the people we support, and achieve our vision.

As part of our organisational development we are seeking a Health and Safety Lead to join us to manage the continued improvement of health and safety practice across the organisation, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, leading policy development,monitoring standards and providing practical advice and support to colleagues.

**Reporting to our Group Director of Housing & Development, you will**
- Monitor and track statutory compliance, inspections/assessments and remedial actions. Providing reports to the Executive and Board as required;
- Responsible officer for the Health & Safety Committee, responsible for setting the agenda and co-ordinating representation and involvement from across the group;
- Monitor and support training in health and safety, including making recommendations for new training needs, working with the Learning and Development team to review and refresh health, safety and compliance training;
- Assess and approve Service Risk Management plans related to Health & Safety;
- Provide practical advice to colleagues regarding H&S matters, support with practical service based H&S/Fire safety training;
- Day to day link with Avenues Competent H&S Advisor ensuring that Avenues obtains the best value from the contract;
- Work with Service to ensure suitable and sufficient H&S checks are undertaken, results monitored and action taken as appropriate. Ensure a consistent approach to H&S across all sites/offices visiting premises as and when required;
- Where needed carry out, record, and implement workplace, fire, first aid, manual handling, COSHH and DSE and environmental risk assessments and produce safe systems of work;
- With the Quality team support the analysis of H&S data including but not limited to incidents and observations to establish trends with a view to improving H&S and reducing accidents and incidents;
- Liaise with other departments to communicate audit results, outcomes and recommendations as a driver for change and improvement.

**The ideal Health and Safety Lead looks like this**
- An excellent communicator at all levels within the organisation and with external stakeholders;
- Have the ability to quickly develop credible relationships and networks, building rapport and demonstrating your excellent negotiating and influencing skills;
- Highly motivated and enthusiastic;
- Good time management and ability to work under own initiative;
- NEBOSH Diploma/ Degree or MSC in Health & Safety;
- Chartered membership of IOSH/ equivalent professional body desirable;
- Experience with Care/Housing organisation;
- Experience with ISO 18001/45001, SSiP accreditation/standards;
- Excellent knowledge of H&S legislation and ability to put knowledge into practice in an operational context;
- Proficient with computers including office packages and outlook;
- Experience in undertaking H&S audits and inspections;
- Detailed knowledge of H&S management systems;
- Experience dealing with enforcement officials;
- Experience in setting policy and process across a multi-site organisation;
- Able to travel and visit Avenues services across the geography of our operations.

**Why join us?**

We are committed to supporting our employees to achieve a good work-life balance and support flexible working. The team and directorate are dispersed, and people are free to work from one of our offices or work from home. Our head office is located in Sidcup,and we have other offices in Surrey, Suffolk, Shropshire and Kent.

We encourage our central services employees to really get to know the organisation and to spend time visiting services, meeting people we support, their families and our support staff.

You’ll be part of an organisation that takes pride in its values at all levels, making sure the people we support are at the forefront of our decisions.

We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings and are committed to inclusivity and to employing and supporting a diverse workforce so we would love to hear from anyone who feels is able to take this brand new opportunity to the next level.

**Benefits you can expect**
- MONDAY to FRIDAY - 37 hours per week
- Flexible Working.
- 31 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays (pro-rata), increasing after to 2 years’ service and after 5 years’ service.
- Access to high quality training that supports your career development.
- Free and confidential 24/7 access to the health portal and employee assistance programme.
- Contributory pension scheme with life assurance.
- Recommend a friend scheme.
- And more.