Health and Safety Officer

Summary

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service are looking for two Health and Safety Officers to enhance our team based at our Service Headquarters in Exeter. 

The following positions are available: 

• 1 x Permanent Full Time Contract (37 hours per week)
• 1 x Permanent Part Time Contract (22.2 hours per week)

If you are the successful candidate, you will receive a salary of £35745 - £38223 (gross) per annum for full time hours. This equates to £21447.00 - £22933.80 of working 22.2 hours per week. 

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the largest non-metropolitan Fire and Rescue Service in England. We provide prevention, protection and response services across the counties of Devon and Somerset. 

Our vision is that together, we will work to end preventable fire and rescue emergencies, creating a safer world for you and your family. Keeping people safe is what we do, and we owe our fantastic reputation to our highly skilled and motivated workforce. 

About the role:

As our Health and Safety Officer, you will support and develop Health and Safety Management systems and processes, ensuring that the Service complies with its Health and Safety statutory duties. You will provide advice and guidance to the Service to ensure health, safety and welfare of all staff and those affected by our activities is maintained to the required standard, and you will actively monitor and review the implementation of health, safety and welfare policies and processes in line with the Service Core Values and actively contribute to our journey to become an excellently performing Fire and Rescue Service. 

Find out more:

Key responsibilities of the Health and Safety Officer: 

• To research, develop, produce, review and maintain the Service Health and Safety policies, processes and standards. 
• To undertake general Health and Safety Risk Assessments and provide assistance and co-ordination in support of the Services risk assessment strategy. 
• To identify and co-ordinate the distribution and collation of Risk Assessments in line with the Service's Risk Assessment Strategy. 
• To assist with the management and maintenance of systems that record the outcomes of Risk Assessments and Safety Events. 
• To investigate all categories of Safety Events as directed. 
• To carry out site safety inspections / audits and generate reports. 
• To assist with the financial management of resources relevant to the department. 
• To assist with the production and implementation of departmental action plans. 
• To liaise with HR Business Partners, Occupational Health and the Risk Manager on all Safety Events where there is a loss of potential. 
• To carry out Health and Safety Training as required. 
• To attend exercise and debriefing sessions as required. 
• To assist with the audit of compliance against Health and Safety standards. 
• To assist with the production and distribution of effective publicity material to raise awareness and advance the Health and Safety culture of the Service. 
• To represent the Service in a Health and Safety capacity at a local level. 
• To attend local, regional, and national meetings / events as required. 
• To provide advice and guidance to all levels of management in order that the Service complies with its Health and Safety statutory duties. 

Closing Date: 2359hrs Wednesday 1 May 2024.

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our Health and Safety Officer please click 'apply' today, we would love to hear from you. 

You must be eligible to work in the UK. 

How to apply:

You will be required to complete an application form and submit a document evidencing how you meet the following essential criteria taken from the Job Description and Person Specification: 

1. An understanding of the principles of Risk Assessment, 'safe person' concept and dynamic and systematic risk assessment. Experience in undertaking all types of Risk Assessments including Fire. 
2. Experience in developing, implementing, and reviewing Health and Safety policy and processes. Experience of the practical application of Health and Safety policies and procedure at corporate level, in a multi-site organisation. 
3. Experience in undertaking Health and Safety audits in a multi-disciplined organisation. The ability to assist in monitoring, auditing and reviewing of performance standards and targets relating to Health and Safety. 
4. Holder of NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent e.g. Level 3 Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent with relevant post qualification experience. To effectively carry out the role this is likely to be at least 3 years' experience. 
5. The ability to work as part of a team, and on own initiative. 
6. Competent and proficient in the delivery of information and in the use of ICT related skills (Microsoft Suite). 

To help you complete this part of the application form please find attached below the word document "Essential Criteria for Health and Safety Officer Application" for you to download and complete with your evidence for the above criteria. You can then upload this document where requested when completing your application. 

Please note that the evidence that you upload to your application should not exceed 2000 words in total. 

Evidence submitted in relation to the essential criteria above will be used to shortlist any applications received. 

Please also include in your evidence document whether you are applying for the full time 37 hour per week post, the part time 22.2 hour per week post, or both. 

Our values

As a Service and as individuals: 

• We are proud to help
• We are honest
• We are respectful
• We are working together

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service recognise and celebrate the vast diversity of the local communities that we serve, and we aspire for this to be reflected in our workforce. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, experience and beliefs, who share our values to consider working for us.