St Andrews Turi Officer Job Vacancies In Kenya

Health & Safety Officer and PA to the Facilities Manager Job at St Andrews, Turi

St Andrew’s, Turi is highly respected in Kenya and regarded as one of the leading international schools in East Africa. Numbering 550 pupils, it comprises two semi-autonomous schools: a Preparatory School of circa 220 pupils between the ages of 3 and 13 and a Senior School of circa 330 pupils between the ages of 13 and 18. It is fully coeducational and the great majority are boarders. The School has an overtly Christian foundation and sees its overall aim as encouraging young men and women to ‘live and lead with integrity’.

Reporting to the Facilities Manager of St Andrew’s and a member of the School’s Health and Safety Committee and Estates Committee the Health & Safety Officer/PA  will ensure the efficient management, implementation and development of all aspects of health and safety, including fire safety within the School.  In addition, the post holder will work closely with internal Safeguarding leads, and where appropriate, external consultants to ensure compliance with data protection legislation and in conjunction with the School Heads, co-ordinate School wide regulatory compliance (including the Independent Schools Inspectorate regulations).

The role would ideally suit someone with a strong background in health and safety management, with an associated qualification (preferably NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety).  Experience of health and safety within a School environment would be beneficial as would experience of co-ordinating and advising on wider School regulatory matters and detailed understanding of data protection requirements (including the 2018 GDPR).

Successful candidates will possess excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage proactively with key staff members at all levels along with exceptional planning and organizational skills and an ability to operate strategically.   Additionally the person should be capable of acquiring and applying detailed legal, technical and regulatory information.

This is a fixed term contract position and the successful candidate will be offered a fixed term contract of six months.

Start Date: 15^th January, 2019 or as soon thereafter as possible

The Role

St Andrew’s School, Turi is seeking to appoint a Health & Safety Officer/PA who will be responsible for managing the wider compliance issues and the health and safety policy in order to meet the regulatory requirements as well as relevant education legislation including the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations, the Boarding Schools National Minimum Standards and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

He/she will have overall responsibility for ensuring that the School meets and observes the variety of guidelines and regulations set by both government agencies and the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI).   Reporting to the Facilities Manager, and working closely with Support and Academic Staff, the Health & Safety Officer will perform a critical cross-departmental role, ensuring that the School fulfils its responsibilities and maintains its status as an Independent Boarding School.

In addition the key responsibility will be to provide guidance on school-wide implementation of health and safety measures, to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and best practice; to provide competence guidance and advise to Heads and Academic Staff on health and safety and related issues.

St Andrew’s School Turi is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment.

On a day-to-day basis, the H & S Officer reports to the Facilities Manager, but will consult with the DSL Leads of the two schools on matters of compliance, risk assessment, incident reports, fire safety and security and fire drills in their respective schools.

Responsibilities

The overarching responsibilities of the Health & Safety Officer

• Review and continue to develop the School’s Health and Safety and compliance framework through the School Health and Safety, and Fire Policies and assisting with individual departmental and related policies, checklists and risk assessments, all of which should be reviewed and signed annually.
• Ensure that the School’s policies and procedures are fully compliant with all demands, both legislative and of the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate and to advise management of the impact of current and emerging legislations.
• Accountable for developing and implementing procedures to ensure compliance with data protection law and regulation.  In particular overseeing the development and implementation of a compliance programme which meets the requirements of the new General Data Protection Regulation (or UK equivalent) ready for 2019.
• To advise the Heads, Facilities Manager and Senior Management Team on all aspects of regulatory compliance and other legal issues relating to the management of the School ensuring that appropriate records are maintained.
• To ensure School wide Health and Safety performance by developing and applying appropriate techniques including audits, inspections and record keeping.
• Actively promote Health and Safety awareness throughout the School.
• To provide termly and Annual Reports on Fire, Health, Safety and safeguarding compliance to the Facilities Manager and the DS Leads of the School.

Key Tasks

Main Tasks

Support the Facilities Manager to ensure the School’s strategic direction flowing from the Health and Safety strategy is not only effectively documented in the policies and procedures, but is also communicated and implemented across all areas of the School.

Independent School  Inspection (ISI)

• To assist the Facilities Manager in the preparation for Inspections by maintaining a log of relevant information and compiling reports for the Deputy Heads in the School as required by: The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010 (as amended); National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools (2013); the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2012); Working together to safeguard children – Safeguarding Children and in Education (amended 2018).

• To provide support and information to the compliance team and to make sure that all staff are aware of the Health and Safety policies of the School.

Health and Safety Plan, Policies and Procedures

• Contributes to the development and implementation of the Health, Safety and Wellness Strategy and plans.

• Contributes to the maintenance and continuous improvement of the Health and Safety policies, procedures and training booklets.
• Manages the document control systems ensuring documents are regularly reviewed, updated and distributed for implementation.
• Plays a key role in the development of online systems.
• To develop good personal relations with the Heads of Department (Teaching and Non-Teaching), Houseparents, and staff to embed Health and Safety in all that is done in the School.  Provide Health and Safety guidance and advice to departmental heads and staff.

Hazard and Risk Management

• Assists with training Managers, Supervisors and HSW representative to update the hazard register and complete Physical inspections.
• Assists with the management of reported hazards and the tracking through completion or follow up.
• To be involved in Educational visits, providing advice and risk assessment support to co-ordinators of these.

Incidents Management and Reporting

• To assist with the management of incident reports

• To develop implement and monitor the School’s accident and incident reporting and investigation policy and procedures.
• To maintain the School’s central accident and incident records and to produce timely and appropriate statistics on incidents and accidents
• To fulfil the requirement of the reporting of Injuries, Accidents within the School under the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Act (DOSH), including the reporting of all reportable accidents and diseases to the School’s medical centre.
•  To produce quarterly and annual accident and incident statistics and reports for the Facilities Manager, Heads and the Health and Safety Committee.

Fire Safety

• Ensure compliance with the Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) order 2005 as amended and guidance documents relating to this, including awareness of the Building regulations.
• To conduct and review Fire Risk assessments as necessary
• To provide competent fire safety advice, guidance training and technical support to the staff and students, monitoring and advising on the provision of suitable fire fighting equipment in all School buildings through fire risk assessement.
• To develop and implement suitable Fire Safety policies and procedures, in conjunction with relevant Heads of Department to ensure compliance with current and new legislation and recognised best practice.
• In conjunction with relevant Heads of Departments to review and, where appropriate, revise Fire Safety and other policies and fire risk assessments to ensure they remain valid but specifically:
• Annual review or following any relevant changes
• On changes to legislation
• Following major incidents

Emergency Management

• Schedules and assist with organising fire evacuation and lockdown practices
• Ensures required number of evacuation practices (fire, lockdown, earthquake) are held each year
• Assists with coordinating training and keeping training records for fire marshals and first aiders.

Wider Compliance Issues

As the School seeks to develop its risk management strategies and policy, there will be a requirement for support across all departments in identifying strategic risks and developing appropriate mitigations in consultation with the Facilities Manager.  It is likely that many operational risks will relate to Health and Safety but there will be wider compliance issues that the post holder will need to take on as compliance requirement s increase.

The guidance on safeguarding children and young people highlights the measures that Schools are expected to take in discharging their responsibilities for safeguarding.  This guidance includes an element of health and safety compliance, and the Health & Safety Officer is required to work towards achieving full Health and Safety compliance for the School.  This also extends to welfare and boarding standards.

PA duties

• Filing of reports and ensuring that all paper work in the department is up to date.
• Conducting risk assessment and attending Health & Safety meeting
• Organizing and keeping a diary for the Facilities Manager’s meeting
• Preparing communications in liaison with the Facilities Manager for any important announcement.
• To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the position and as directed by the Facilities Manager

Qualifications

Knowledge and Experience

• NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or NVQ level 4 in Health and Safety.
• Membership of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health or Directorate of Health and Safety (DOSH)
• To be on the HSE register of Occupational Safety and Health Consultants (OSHCR)
• NEBOSH Certificate in Fire Safety and Risk Management (or be willing to undertake the course work and become qualified.
• Qualified First Aider
• Educated to degree level
• Trained to ISI Team Inspector level

Knowledge and understanding

• The ability to interpret legislation and other laid down procedures and to be able to explain the requirements in simple, practical terms to non-specialists.
• Knowledge of applicable law and application in an education context
• Knowledge of ISI inspection requirements and relevant areas of legislation such as Health and Safety.

Experience

• Proven experience in a similar role or with similar responsibilities preferably within the independent school sector
• Excellent administrative skills
• Evidence of working successfully as member of a team
• Computer literate in MS office products (Word and Excel) and experience in web-based document linking would be an advantage
• 3+ years’ experience of health and safety management, including Board reports.
• Experience of law and its interpretation relating to education
• Experience of dealing with regulatory authorities
• Experience of provision of health and safety training

 Skills and Attributes

• Flexible, outgoing and constructive approach
• Excellent communication skills (including written and presentation skills)
• Flexible attitude towards duties and working patterns in order to fulfil the requirements of the role
• Ability to contribute to discussion on complex issues and propose workable solutions
• Resilient and robust approach to professional matters
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to influence and motivate people
• Strong administration and organizational skills
• The successful candidate will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS clearance.

Terms and Conditions

The position is on a fixed six month contract basis and compensation will be commensurate with the duties.

Hours of work

The role is full-time Monday to Friday with evening and weekend work as required to execute the role successfully.

Pre-employment checks

The successful applicant will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check or the equivalent prior to taking up the post.

Housing

The successful applicant will be required to look for alternative housing outside the School premises for the duration of the contract.

Medical arrangements

The successful candidate will be offered a comprehensive insurance cover for self.

Other

Meals are provided during term time as a taxable allowance.

How To Apply

Applications are encouraged as early as possible. These should be submitted by email to the HR Director and include: a completed application form, a covering letter and a CV.

Application forms are available on the School website or from the HR Director

Closing date for applications: Friday 28^th December, 2018

Start Date:15^th January or thereafter

St Andrew’s Turi is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share this commitment.  All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with previous employers and a criminal record check with the DBS or its equivalent.