Job Description

Description

Location

: Lewes

Salary

: 33,951 per annum plus 1,000 essential car user allowance

Hours

: 37 hours per week

Who are we:

Southdown is the largest not-for-profit provider of care, support, and housing in Sussex. We've been helping people access stable accommodation, mental health and care services since 1972, now counting over 900 people as part of our team.

What you'll be doing:

We're proud of our strong health and safety culture, and we're looking for a proactive and knowledgeable Health & SafetyPractitioner to join our Operational Support team. This role now includes Moving & Handling responsibilities, reflecting our commitment to safe, person-centred care.

In this role, you'll:Support the review and implementation of health and safety policies, procedures, risk assessments, and moving & handling profiles. Provide expert advice to staff and managers on safe systems of work, emergency procedures, and control measures. Deliver engaging training in health and safety and moving & handling keeping materials up to date with legislation and best practice. Conduct internal health & safety audits to identify hazards and ensure corrective actions are implemented. Monitor and analyse incidents, assigning severity ratings and ensuring effective investigations are carried out, contribute to Serious Incident Reviews and report RIDDOR events as required. Collaborate with internal teams and external bodies (including the HSE) to maintain compliance and drive continuous improvement. Promote a proactive safety culture by involving staff and communicating key information clearly and effectively.
This role involves travel across Brighton & Hove and East and West Sussex, so a driving licence and access to a car are essential.

We welcome applications from candidates with experience in roles such as Health and Safety Advisor, Officer, or Specialist--especially those with a background in incident management, audits, manual handling, training delivery, or risk assessment--who are passionate about creating safe, supportive environments for our staff, clients, and tenants.

Perks and benefits:

Health cost cash-back scheme:

access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.

Interest-free loans:

assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.

Access to the Easit Network:

discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.

Blue Light card:

access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.

Free advice and counselling service:

confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.

25 days paid holiday

plus bank holidays.

Knowledge, skills & experience

What you'll need for the role:

Strong knowledge of health and safety regulations and incident management Ability to conduct suitable and sufficient risk assessments Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear guidance across teams An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown A full driving licence is essential along with access to your own vehicle or a vehicle insured for you

What would be nice:

A Health & Safety qualification or equivalent experience.

Training:

Our award winning in house training team will help you to gain valuable qualifications, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.

How to apply:

Please click on the 'Apply Now' button and fill out our simple one-page application form.

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

About Southdown

Contact information:

Our online careers page has a list of helpful FAQs that you can view

here

. If you have any further questions, please get in touch with recruitment via email at jobs@southdown.org

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are fully committed to supporting Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and welcome applications from all candidates that meet our job specifications. If you feel there is a barrier that potentially prevents you from applying, do get in contact with us, as we are always happy to discuss (or arrange a discussion with the recruiting manager) to explore if any reasonable adjustments can be made to support your application.