Army Safety Assistant

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 12,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

The Andover Support Unit (ASpU) works to create the very best safe, secure, and collaborative environment in which the Marlborough Lines whole force community can optimise their business outputs and enjoy high morale.

Working within the Andover Support Unit Safety Health Environmental and Fire (SHEF) Team you will work closely with the site Garrison Health and Safety Advisor helping to manage, maintain and shape the site SHEF & Sustainable Development framework (SHEF&SD). This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

As the Safety Assistant your main responsibilities will include:

• Review the site SHEF&SD framework (Health Safety & Environment manual) on a rolling basis across the year, amend documentation as necessary to include new safety, health and environmental arrangements, procedures and site evidence of compliance.
• Manage the training and audit diary's sending out joining instructions / audit letters, booking rooms and sending out supporting documentation before and after activities as required.
• Assist in the promotion of SHEF&SD awareness (including training as needed) to all employees through the distribution and updating of safety information and other material throughout the site.
• Assist in maintaining records of occurrences that are site linked.
• Assist in the procurement and mandated checks / inspections of SHEF&SD consumables / equipment across site (for example monthly First Aid / AED checks) to ensure maintenance of inspection standards.
• Assist Garrison Health and Safety Advisor and Assistant Unit Fire Safety Manager with fire alarm checks across site in their absence.
• Assist Garrison Health and Safety Advisor and Assistant Unit Fire Safety Manager with planned building Fire Safety evacuations.

The ASA will also cover the basic aspects of the Garrison Health and Safety Advisor role, in their absence, as knowledge, skills and experience allows.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance. Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service.
• Highly competitive pension scheme.
• Personal and professional development of skills.
• Alternative working patterns for many roles.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities.

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role. A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at childcarechoices.gov.uk.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel.

All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact us.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.