Job overview
The post holder will perform the role of Security Management Specialist (as detailed within the NHS Standard Contract), with responsibilities Trust-wide as well as within their own directorate and will maintain a key position within the line management structure of the wider Health, Safety, Security Management and Ligature team.
The Trust takes a risk-based approach to security management and as such the post holder will be expected to undertake their work in the context of a wider and integrated approach to health and safety management.
The post holder will be expected to work alongside Health, Safety and Security Management Team members to provide advisory and assurance work on risk, emergency planning and health and safety management.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will lead on security management matters, including but not limited to:
Providing expert security management advice and guidance to managers and senior managers across the Trust, including with external agencies or stakeholders as required whilst supporting colleagues in the Health and Safety Team by acting as an internal source of expert knowledge.
Undertake audits, surveys, risk assessments and inspections and develop appropriate risk-based recommendations to improve security management.
Review security incidents and maintain relevant areas of the incident management software and individual case files, investigating incidents where necessary or supporting local investigations.
Act as the Trust Police Liaison Officer, ensuring the Trust develops and maintains strong relations with police services, includingworking with the Officer in Charge to build case files to present to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Lead on the promotion of security management across the Trust, developing promotional campaigns and events and working towards creating a positive security culture.
Lead on a programme of work in the area of violence prevention and reduction, progressing Trust compliance against nationally recognised standards
Act as line manager to personnel within the Health, Safety and Security Management Team as directed by the Head of Health and Safety.
Working for our organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health (GMMH) Foundation Trust employs over 7000 members of staff, who deliver services from more than 122 locations.
We provide inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bolton, the city of Manchester, Salford, Trafford and the borough of Wigan, and a wide range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across Greater Manchester, the north west of England and beyond.
Greater Manchester is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside to the heart of the vibrant inner city with great shopping, entertainment and dining options.
Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.
Our people enjoy their work, have opportunities to learn and develop their skills and are encouraged to generate new ideas that improve care for our service users.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification
Staff benefits
1. Pay Enhancements: – 30% additional for Evenings (8pm onwards) and Saturdays and 60% additional for Sundays and Bank holidays.
2. 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising to 29 after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
3. Excellent pension
4. Cycle to work scheme
5. Salary sacrifice car scheme
6. Wellbeing programme
7. fuelGenie Fuel Cards (for applicable roles)
Person specification
Education/Qualification
Essential criteria
8. Degree level education or equivalent experience
9. NHS Protect/NHS Accredited Local Security Management Specialist qualification or equivalent Security Management qualification/experience.
10. NEBOSH General Certification in Health and Safety or equivalent qualification/experience
11. A training qualification or equivalent qualification/experience
Desirable criteria
12. NEBOSH National Diploma in Health and Safety or equivalent qualification/experience
Experience
Essential criteria
13. In-depth experience of working within a security management or health and safety role ideally within a mental health or healthcare setting.
14. Experience of creating documents to a high standard.
15. Experience of providing expert advice, undertaking risk assessments and analysing data to a high standard.
16. Experience of managing teams and personnel.
17. Experience of policy development and implementation ideally within a mental health or healthcare setting.
18. Experience of working within an NHS or Mental Health service.
Desirable criteria
19. Experience of designing, delivering and evaluating training programs.
20. Experience of using incident and risk management systems ( InPhase/Datix)
21. Experience of managing risks in relation to security and violence and aggression ideally within a mental health or healthcare setting.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
22. In-depth, specialist knowledge of security management and health and safety risks ideally within a mental health or healthcare setting.
23. Knowledge of current national standards in relation to security management and prevention and reduction of violence and aggression ideally within NHS settings.
24. Knowledge of confidentiality and information sharing within a healthcare setting
Desirable criteria
25. Knowledge of the Criminal Justice system
26. Knowledge of Risk Management Methodologies (assessment reviewing, investigation, Root Cause Analysis, Serious Incident review)
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
27. Ability to work autonomously, be responsible for appropriate decision making. manage own workload without close supervision; use own initiative requesting support as required.
28. Computer literacy - to be fully conversant with Microsoft Office applications and an ability to research via the internet.
29. Ability to work under pressure whilst demonstrating sound organisational skills in order to meet deadlines whilst maintaining a high quality of work.
30. Ability to work flexibly as an individual and team member.
31. Ability to concentrate for long periods, prepare complex reports.
32. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate with a wide range of people in a convincing style.
33. Analytical and judgement skills, consideration of complex facts, requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options.
34. Judgements across specialist issues considering legislation, conflicting demands and risks, Health and Safety Regulations and Patient Safety legislation.
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
35. There is a frequent requirement to travel extensively across the whole of the Trust.
36. Work in a fast-paced environment using prioritisation skills and adapting to changes in deadlines and conflicting demands; work pattern unpredictable, having to respond and deal with incidents.
37. Lengthy periods of Sitting, standing, walking, light physical effort for extended periods at a time in order to carry out work on site.
38. Frequent Exposure to distressing situations, direct contact with patients and sensitive situations, potential for violence & aggression.
The Trust mandates all post holders who require a DBS for their role to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration throughout your employment with GMMH.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for posts at Greater Manchester Mental Health who have direct experience of mental health, learning disability or drug and alcohol services either as a service user or a carer.
The Trust is also committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities. If you would like to have an informal chat about the recruitment process for this role or would value some additional support, we’d love to hear from you.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications
A candidate may utilise the help of AI when writing job application. The assessment of an application is made on its entirety and most times AI-generated content does not fully grasp the context and requirements of the job one applies for thus producing inaccurate and misleading information, especially in the supporting statement section of an application that can lack real life examples of one’s achievements, success and challenges.
We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored. GMMH reserves the right to follow up with a candidate at the interview on specific responses and those examples used in the supporting statement to explore it further.
Sponsorship
We are proud to be an approved sponsor for the Skilled Worker visa. Applications from individuals who require sponsorship will be considered alongside all other applications. Please be aware that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible roles and salary requirements on the UK Government’s website – click .
If you are offered a role with us and you require sponsorship, we will check your eligibility in line with the information on the above website. Your offer of employment could be withdrawn if the role is not eligible for sponsorship, and you are not otherwise able to evidence your right to work in the UK.
The Home Office introduces new changes from 22/07/2025 that impact the health and care sector, you may wish to familiarise with it.
Do you have experience outside the NHS?
We want to attract and retain people with diverse skills and experience, to deliver inclusive healthcare services to our communities.
We will consider relevant experience outside the NHS to calculate your salary on appointment.