Housing Health and Safety Officer

We’re passionate about the people who live in our town and our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within in a lively and thriving neighbourhood – we want to be the best landlord in town.

We support hybrid working arrangements and would envisage this role being delivered through a mix of remote and on-site working.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the role

We need you to provide technical health & safety advice and manage training to the Housing service, ensuring that the Council fulfils its legal obligations. Working with senior managers we’ll support you to be our subject matter expert for Property Services and the wider Housing Team.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver reports, making recommendations for action where required
• Represent the Housing and Communities Directorate at both internal and external health and safety groups
• Actively promote a culture of safety and safe working across the Housing and Communities Directorate
• Design, manage and deliver or procure a range of training courses and/or material for managers and employees across the Directorate

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

About you

We’re looking for an experienced Health & Safety professional, with a curious mindset and clear focus on presenting solutions. Good communications skills and a keen customer ethic will really help you to make an impact within this role.

The following experience is required for this role:

• Full professional qualification (NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent)
• Able to provide advice and assistance on health & safety to managers at all levels across a diverse range or operational services
• Demonstrable experience in delivering and designing health and safety training

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities 
• Modern working environment at 19 Bennet Rd, Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Access to day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years.  The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact recruitment@reading.gov.uk 

Closing Date: 26th September 2023

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.