Organisational Background
Our client, Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) is the national organisation representing, promoting, and developing co-operative housing in Ireland. Since their foundation in 1973 they have provided over 8,000 homes through homeownership, shared ownership and social rented co-operatives. CHI currently employs approximately 100 colleagues.
They are committed to sustaining their current development pipeline by adding between 500 – 700 new homes every year. The majority of their homes are wholly owned by the organisation, and they manage over 5.000 homes across Ireland.
CHI are members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership and participate in numerous forums on housing and social policy. Internationally, they are members of Housing Europe and the International Cooperative Alliance, including its sector groups, Cooperatives Europe and Cooperative Housing International.
CHI is a Tier 3 Approved Housing Body and registered charity and is subject to regulation by the Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority and the Charities Regulator. CHI is a member of the Housing Alliance.
Role Overview
The Health & Safety Officer will work closely with the various divisions within CHI to lead Health & Safety activities in order to assist them in achieving compliance with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act and supporting regulations.
Key responsibilities include, but not be limited to, the following:
Health & Safety Expertise
- To support CHI in meeting its statutory, regulatory, legal and moral responsibilities for the health and safety of all key stakeholders
- To co-ordinate health and safety activities across all organisations, working with departments to identify health and safety issues and assisting in developing and implementing programs to address these, including developing action plans and promoting a positive safety culture.
- To provide strategic support on health and safety to the Senior Leadership Team
- To provide H&S advice in the design and construction of new buildings and modifications to existing buildings as appropriate.
- To carry out Health and Safety inspections and audits, make appropriate recommendations and notify the relevant person of any significant shortcomings.
- To provide Health & Safety updates/advice to Board members, staff, contractors and tenants as required.
Communicating & Influencing
- To share information and guidance across CHI as appropriate and to network externally with other organisations on health and safety issues.
- To represent the interests of the organisation at meetings with those whose activities may influence health and safety at CHI
Policy Development
- To identify and lead on developing policies and procedures in relation to health and safety and to evaluate other policies and procedures to consider health and safety implications as required.
- To formulate and develop, in consultation with the appropriate staff, health and safety arrangements and procedures to meet the aims, objectives and the needs of CHI together with ongoing monitoring, evaluation and updating of these.
Accident & Incidents Management
- Provide support including investigations following health and safety failures or insurance claims across the organisations including establishing lessons learned.
- To support CHI in the reporting and monitoring of notifiable accidents and incidents to the relevant authorities and colleagues, coach individuals to undertake this role where possible and support in claims liaising and reporting with relevant stakeholders.
- To maintain appropriate records as required by each organisation and ensure that databases, contractor documentation and records are up to date.
Training & Continuous Improvement
- To develop, organise and / or deliver health and safety training identifying relevant training, toolbox talks to support the organisations H&S arrangements.
- To equip new & existing staff with adequate training resources to reduce the risk of H&S breaches and accidents including Manual Handling & Ergonomic Assessments
- To keep up to date on all safety matters including new and changes in current legislation regulations, codes of practice and ensure that information on these matters are brought to the attention of the senior leadership, managers and employees.
- To carry out research and analysis of statistical information, legislation, regulatory guidance and good practice relating to health and safety and to present findings as appropriate.
- To contribute to the achievement of awards and accreditations
- To undertake all Health & Safety Responsibilities relevant to the role as outlined in the organisational Health & Safety Statement
To undertake other duties as may be reasonably expected commensurate with the post.
The Person:
Experience
- Proven experience (3+ years) in a Health & Safety position with appropriate responsibility including undertaking risk assessments (Essential)
- Experience providing advice and guidance on health and safety to management and employees at all levels (Essential)
- Experience in the investigation of incidents, accidents, and recommending preventative measures (Essential)
- Experience providing Health and Safety Training (Essential)
- Experience undertaking property fire risk assessments (Desirable)
- Experience monitoring the quality of performance and data, using this information to affect change (Desirable)
Skills:
- Flexible and adaptable, able to respond to ongoing change (Essential)
- Ability to meet deadlines, and support others to do the same (Essential)
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships with other organisations and colleagues and work collaboratively with colleagues (Essential)
- Excellent organisational and time management skills (Essential)
- Excellent IT skills and ability to effectively use computer software packages i.e. Microsoft Office (Essential)
- Budget management and financial reporting skills.
- Familiarity with the housing sector an advantage.
Education:
- Degree in a related field with a demonstrable ongoing commitment to continuous professional development in the area.
Salary:
A competitive salary commensurate with experience is offered for this position. CHI operates a performance-based salary model that allows for yearly salary increases on a set salary range through performance.
Non-pay related benefits include:
- 22 Days of Annual Leave (exclusive of public holidays) plus 3 Privilege Days.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme
- Income Continuance Scheme.
- Death in Service Scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Paid Travel & Subsistence Expenses.
- Paid Professional Membership Fees.
- Continuous Professional Development Opportunities.
*Please note that all posts are subject to Garda Vetting.