Health and Safety Manager

Package Description

Location: George Watson’s College, Edinburgh

Contract Type: Full time, Permanent (part time working will be considered)

Salary: £41,204 - £43,839 (based on 36.25 hours per week, 52 weeks per year)

Benefits: Automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme, reduced school fees at George Watson’s College for children of staff, Membership of the Galleon Club (the school’s fitness club)

The Role

George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Health and Safety Manager to be accountable for developing and embedding a positive Health and Safety culture.

To be responsible for the effective and efficient management of all Health and Safety, and fire safety matters, including policy implementation, monitoring and inspection, risk assessment, investigation and delivery of training.  

APPLICATION PROCESS 

To apply, please click the Apply for this job button. Please include a letter of application of not more than 800 words giving us more information about you and why you consider yourself to be a strong candidate for the role, addressed to Mrs Su Breadner, Chief Operating Officer. 

Closing date: 11:59pm on Wednesday 23 April 2025 

Interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday 1 May 2025

Main Responsibilities

Policy, Guidance and Compliance Responsibilities:

To ensure the school complies with health and safety legislation and regulations. 

To review and evaluate the School’s Health and Safety policies and procedures, ensuring that these are appropriate for purpose and meet legislative requirements, operating procedures and best practice.

To ensure compliance with the Health and Safety policies through regular audit, inspection and other monitoring methods. 

To ensure that the School has a robust and compliant approach to all Health and Safety matters, with safe systems and processes in operation in accordance with risk control hierarchy methods.

To review the Schools Critical Incident Plans and ensure procedures are maintained, understood and rehearsed. 

To provide Health and Safety advice and guidance to staff and other users of the School, for example, contractors, visitors, parents and pupils.

Responsible for ensuring compliance to City Council regulations, e.g make applications for Section 89, assist with production of Event Management Plans, liaison with CEC inspection team.

Act as named Asbestos Responsible Person by maintaining overview of asbestos activities on site and ensure that all obligations under Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 are discharged appropriately. Assist the Duty Holders &; Responsible Person(s), in arranging Asbestos related training and toolbox talks. Report any related incidents to the HSE (RIDDOR). Maintain incident and injury reports and investigations for asbestos related incidents.

Risk Assessment and Investigation:

To ensure that appropriate risk assessments are carried out across the School and to provide staff with advice and guidance in developing their documentation. 

Maintain a central register of risk assessments and ensure regular review as required.

Develop a reporting system and dashboard which enables the Governing Council and senior leadership to track and respond to accidents and near misses.

To investigate and record incidents, accidents and near-misses, and report as appropriate, for example file RIDDOR reports.

To carry out specialised risk assessments such as Display Screen Equipment, New & Expectant Mother and Fire Risk Assessments as required.

To receive and manage external inspections from the Local Authority or other statutory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Staff Training and Initiatives:

To devise and deliver appropriate Health and Safety training for staff and pupils to meet the School’s legal obligations.  Where specialist external training is required, coordinate and manage this.

To deliver Health and Safety initiatives to staff.

Collaborative Working:

To oversee regular or ad hoc projects/events at the School that present higher risk to pupils and staff, for example, school productions, performances or events, and work closely and collaboratively with staff overseeing such projects/events.

To oversee Health and Safety matters in connection with all pupil trips/excursions, S3 Projects and Duke of Edinburgh activities.

To oversee all Health and Safety issues relating to the School’s capital development projects and the repairs and annual maintenance programme. 

To provide expert advice and guidance to the Head of Enterprise, when planning major events with multiple stakeholders.

Work closely with the Professional Learning Manager to develop engaging training material, ensure timely delivery and maintenance of records.

Meetings and Liaison:

To meet with the Chief Operating Officer termly to review trends, merging issues and updates to policy.

To convene the termly Health & Safety Committee meetings.

To attend meetings of the Watson’s Leadership Team, Governing Council and/or the Finance & Property Committee and any other meetings, if and when required, to report on H&S issues.

To carry out any other reasonable ad hoc task or request as directed by the Principal, Chief Operating Officer, Head of Estates & Property Services, or other member of the Watson’s Leadership Team.

The Ideal Candidate

Experience:

Proven experience in a similar role or other relevant experience

Experience of designing and delivering Health and Safety training

Qualifications:

NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety – consideration will be given to those with a National Certificate and currently studying towards the Diploma

Skills:

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Excellent planning and organisation skills

Good knowledge of Microsoft or Google applications, (Excel/Word/Docs/Sheets)

Is able to work proactively as an individual subject matter expert and collaboratively as part of a wider team

Is systematic and analytical in their approach to problem solving

Ideally the job holder will also:

• be a graduate member of IOSH
• hold a Fire Manager certificate
• have experience of working in a school or other education establishment

About the school/organisation

George Watson's College sits in the heart of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, providing a world-class education for children and young people from Preschool to Senior 6.

We encourage our pupils to develop a love of learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive enrichment programme, which are underpinned by the four values we live by: aim high, be kind, join in and respect all.

Our school is a place where pupils have the freedom to thrive, succeed, explore, perform, and grow, giving them the opportunity to discover their own limitless potential.

Preschool, junior and senior pupils all learn and play on the same 52-acre campus, where our sports facilities, music school, art department, technology building and drama studios are within walking distance.

We offer our pupils one of the widest extra-curricular programmes you will find anywhere, plus the opportunity to travel internationally during their time with us, and a broad range of learning experiences outside the classroom.

Digital technology supports and enhances learning, with every pupil encouraged to use their device where it adds real value to developing skills and critical thinking.

Our school has an enviable reputation for the breadth of opportunities pupils have to get active, with around 25 different sports available to both girls and boys. Participation, excellence, professionalism and equality are the four cornerstones of our physical education and sport department here at Watson's.

When it comes to music and drama, our pupils are given the opportunity to co-produce stunning shows, delivering memorable performances that live long beyond school days.

Most importantly, the wellbeing of our pupils matters to us more than anything else. There are various ways we support pupils to proactively manage their mental health, while a range of peer-led programmes has created a culture in which we can all play our part.

All this means that when the sun shines we celebrate the happy moments, and when it doesn't we're there to protect and support, just as our motto says: ex corde caritas - love from the heart. www.gwc.org.uk