Health & Safety Manager

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is looking for a Health and Safety Manager to ensure compliance with health and safety laws and manage safety systems. This role involves developing health and safety policies, auditing compliance, and training staff. The ideal candidate will have a master's degree, significant experience in health and safety management, and strong communication and problem-solving skills. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to patient safety within a valued NHS Trust.

Qualifications

• Educated to masters level in relevant subject or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant technical qualification required, NEBOSH diploma preferred.
• Significant experience managing health and safety in sensitive environments.

Responsibilities

• Developing and reviewing health and safety management systems.
• Assisting in the management of the Central Alert System.
• Conducting random audits to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Health and Safety Management

Communication Skills

Risk Management

Training Development

Problem Solving

Education

Master's level in relevant subject

NEBOSH Diploma

Job description

Job overview

Job overview The Trust has a statutory duty to deliver a service and environment that protects patients, staff and visitors. The Estates & Facilities team supports the Trust in this duty by ensuring there are Trust wide systems in place to enable the senior management team and Divisions to effectively identify, manage and continuously learn from areas of risk to patient and staff safety.

The role of the post holder is to act as the Trust’s competent person on health and safety and advise on best practice and legislative requirements. This post provides expert advice, support and training on health and safety to all staff.

This post is part of the Estates service that Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust may transfer to a NHS wholly owned subsidiary company from October or November 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to join a developing, expanding, organisation with a strong commitment to NHS values and putting patients first. The NHS wholly owned subsidiary will continue to offer NHS Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions to staff who transfer as well as new staff it recruits itself. We look forward to receiving your application.

Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.

Main duties of the job

The post holder’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the Trust meets its obligations under Health and Safety law by developing, implementing and reviewing robust health and safety management systems, policies and procedures.

The post holder will assist in the management of the Central Alert System and process for the Trust. This will include ensuring that the appropriate staff groups are involved with the initial notification and relevance of the alert / safety notice to the Trust.

The post holder will work with the Trust staff and services to co-ordinate the management of the alert and will ensure that actions are put in place to ensure compliance with the alert / safety notice and that the specified deadlines are met. The post holder will also assist in monitoring these actions and complete random audits to ensure that the actions have been completed and that compliance has been maintained.

Working for our organisation

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.

Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Person specification

Education, Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria

• Educated to masters level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• The post holder will hold a relevant technical qualification (NEBOSH diploma preferred). Hold certificate minimum, desire diploma (but can be a development opportunity)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
• Knowledge of Health and Safety Law and application
• Significant experience of managing health and safety
• Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at Senior Management and Executive level
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance associated with health and safety
• Experience of managing risk systems and incident reporting
• Experience of delivering training and the ability to develop training courses.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of Health and Safety Legislation and associated
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Understanding of the public sector

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential criteria

• Ability to have difficult and emotive conversations with staff, patients, families, carers, advocates or members of the public in terms of findings in relation to incidents or claims
• Ability to work under pressure in order to meet tight deadlines
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making

Desirable criteria

• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
• Proven negotiation skills
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources

Our Mission

Outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them.

Our Vision

Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.

Our Values

Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Excellence

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We would welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Please read the job description and person specification carefully to ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

The closing date / interview date is subject to amendment; this vacancy may therefore expire at short notice, so we recommend that you submit an application at your earliest convenience. We reserve the right to close any vacancies without notice.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email; therefore it is important that you check your personal email account regularly.

Unfortunately we are unable to respond to every application; if we do not contact you within 4 weeks of the closing date, please be advised that you not have been shortlisted on this occasion.

You can contact us on 01305 254655 to find out whether you have been shortlisted or if you would like feedback.