What personal qualities does a good Health and Safety Manager require?
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to respond to competing demands.

Time management and organisational skills are critical to planning workload and arranging visits to other sites. Good written and verbal communication skills are essential together with a confident presentation style and training skills.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the variety involved in my job, I never know what I will have to deal with each day and believe me anything can happen here!

I enjoy getting out to the centres and delivering the H&S training for our staff and managers – it helps me get to know them so that I can offer them professional guidance and support. In my role I also have the opportunity to help shape the future H&S strategy for the company.

As well as H&S I also deal with safeguarding issues and environmental compliance for the company and I am constantly gaining more knowledge as I have to deal with issues and problems I haven’t come across before. No two days are the same.

How have you developed and grown in the role?
When I took over the management of H&S in 2003 I had very little knowledge or experience of H&S.  I completed my NEBOSH qualification in 2004 and have continued to update and broaden my knowledge of H&S issues over the last six years as the needs and size of the business have changed.

What do you see as the biggest challenges of your job?
The biggest challenge in this job is managing H&S across a multi site company.  Geographically we cover most of the UK, which makes it quite a challenge to ensure that we are implementing all of our safety procedures consistently and controlling the risks for our staff working all over the country.  Another big challenge is ensuring our learners are working in safe learning environments when they are remote from us at employer premises.

Does working for JHP Training help you maintain a good Work/Life Balance?
I think the flexibility offered here is a big help especially when you have a young family.  I have over the years worked part-time to fit in with family commitments and I can work remotely should the need arise.

What do you consider to be valuable Rewards and Benefits of working for JHP Group?
One of the key rewards of working for JHP Group in my role is for me to be able to have a direct impact on the way we manage the safety and wellbeing of staff and learners. I also find training staff and the feedback I get back from them immensely rewarding.  I work in a great team and value the support, direction and feedback I get from my manager. The financial benefits I personally value here are the private health care, childcare vouchers and pension.

A day in my life….
A typical day in the office will start with a conference call to catch up with other managers regarding the implementation of the new Response to Redundancy contract. Next I am likely to be delivering an H&S induction for new staff at Head Office. Throughout the day I am responding to requests for information and guidance via email and by telephone from centre staff and managers regarding safety issues and procedures. Meanwhile, I am also writing a new procedure for carrying out workstation assessments across the organisation and then later, carrying out a maternity risk assessment for an employee who is expecting. Every day presents different challenges and that is how I like it!