Project Manager - Health & Safety System Transformation (Named Competent Person)

-; Taunton; On-site; GBP 62,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A community care service provider based in Taunton is actively seeking a Health and Safety Project Manager to lead a transformative initiative towards a modern health and safety assurance system. This role involves embedding new frameworks, engaging with senior stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with Safety-II principles. Candidates should possess substantial experience in health and safety systems, NEBOSH certification, and strong leadership capabilities. Competitive salary of £62,000–£75,000 with a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Qualifications

• Experience building or overhauling H&S management systems.
• Senior stakeholder engagement experience with board papers.
• Strong capability in communication and training.

Responsibilities

• Act as named competent person for health and safety.
• Design and embed a new Health & Safety Assurance Framework.
• Support business continuity planning and policy development.

Skills

Health and Safety management

Stakeholder engagement

Change leadership

Education

NEBOSH National General Certificate

Project/programme delivery qualification

Job description

Location: Taunton, Somerset (Support Office) Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract Hours: 37.5 hours/week (typically 09:00-17:00) Salary: £62,000-£75,000

The Opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation‑wide transformation in health and safety – moving from a predominantly compliance‑based approach (Safety‑I) to an integrated assurance and learning‑based approach (Safety‑II). You will help embed a modern view of safety that connects statutory compliance, incident learning, workforce wellbeing, leadership behaviours and safety culture – making safer work easier to deliver every day.

Your Role

• Act as Somerset Care’s named competent person (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations).
• Provide professional advice and support to leaders (with operational leaders retaining accountability for managing risks).
• Work cross‑functionally with Property, Quality, HR and Operations.
• Design and embed a new Health & Safety Assurance Framework.
• Introduce a quarterly Health & Safety Assurance Report for ELT and the Quality Committee.
• Support business continuity planning, policy review and development.

What You’ll Deliver

• Health & Safety Assurance Framework designed, implemented and embedded.
• Quarterly Health & Safety Assurance Report providing meaningful oversight and insight.
• Safety‑II learning mechanisms embedded (e.g., good catches, learning reviews, proactive safety behaviours).
• Improved action tracking, assurance follow‑through and visibility of risk controls.
• Consistent competent person advice and practical guidance across services.
• Capability and engagement strengthened so safer work becomes easier to deliver.

About You

You are an experienced change leader with strong health and safety professional competence. You can operate credibly as Somerset Care’s named competent person while leading an organisation‑wide programme to design, implement and embed a modern health and safety assurance and learning system aligned to Safety‑II principles. You are comfortable influencing at senior level, translating complex information into clear assurance, and engaging colleagues across services.

Essential Criteria

Experience & Knowledge

• Built or overhauled an H&S management/assurance system end‑to‑end (governance, assurance cycle, reporting, audit schedule, embedding into practice).
• Health/care experience (e.g., CQC‑regulated, multi‑site) and understanding of sector risks.
• Senior stakeholder engagement (ELT/Board papers, dashboards, assurance narrative).
• Strong implementation capability: communication, adoption planning, training, embedding routines, follow‑through.

Qualifications

• NEBOSH National General Certificate (or equivalent).
• Ability to operate as the organisation’s named competent person.
• Project/programme delivery qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 Practitioner / APM PMQ, or equivalent experience).

Desirable

• NEBOSH Diploma and/or IOSH route (GradIOSH / CMIOSH, or working towards).
• Experience shifting from "paper compliance" to a learning system and strengthening safety culture.
• Practical Safety‑II approaches (learning teams, walk rounds/huddles, good catches, capacity‑to‑succeed measures).
• Experience working with unions/H&S reps, contractors and external agencies.

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and covering letter. In no more than 300 words, describe a Health & Safety system or assurance framework you have built or transformed, and the measurable impact it had.

Alternatively, email your application to [e-mail] with "Health and Safety Project Manager" in the subject line.

Closing date: Friday 20th February | Interviews: shortly after

Somerset Care Limited is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. We are an Equal Opportunity employer and welcome applications from all individuals. As this position involves "regulated activity" (as defined by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) an Enhanced DBS check will be undertaken.

It's a criminal offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group. Somerset Care is committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults and children at risk.

Apply now!