Job Title:Â Risk Assessment Officer (Grey/Green)
Contract:Â Permanent
Working Hours: 37 Hours per week
Salary: £44,911 – Watch Manager* / £37,261-£40,478 Grade 8*
Location:Â Kelvedon Park
We are open to discuss working arrangements including flexibility over hours and location.
*This role is offered as either Grey Book (Watch Manager level) or Green Book (Grade 8). As an operational employee, you will be required to maintain operational competency, and support availability and work from various stations across the county, in line with our Day-Duty Officers Riding (DDOR) principles. This is a requirement of the role and an essential condition to maintaining Grey Book terms and conditions.
The Role
Reporting to the Health and Safety Manager, you will assist with the planning, developing and implementation of the health and safety function. Be responsible for overseeing and managing all risk assessments, developing Service model and generic risk assessments and procedures. Offering advice and support to Station Managers for risk assessment escalation and providing constructive feedback to ensure all risk assessments meet the required standards. Collate data and produce health and safety performance reports as well as manage National Operational Guidance risk assessments to ensure the Service procedures align to National practices. Leading and arranging direct consultation with Representative Bodies and Safety Representatives on matters relating to risk assessments and all other duties commensurate with the responsibilities and grading of the post.
What You Will Be Working On
• Assisting the Health and Safety Manager in planning and developing the department strategy for the effective delivery of the Health & Safety function.
• Responsible for overseeing and managing all risk assessment management systems.
• Collate data and produce H&S performance data and provide reports.
• Manage National Operational Guidance (NOG) risk assessments to ensure that Service procedures are appropriately aligned to National Practices.
• Develop Service generic risk assessments and procedures and communicate model risk assessments and examples for reference and use by Service Managers and all staff.
• To be the key point of contact for Station Managers for risk assessment escalation. To utilise sector competent knowledge and expertise of Fire Service practices, providing constructive feedback, advice, and support to colleagues at all levels to ensure that risk assessments meet the required standards.
• To be responsible for leading and arranging direct consultation with Representative Bodies and Safety Representatives, on matters relating to risk assessments.
• Conduct surveys, testing and analysis on new and existing equipment and report on the findings with recommendations.
• Conduct specialist assessments e.g., slip testing, hand/arm vibration and manual handling and to provide advice on requirements and controls on new products.
• Review existing Health and Safety policies and make recommendations for amendments to the Health and Safety Manager.
• Deputise for the Senior Health and Safety Advisor at meetings as required.
• Provide sector competent advice related to other health and safety matters.
What Are We Looking For?
It is an essential requirement to have proven experience and a strong health and safety background as you will be responsible for overseeing and managing all risk assessment management systems, assist the Health and Safety Manager in planning and developing the department strategy, and support the implementation of the department business plan with regard to risk assessments.
Eligibility
You will have a Level 6 accredited H&S qualification (or equivalent) and be a Graduate Member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
The Application Process
This will be a three-part application process.
Application – Initially you will apply via our website by attaching a supporting statement. Your supporting statement should be a maximum of 750 words showing us how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification for the role. We love it when our applicants write thorough supporting statements so don’t be afraid to go into detail! This will give us a great understanding of your skills and experience and how well you fit the role.
Additional assessment – If successfully shortlisted you will be invited to take part in a 15-minute presentation on a subject to be advised.
Interview – The final part of the recruitment process will be a 45 minute role specific based interview.
How to apply
You are required to submit a supporting statement of no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential criteria for the role via Civica. It is important that you provide as much evidence as possible as to how you meet the essential criteria of the person specification as this statement will be used to shortlist your application. Please ensure you have uploaded the supporting statement before clicking Apply.
Should you wish to have an informal discussion with regards to the role, please contact Joanne Hellen on 07500 102558 or joanne.hellen@essex-fire.gov.uk
We are an equal opportunities, Disability Confident, employer who welcomes applications from everyone and values diversity in our workplace. A commitment to promoting diversity and developing a work environment where all staff are treated with dignity and respect is central to our recruitment process and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
As part of our offer to support all our candidates to perform to the best of their abilities during our recruitment and selection processes and we would like to let you know about a couple of support options you can access, should you wish to, including our employee forums, who are keen and willing to support all of our potential colleagues.
Closing date – Friday, 21st July 2023
Our employee forums and partners include:
Asian Fire Services Association (AFSA), BEING (our LGBTQ+ employee support network), Christian Fellowship, Ethnic Minority Forum, Men’s Forum, and our Women’s Forum. In addition, we also have a female firefighters operational group.
Further to the above, the Service has a Digital Accessibility Inclusion Group (DAIG) that supports all colleagues to improve their digital skills and provides additional support and guidance to colleagues with neurodivergent strengths and struggles as a result of dyslexia, ADHD, Autism, dyspraxia etc. We want everyone to thrive at work, and so we encourage and enable people to access digital tools to help them perform at your best. The DAIG is a group of colleagues from across the Service that unite to support others as a result of their lived experience and desire to make a difference. They support people with a range of visible and invisible disabilities to identify and access digital workplace adjustments and solutions and may be able to assist with your application too.
Should you wish to discuss support, or access further information, from one of these groups, please contact equalitydiversity@essex-fire.gov.uk
You are also able to raise any queries or requests for support, including any adjustments you may require, at any stage of the process by email to recruitment@essex-fire.gov.uk
You can find out more about Essex County Fire & Rescue Service via www.essex-fire.gov.uk and about our vacancies, application processes and benefits via https://join.essex-fire.gov.uk
Our Culture and Benefits
Here at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we are committed to prioritising and promoting the wellbeing of our employees.
You can find out more about our benefits at https://join.essex-fire.gov.uk/jobs/benefits/
Safeguarding
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
It is our policy to require all applicants for employment to disclose if you are currently being investigated by any regulatory body or have any decisions or sanctions pending or in progress in respect of your suitability to work for the Service.
You agree to inform the Service within 24 hours if you are subsequently investigated by any agency or organisation in relation to concerns about your behaviour towards children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to the appointment for which you are applying.
This role maybe subject to a standard/enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.