Transforming lives through Integrity, Courage and Care
Compass Community exists to create a future of strength and opportunity for every child. Across fostering, residential care and education, we use a therapeutic, innovative approach that puts children first. Our mission is to be the UK’s #1 children’s services provider – reaching more children, being the best place to work in children’s services, and helping to transform the sector for good.
Our values, Integrity, Courage and Care guide how people work here. We listen properly, challenge each other well, and get on with fixing what needs to be fixed, together. When something goes wrong, we deal with it. When something goes well, we celebrate it. That's the work of Life Changers, and we look forwards to welcoming you to the team.
The Role
As Compass Community continues to grow in scale, complexity and national reach, the Group Head of Health & Safety plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the safety, wellbeing and protection of children, colleagues, visitors and contractors across all Compass services.
Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on the Senior Leadership Team, this role is accountable for developing, embedding and assuring a robust, values-led Health & Safety framework across Compass’s fostering, residential care, education, therapeutic and community-based services.
The role provides strategic leadership, technical expertise and practical assurance across all Health & Safety domains – ensuring full compliance with UK legislation and regulatory frameworks, while promoting a proactive, learning-led safety culture that aligns closely with safeguarding, therapeutic practice and Compass’s child-centred ethos.
Operating at both strategic and operational levels, the Group Head of Health & Safety acts as the organisation’s competent person, trusted advisor to senior leaders, and a visible champion for continuous improvement in safety, risk management and governance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of Compass Community’s Health & Safety strategy, driving a positive, learning-focused safety culture aligned with safeguarding and therapeutic practice.
- Act as the organisation’s senior competent Health & Safety lead, ensuring compliance with all relevant UK legislation and regulatory standards.
- Provide expert advice and assurance to the CEO, Operations Board and Senior Leadership Team on risk, compliance and performance.
- Oversee organisational policies, audits and assurance processes, ensuring effective implementation across all services.
- Lead Health & Safety governance, including chairing the Health & Safety Committee and delivering clear performance reporting and action tracking.
- Manage risk, audit and inspection readiness, working closely with service leaders and external regulators (e.g. HSE, Ofsted, Fire & Rescue).
- Oversee fire safety, premises risk management and emergency preparedness across all sites.
- Lead incident investigation and ensure learning drives continuous improvement.
- Oversee organisation-wide Health & Safety training, champion engagement initiatives and develop local Health & Safety champions.
- Ensure robust contractor management, compliance systems and high-quality documentation across all services.
Skills & Experience
- NEBOSH General Certificate (essential) with IOSH Managing Safely; NEBOSH Diploma (or working towards) desirable.
- Significant senior-level Health & Safety experience (10+ years) within complex, regulated environments such as children’s services, education, health or care.
- Strong knowledge of UK Health & Safety legislation and experience supporting inspections, audits and regulatory scrutiny.
- Proven ability to implement practical, proportionate and child-centred safety systems.
- Credible and confident leader, able to influence at Board level and build a positive, values-led safety culture.
- Analytical, resilient and collaborative, with the ability to translate risk into clear, workable solutions.
Ready to use your expertise to support vulnerable children and families through Health and Safety?
We’d love to hear from you. Apply now or contact us at [[email protected]] for a confidential discussion.
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