​Head of Health & Safety

Introduction

The Human Resources department provides a strategic and operational HR service to the seven National Church Institutions (NCIs) and the 42 Diocesan Bishops’ offices. Our HR Operations team focusses on the entire employee lifecycle providing support, advice and guidance to senior leaders, line managers and staff. The Organisational Development team lead on culture, values, wellbeing, development and our belonging & inclusion strategy. Through our External Service team, we also offer HR support on a consultancy basis to other Church of England organisations including our dioceses and cathedrals.  

We are a friendly, diverse, well respected and highly engaged HR team who are committed to actively sharing knowledge and learning across the team and beyond. We encourage flexible working within the team and meet online weekly and in-person once a month for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and building relationships within the team. 

The NCIs comprises a wide variety of functions and professions to support the mission and ministries of the Church by working with those who serve in parishes, dioceses, schools, and other ministries, and with partners at a national and international level. 

We have made significant progress in our wellbeing, belonging and inclusion strategies and recently launched our new values, helping us to focus not just on what we do but how we do it. This is a new role following our Health & Safety function transferring into HR to better align our Health, Safety and Wellbeing work into one team. 

You will lead on the provision of outstanding proactive and professional Health and Safety advice to health and safety risk owners across the National Church Institutions. The role combines providing strategic Health and Safety leadership and advice up to Board level with guidance to operational risk owners as well as oversight, and hands on delivery of some day-to-day health and safety activities. You’ll be part of the NCIs Business Continuity Group providing support to its members, as well as working with and our Joint Staff Council, Trade Union representatives, and facilities managers at Lambeth and Bishopthorpe Palaces. 

You’ll work across the NCIs (a predominantly office-based workforce) as well as supporting the Church of England Pensions Board (which provides retirement housing for clergy), and the Church Commissioners (which provides the homes and offices of the 42 Diocesan Bishops and 180 staff).  

You’ll be part of our HR Operations team, and report directly to the People Director, with a dotted line to the Director of Housing for the Pensions Board.  

• The HR Operations Team typically works from the London office 1-2 days per week depending on business need. Travel to other sites will also be required from time to time, with occasional overnight stays.
• You will need to have previous experience of developing health and safety strategies and plans and reporting progress and compliance to committees up to Board level.

• A salary of £68,999 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 30 days annual leave plus eight bank holidays three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario and if this fits within the department’s needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK’s leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity