Company Description

Henshaws is a northern charity supporting people living with sight loss and a range of other disabilities to go beyond expectations. We believe that, wherever they are, everyone has the right to an independent and fulfilling life. Our support, advice and training enables people and their families build skills, develop confidence, help each other and look forward to a more positive future.

Position

We are looking for a Health and Safety Officer to lead day to day operational health and safety activity across Henshaws. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working alongside teams, offering practical guidance and creating safe and positive environments. It would suit a confident communicator who is able to balance compliance with supportive, solution focused working. Your work will help ensure that our staff, students, artmakers and visitors experience safe spaces where they can thrive.

Salary: £18.02 per hour (£32,796.40 per annum)

Hours per week: 35 (part time may be considered)

Weeks per year: 52

Annual leave: 5 weeks plus 10 days bank holiday

Contract: Permanent

Location: Henshaws Specialist College, Starbeck, Harrogate with travel to other sites

Closing Date: Wednesday 25 February at 12 noon

Requirements

Our Values

Our values guide everything we do and will shape your work in this role.

• Ambition means working proactively to identify risks early, improving our processes and helping us set high standards across all sites.
• Respect means listening to colleagues, valuing their expertise and creating safe environments where everyone feels confident to speak up.
• Empowerment means supporting managers and teams to take ownership of health and safety, building their knowledge and helping them work safely and independently.

By bringing these values to life, you will help strengthen our culture of safety and wellbeing across the charity.

Requirements

• A NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent
• A strategic level health and safety qualification such as a NEBOSH Diploma or a commitment to work towards this
• Practical experience delivering health and safety in an operational setting
• Experience completing and reviewing risk assessments
• Confidence in managing contractors and supporting statutory compliance including fire safety, water hygiene and COSHH
• Strong organisational and planning skills
• Good communication and relationship building skills
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and Outlook
• A flexible approach to working across different sites
• A positive approach to supporting disabled people and learners with additional needs

It would also be helpful if you have

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• An understanding of regulated education, care or SEND environments
• Experience in budget management
• Membership of IOSH

The role requires flexibility to travel between Henshaws sites and an enhanced DBS check including the child barring list. A positive approach to supporting disabled people and learners with additional needs is essential.

Other information

Henshaws Society for Blind People aims to employ a diverse workforce and is committed to equality of employment and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Henshaws is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults. It is a criminal offence for people barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with that particular group e.g. vulnerable adults, children or both. An Enhanced DBS with barring and reference checks will be sought from the successful candidate.

Henshaws reserves the right to check social media accounts of all successful applicants.

Registered Charity No: 221888

Attachments
FACIL012 - Health & Safety Officer Job Description.docx What is an Expression of Interest (EOI) (2025).docx