Health & Safety Officer

The Junior & Senior School

📅 Start Date: As soon as possible

We are looking to hire an enthusiastic, hardworking individual for the position of Health & Safety Officer. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring a safe working and learning environment for all staff and students, supporting the implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of the school’s health and safety procedures.

This role is crucial for creating and maintaining a safe educational environment where learning can take place without unnecessary risks.

🔍 Key Responsibilities

The Health and Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring a safe and healthy environment for students, staff, and visitors. The role involves assessing risks, implementing safety protocols, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.

As outlined in the full Job Description, your responsibilities will include:

Risk Assessment and Management:

Conduct regular risk assessments across the school grounds, including classrooms, playgrounds, sports facilities, and any other areas where students and staff may be present.
Identify potential hazards and recommend actions to mitigate risks.
Ensure risk assessments are up-to-date and review them regularly.
Ensure that any work carried out on school premises during student hours adheres to health and safety protocols and is fully risk-assessed.
Coordinate with relevant teams to implement and monitor safety measures when external contractors or maintenance work is planned during term time.

Policy Implementation:

Develop and enforce school-wide health and safety policies and procedures ensuring that these are appropriate for purpose and meet legislative requirements and best practice.
Ensure all staff are trained on the school’s health and safety policies and guidelines. This includes providing appropriate induction training for new staff.
Promote awareness of health and safety issues across the school community.

Emergency Preparedness:

Oversee emergency drills (fire drills, lockdown drills, etc.) and ensure compliance with relevant safety standards.
Maintain first aid kits and ensure that staff members are trained in first aid and CPR.
Ensure the school is prepared for emergency situations, including having clear evacuation procedures in place.

Incident Reporting and Investigation:

Investigate accidents, injuries, or near-misses on school grounds, and prepare detailed reports.
Implement corrective actions based on investigations to prevent future incidents.
Ensure proper documentation of all incidents and report them to relevant authorities.

Compliance and Audits:

Support preparation for school inspections (e.g., ISI), including gathering documentation and ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
Stay updated with local and national health and safety regulations, including those specific to educational institutions.
Ensure the school complies with all relevant health, safety, and fire regulations.
Coordinate internal audits and inspections to ensure safety compliance.
To provide health and safety advice in relation to activities, projects, events, educational visits and trips at the schools and to work closely and collaboratively with staff overseeing such activities.

Training and Awareness:

Organize health and safety training sessions for staff members.
Develop and deliver workshops on topics such as safe lifting techniques, hazard recognition, and mental health awareness.
Provide guidance on safe use of equipment and materials in classrooms and labs.
To maintain health and safety training records and ensure that training is renewed as appropriate.

Health and Well-being Programs:

Promote programmes that enhance the physical and mental well-being of students and staff.
Support initiatives to prevent bullying, promote healthy eating, and manage stress.
To attend and lead Health & Safety Committee meetings at the school and prepare appropriate reports for these meetings.
To liaise with external agencies (for example: fire authorities; local authority; consultancies; insurance brokers) as required.

Record Keeping:

Maintain accurate records of all safety inspections, incidents, and health and safety training.
Prepare reports for the school leadership and Board of Governors on health and safety issues.

To carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the post and as directed by the line manager.

✅ Candidate Profile

Required:

A relevant qualification in health and safety management, environmental health, or a related field. A degree or certification related to Health & Safety is preferred.
In-depth knowledge of health and safety regulations, risk management, and emergency procedures.
Experience of providing health and safety training.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work independently and in a team.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks.
A proactive attitude towards improving safety and health standards.
Empathy and the ability to support both staff and students in maintaining a safe environment.

Desirable:

A First Aid qualification
Previous experience in a health and safety role, preferably in an educational setting.

🕒 Working Hours

The standard working pattern at our Junior and Senior School sites is five (5) working days per week, with working hours 07:30 - 15:30 offered on a full-time basis.

💼 Remuneration & Benefits

We offer a competitive salary package (€ 2,297.73/ per month plus COLA), commensurate with qualifications and experience.

📝 Application Process

If you are committed to promoting a safe and secure environment and eager to contribute to the wellbeing of our school community, we would be delighted to hear from you.

🗓️ Recruitment Process

Complete our online application form
Submit your CV and Cover Letter

🛡️ Please note: The Junior and Senior School is committed to the safeguarding and protection of children and young people. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate criminal record checks. Safeguarding questions will form part of the interview process.

🌀Non limiting clause This job description is not intended to be a complete or limiting description of the tasks or responsibilities that the post holder may reasonably be requested to undertake. The job description may be changed to meet new demands or circumstances and following consultations between the post holder and the Headteacher/Principal.

📬 All applications will be handled with strict confidentiality.

Application

Contact information

First name*

Last name*

Email*

Phone*

Application

CV*

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Cover letter*

Criminal Conviction Declaration: Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense? (Exclude minor traffic violations, unless they are relevant to the role for which you are applying).*

Yes

If Yes, please provide details including the nature of the offense, date of conviction, and any additional information that may help us better understand the context. Note that a conviction may not necessarily disqualify you from employment, as each case is reviewed individually and assessed in relation to the requirements of the position

Self Declaration: I confirm that the above information is complete and accurate and I understand that any offer of employment is subject to references which are satisfactory to the school a satisfactory background check, the entries on this form proving to be complete and accurate and a satisfactory medical report, if appropriate. I confirm that I have not been disqualified from working with children, cautioned or sanctioned in this regard.*

Yes

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