Role Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced health & safety professional to work as the Head of Health and Safety at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This fixed-term post, offered for a period of nine months, will provide strategic and operational leadership to the health and safety and fit testing services across both our northern and eastern services.
About the Role
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.
More detail about the role
This position reports directly to the Chief People Officer, the Executive Director accountable for health & safety for the Trust. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation meets all of its statutory obligations for health and safety and will be the senior Competent Person appointed under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for the Trust.
We are seeking a capable, credible and forward-thinking leader who can set clear strategic direction for the service and maintain strong, collaborative working relationships both across the organisation and beyond. The post holder will play a key role in shaping how we work as part of the wider Devon health and care system, recognising that collaboration is essential to embedding and sharing best practice. They will be expected to review and further develop the Trust’s health and safety strategies, ensuring that future needs, particularly opportunities to support system-wide alignment and digital capability, are fully considered.
The post holder will have the ability to consider health and safety in the broadest sense, understanding how technical health and safety practice interlinks in with a range of specialist areas across the Trust and understanding how health and safety can be applied in a holistic way to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our employees and visitors to the Trust.
The post holder will provide expert leadership to the site Health and Safety Managers, the Fit Testing Programme Lead and the wider teams, acting as a point of escalation for complex or technical queries and supporting a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
During this fixed-term period, the post holder will be tasked with exploring how health and safety practices can be developed into a collaborative model, working closely with our partners within the wider Devon system. This will include engaging with system partners and developing a proposal to strengthen collaboration and leadership of health and safety services across organisational boundaries.
Working Pattern: 30 Hours across Monday -Friday
Interview Date: Wednesday 23rd July 2025
Please note, this is a fixed term contract for 9 months. For current NHS employees this post could be a secondment opportunity.
For further information please contact: Emily Simpson, Executive and Specialist Recruitment Lead on 07958 931414 emily.simpson21@nhs.net
As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
About Us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).
Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more
It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.
Benefits
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.
You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.
This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:
- National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
- Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
- Car lease schemes.
- The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
- Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.
