Occupational Health Specialist Inspector (Band 3/SEO)

We will be hosting a Webinar on 25th June at 12.30 where you will have the opportunity to hear more about the role, the organisation and working for the Health and Safety Executive. Please note that this is the only session and, the Webinar will not be recorded.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britains national regulator for workplace health and safety. Were dedicated to protecting people and places, ensuring everyone can lead safer and healthier lives at work.

Our Occupational Health specialists work across a whole range of essential industries with thousands of workers, to ensure that work is managed safely and work-related ill health is prevented and managed. In this role, you will utilise your considerable professional knowledge to influence not only individual employers but whole industry sectors.

This is a fantastic opportunity for SCPHN-OH occupational health professionals to re-focus their career and take on inspector positions with our essential organisation.

Youll be supported through a Specialist Training Programme (STP) to gain the skills and expertise to become a specialist inspector. You will enrol on the STP and undertake a combination of study, practical experience and a final assessment, ensuring you are equipped to operate at the forefront of your specialist area.

So, if you want to join a recognised team of experts and make your mark on industries across Great Britain, then apply today!

Your work as a regulator will make the most of your experience in occupational health identifying risks, providing the right advice and crucially - taking steps to ensure the employer takes the necessary action. The involvement and support you provide your colleagues could be inspecting the management of health risks in an engineering firm, investigating a report of occupational disease in a bakery, taking enforcement action when required. Your work will take you across the range of industries including construction, manufacturing and engineering, to agriculture, waste and recycling or the public sector.

This role will broaden your knowledge and your professional credibility like no other role can and you will be fully supported by your colleagues including the widest range of health and safety experts in Britain.

Together, youll be helping to protect thousands of people, whether that be from our offices or out on site.

Further information about the role can be found in the attached candidate pack.

Travel

You will be office-based but as part of your role, you will be required to inspect and visit sites across Great Britain. This will require regular travel and overnight stays.

Training

You will be supported by your manager and colleagues to understand your role in HSE, develop your skills, and support you in your continuing professional development. For the legal requirements of the role, you will be enrolled on the Specialist Training Programme (STP) and will be required to study for and successfully complete a formal assessment. We also have a strong focus on ongoing technical CPD and training in our core subject areas.

As well as learning on-the-job, you will continue your development, consistent with the professional revalidation process, to maintain your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Youll also have wider learning opportunities through your Civil Service access.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading and/or supporting investigation of work-related ill-health concerns and reportable diseases to identify the cause and where necessary, take appropriate enforcement action to control the risks.
• Inspecting a variety of workplaces, either on your own, or supporting another inspector, by providing in depth technical expertise to make sure health risks are managed safely, driving improvements and taking enforcement action where required to secure compliance with the law.
• Advising other HSE colleagues about Occupational Health and how conditions compare with minimum legal requirements and good practice, thereby developing their skills in managing occupational health risks.
• Providing specialist support to guide enforcement decisions and specialist opinion in reports.
• Specifically utilising the skills, knowledge and experience inOccupational Healthcommensurate with the Job Description.
• Contributing to the development of technical policy and guidance in relevant priority areas by reviewing health information, identifying gaps in technical standard and working with others, sharing information and advice with policy colleagues to influence strategic stakeholders and campaigns.
• Contributing as a member of the occupational health team to promote occupational health at relevant UK forums, as well as internally, for example, coaching trainee H&S inspectors. This may also include international engagement, as required.
• You will be expected to appear as specialist / expert witness at tribunals, inquests and legal proceedings.

To be considered for this role, you will need to be:

• A registered specialist community public health nurse (occupational health) (SCPHN - part 3 of the NMC Register)

• Able to demonstrate sound practical experience and technical expertise in occupational health

• Able to influence at all levels in an organisation to make significant improvements in occupational health

Essential skills and experience

• Assessment, application of the relevant hierarchy of control and management of health risks from workplace exposure to a range of hazards such as substances hazardous to health, work-related infections, etc.
• Development of policies and written arrangements for protecting worker health.
• Management of health surveillance arrangements regarding risks to workers hearing, skin and respiratory system as well as the risks from exposure to vibration.
• Monitoring the quality and effectiveness of occupational health service delivery.
• Management of musculo-skeletal disorders, work related stress and broader occupational diseases.

In addition, youll have made impact in your career by making intelligent, measured decisions in your area, with good analytical skills to spot underlying issues. Communication skills are key in this role as you will be expected to persuade and influence people at all levels.

We value people who respect others, work well in a team and can build robust relationships with employers and other stakeholders.

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.