Job overview
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ONLY ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM STAFF CURRENTLY EMPLOYED BY WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE TRUST
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust as Head of Health and Safety (Band 8b).
This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic direction, governance and assurance across health, safety and violence and aggression. The post holder will act as the Trust’s designated Competent Person under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, offering authoritative advice to the Board, Executive Directors and senior leaders.
The role is pivotal in ensuring statutory compliance, strengthening organisational risk management, and embedding a positive safety culture across a complex, high-risk national service.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will:
* Provide independent, expert assurance to the Board and Executive Team on health and safety compliance, risk and organisational maturity
* Lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s Health & Safety and Violence & Aggression strategy
* Ensure effective alignment of risk through the Board Assurance Framework and corporate risk registers
* Exercise professional authority to intervene where there is immediate or significant risk to staff, patients or the public
* Oversee audit programmes, investigations and improvement plans, ensuring learning is embedded across the organisation
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Main duties of the job
· The Head of Health & Safety is the Trust’s designated Competent Person under Regulation 7 of the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance and assurance of health, safety and violence and aggression management across the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
· The post holder provides independent, authoritative assurance to the Board, Executive Directors and senior leaders on statutory compliance, organisational risk exposure, system maturity and regulatory confidence. The role ensures that health and safety considerations are fully embedded within strategic decision-making, the Integrated Medium-Term Plan (IMTP) and the Board Assurance Framework (BAF).
Operating with a high degree of professional autonomy, the post holder has delegated authority to intervene decisively where there is material or imminent risk to staff, patients or the public, including directing the cessation or modification of activity to ensure safety and legal compliance.
Working for our organisation
#RemarkablePeople
Our workforce is made up of over 4,000 remarkable people who contribute to the delivery of world-class patient care across Wales, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whether you work in a patient-facing role or within our range of support services, the work that you do enables us to provide high quality care, wherever and whenever we’re needed.
The Trust recognises the need for its workforce to represent the diversity of the population it serves across the whole of Wales and seeks to create an environment where diversity is celebrated and inclusivity matters. We are also keen to break down any barriers into the Trust, and would encourage applications from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities and disability groups.
Careers within the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust are diverse and varied, with opportunities arising right across the service. Whatever your skills and background, you’re sure to find a career with us which is fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding.
In line with the Trust’s Starting Salary Procedure, all applicants will start at the bottom of the band for the position applied for, but can apply for a higher salary if they have previous experience relevant to the position.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job Description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Substantial experience of leading Trust-wide health and safety governance within a complex organisation, including direct engagement with Boards, Executive Teams and external regulators
* Proven experience of providing authoritative assurance and leading responses to regulatory scrutiny or enforcement action
* Evidence of leading Organisational Trust wide policy development and implementation with an understanding of the complexity of service delivery in a large NHS organisation
* Good understanding of developments within the NHS including, Commissioning standards, Health & Care Standards, Risk, Health & Safety, Links, Equality & Diversity agenda
* Demonstrate evidence of inspirational leadership skills and ability to motivate a team
Desirable criteria
* Experience within an ambulance service, urgent and emergency care system or similarly high-risk, distributed operational environment
Other
Essential criteria
* The post holder must be able to travel across Wales to meet the needs of teams based in varied and sometimes remote locations.
* They should be flexible and responsive to emerging priorities and willing to represent the Trust at a national level where required.
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Educated to Masters level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of experience within a Health & Safety environment.
* Chartered IOSH professional (CMIOSH)
* Expert knowledge of UK health and safety legislation, regulatory frameworks, enforcement processes and governance within NHS Wales.
* Evidence of continuous professional development with a proven track record of delivering deadlines
Desirable criteria
* Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management or quality improvement
* Formal training in Board assurance, risk management or system leadership