Full-time Compliance Officer for Duchy College

About this role

Duchy College is seeking to appoint an experienced and qualified Compliance Officer to take ownership of, and drive forward, the School’s Health and Safety agenda.

This is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to make a significant contribution to our community by ensuring a safe, secure and supportive academic and working environment for pupils, staff and parents.

Reporting to the Estates Manager, the Compliance Officer will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team across our family of three schools:

• Pre-School – day pupils aged 2–4
• Prep School – day pupils aged 4–11
• *Senior School*– day and boarding pupils aged 11–18

The Compliance Officer will be required to drive the continuous improvement of Health and Safety Management throughout the School to ensure legislative obligations are met. They will act as the schools ‘competent person’ under the ‘Management of Health and Safety at Work’ regulations, owning and implementing a Health and Safety management programme across the school site. It is essential the appointed person has a ‘hands-on approach’ to conducting safety tests and inspections, undertaking audits, developing Health & Safety policies and ensuring they are adhered to, carrying out risk assessments, evacuation drills and statutory reporting.

A NEBOSH National Diploma for Occupational Health and Safety Professionals, or similar from another relevant professional body, will be required as well as a demonstrable track record in Health & Safety. Ideally you will have knowledge of the education sector but this is not essential. Comprehensive knowledge of Health and Safety is essential, as is the ability to organise and prioritise. Excellent written, verbal and IT skills are also essential together with the ability to provide advice, train and promote excellence in health and safety to staff at all levels.

You will also demonstrate

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong IT skills
• The ability to provide clear advice and guidance to colleagues at all levels
• A proactive approach to improving Health and Safety standards
• The confidence to deliver training and promote a culture of excellence in Health and Safety

The hours of work are 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, including a one-hour unpaid break each day. There may be occasional evening or weekend working to support specific school events.

Job Purpose

To work collaboratively with the Estates Manager and Senior Leadership Team across the School to develop and promote a positive Health and Safety culture at the School ensuring a safe environment for all staff, pupils and visitors. To manage the school minibus team and vehicle fleet.

To ensure the School meets its responsibilities and remains compliant with all Health and Safety legislation and regulations. The Compliance Officer will be responsible for the effective management of all Health and Safety matters, including development and implementation of Health and Safety policies, risk assessments, communications and training. A ‘hands-on approach’ is essential to establish, manage and monitor Health and Safety standards, processes and systems and to conduct inspections, undertake audits and maintain accurate records.

Main Duties

• Develop and maintain a positive Health and Safety culture across the School.
• Act as Harrogate Ladies’ College ‘competent person’ under the ‘Management of Health and Safety at Work’ regulations.
• Advise the Estates Manager and Senior Leadership team on actions needed to maintain the highest practical standards of Health and Safety Compliance.
• Working with the Estates Manager to ensure full statutory compliance management across all building systems.
• With support from the Estates Manager undertake contract management for compliance service providers.
• Provide information on request for the reporting of Compliance assurance to interested parties including the senior leadership, inspectors and governors.
• Manage asset lifecycle and forward compliance planning.
• Develop, review, evaluate, implement and manage the School’s H&S policies and procedures, ensuring that these are appropriate for purpose and meet legislative requirements and best practice.
• Ensure that all Health & Safety policies, procedures and regulations are adhered to and are regularly reviewed, updated and communicated.
• Put in place control measures to audit, monitor and review Health and Safety management practices for legislative compliance.
• To manage the estates compliance, ensuring that systems and processes are safe and available for their intended use, and that the School complies with all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Instructing statutory testing programmes and managing any changes.
• Maintaining appropriate aspects of the Estates department’s documentation and record keeping in conjunction with the Estates Manager.
• Liaise with the School’s appointed specialist Health and Safety advisors, reviewing fire safety, compliance and risk assessment regimes and ensuring any action points and recommendations are acted upon in order of priority.
• Own and implement a rolling Health and Safety Management Plan principally covering - Accessibility, Accident Reporting, Asbestos Management, CDMC, Management of Contractors, Fire Safety, Legionella Management, Pest Control, PPE, Radiation Protection, Risk Assessment, Security, Severe Weather, Statutory Testing, Transport (Highways, Parking, Site Movements & Vehicle Safety), Work Permits and H&S Training.
• Ensure that appropriate Risk Assessments are carried out across the School by liaising with Heads of Department and event/trip organisers to ensure they and their staff are aware of their risk assessment responsibilities. Ensure that a central register of risk assessments is maintained and regularly reviewed.
• Carry out specific risk assessments such as COSHH, DSE, expectant mothers, lone working and manual handling.
• Carry out internal audits on a regular basis to check all areas of Health and Safety are being implemented across the School. Communicate results of audits to relevant departments, putting together clear actions plans to ensure all recommendation are being completed in a timely manner.
• Oversee and work with the Estates Manager to ensure safety inspections are carried out.
• Set up and implement systems to centrally record, monitor and register the statutory maintenance, testing, inspections, checks and servicing of all related equipment to include Asbestos, COSHH, Fire Systems, Fire Equipment, Ladders, Legionella, LEV, Portable Appliances, Pressure Systems and any other related areas as required.
• Arrange for the inspection and servicing of plant including pressure vessels etc. in line with the requirements of the School’s insurance policy.
• To be the responsible person for Legionella, ensuring the Legionella Management Plan is implemented correctly across the School.
• To be the responsible person for Asbestos Management, ensuring the Asbestos Management Plan is implemented correctly across the School.
• Ensure that all incidents, accidents and near misses are reported and followed up as appropriate, including statutory RIDDOR recording and reporting, liaising with the Estates Manager to ensure recommended improvements are implemented.
• To liaise with external agencies for example HSE, fire authorities, local authorities, consultancies, insurance brokers relating to Health and Safety matters.
• Work with the Estates Manager to ensure Health and Safety issues are considered in the design and execution of all maintenance & estates projects in accordance with CDM Regulations 2015 and ensure compliance by staff and external contractors.

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