Support services
Ensuring Safety: Meet Jane, Head of Health and Safety Services at UHS
Meet Jane, Head of Health, and Safety Services at UHS. To celebrate World Health and Safety Day, we spoke to Jane to find out more about how her role helps keep our Trust Safe.
What is your role and what does your role entail?
My job role is Head of Health and Safety services, within my role I manage three key services:
- Health & Safety
- Moving & Handling
- FFP3 Resilience
I have a corporate role and I’m the senior competent person for health and safety (H&S) at UHS (as required under UK H&S law).
How long have you been with UHS and what was your career background?
This time around I have been at UHS for nearly four years. I first worked at SUHT from 1995 to 2006; I was the Radiology Directorate’s H&S and Quality Coordinator, then moved to the Corporate H&S Team as Health & Safety Officer and the Trust’s first Moving & Handling Adviser. I subsequently worked in the education and charity sectors as H&S Manager and also provided a consultancy and training service to independent healthcare providers and companies in the light industry sector.
Is there a specific piece of equipment or technique that is used at UHS that helps you with your job?
For me, the specific piece of equipment that helps me when doing my job is the camera on my phone. Being able to document with photographic evidence is very valuable!
How do you help the trust stay safe?
Within my role, I play a huge part in helping to keep the trust safe. I write policies, advise and guide the Execs and senior managers on legal aspects of workplace H&S requirements. As well I support managers to investigate accidents and to put action plans in place to prevent accidents from reoccurring.
What is the environment like in your team?
We are a small but happy department of specialist advisers and trainers. My team may be small, but we make a big impact in keeping the Trust safe.
What specialism did you study to land this role?
I didn’t study any speciality, as not many people intend to pursue a career in H&S! I started my career doing Pharmacy, then trained and worked as a Radiographer as I wanted to work in the NHS.
So, I have a medical background, which is quite unusual for an H&S Practitioner. I studied for specific H&S qualifications, have been a member of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) for over 28 years and became a Chartered Member of IOSH and Chartered Safety Practitioner just over nine years ago.
