Corporate Health and Safety Adviser

A fixed term/secondment for a Corporate Health and Safety Adviser has come up and the team are looking to recruit internally someone who is suitably qualified and experienced to be part of our team of professionals. This role will provide expert advice and guidance to services across the council, initially Community Wealth Building and Resources directorates, expanding to other directorates as necessary.

The post offers a suitably qualified and experienced health and safety professional the opportunity to develop their skills by providing a variety of tasks, such as being involved in health and safety performance reports, undertaking and reviewing health and safety management systems and incidents, advising managers and staff and leading operational and specialist activities.

What You’ll Do

• Support services in embedding a strong safety culture.
• Develop and implement practical safety systems and policies.
• Conduct audits, risk assessments, and provide expert advice.
• Deliver training and support staff competency.
• Advise senior leaders and collaborate with stakeholders.
• Contribute to the council’s drug and alcohol testing programme.

What You’ll Bring

• You will be qualified to NEBOSH national general certificate in occupational safety and health as a minimum whilst working towards NEBOSH Diploma or NVQ (level 5 or 6) Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice or equivalent.
• You will also be a technical member of IOSH while working towards Graduate level.
• You will have experience in developing and delivering safety policies and procedures across a large organisation and be able to lead both specialist and operational safety activities.
• Experience in a health and safety role, ideally in local government.
• Strong knowledge of legislation and risk management.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and training skills.
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional out-of-hours support.

Who You’ll Work With

You’ll join the Corporate Health and Safety Team, and work alongside services across the council. We aim to ensure legal compliance, reduce risk, and promote positive health and safety culture across all directorates to help shape a safer, more resilient council.

Further Information

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Peter Bohan, Head of Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Peter.Bohan@islington.gov.uk
Gino Di Franco, Senior Corporate Health and Safety Adviser
Gino.DiFranco@islington.gov.uk

Our Offer to You

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service.
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week.
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential.
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum.
• Excellent local government pension scheme.
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships.
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.