Head of Health and Safety

NHS; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Health and Safety at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This fixed-term role demands strategic leadership, compliance with health and safety regulations, and collaboration within the Devon health system. Ideal for candidates with a strong leadership background and in-depth knowledge of health and safety practices.

Benefits

27 to 33 days paid annual leave

Comprehensive occupational health services

Staff discounts on shopping and leisure

NHS Pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in health & safety management.
• Proven track record of leadership in complex organizations.
• Understanding of Health and Safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for health and safety services.
• Ensure compliance with statutory obligations and health safety regulations.
• Develop collaborative health and safety model across the Devon system.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Planning

Education

Degree in Occupational Health and Safety or related field

Job description

Go back Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Head of Health and Safety

The closing date is 13 July 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced health & safety professional to work as the Head of Health and Safety at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This fixed-term post, offered for a period of nine months, will provide strategic and operational leadership to the health and safety and fit testing services across both our northern and eastern services.

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as youll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities

For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role

This position reports directly to the Chief People Officer, the Executive Director accountable for health & safety for the Trust. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation meets all of its statutory obligations for health and safety and will be the senior Competent Person appointed under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for the Trust.

We are seeking a capable, credible and forward-thinking leader who can set clear strategic direction for the service and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships both across the organisation and beyond. The post holder will play a key role in shaping how we work as part of the wider Devon health and care system, recognising that collaboration is essential to embedding and sharing best practice. They will be expected to review and further develop the Trusts health and safety strategies, ensuring that future needs, particularly opportunities to support system-wide alignment and digital capability, are fully considered.

The post holder will have the ability to consider health and safety in the broadest sense, understanding how technical health and safety practice interlinks in with a range of specialist areas across the Trust and understanding how health and safety can be applied in a holistic way to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our employees and visitors to the Trust.

The post holder will provide expert leadership to the site Health and Safety Managers, the Fit Testing Programme Lead and the wider teams, acting as a point of escalation for complex or technical queries and supporting a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.

During this fixed-term period, the post holder will be tasked with exploring how health and safety practices can be developed into a collaborative model, working closely with our partners within the wider Devon system. This will include engaging with system partners and developing a proposal to strengthen collaboration and leadership of health and safety services across organisational boundaries.

Interview Date: Wednesday 23rd July 2025

Please note, this is a fixed term contract for 9 months. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity.

For further information please contact: Emily Simpson, Executive and Specialist Recruitment Leadon07958 931414 [e-mail]

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we'll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.

If you're starting out in the NHS, you'll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You'll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You'll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.

Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter

Car lease schemes.

The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).

Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we'd love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

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.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust