The
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a Crown Executive Non-Departmental Public
Body sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
HSE is
the national independent regulator for health and safety for those at work and
those affected by work activities. Its wide range of activities includes
overseeing major hazard safety regimes (including offshore oil and gas and
onshore chemical processing), workplace inspections, accident investigations,
policy development and publishing guidance and research.
The HSE
Board oversees all these activities and is responsible for delivering
Government policy and advising Government on health and safety
issues.
HSE is a
well-respected, world-class regulator but needs to tackle the future by
developing innovative, modern strategic approaches to influence further improvements.
HSE has published a new strategy that recognises and accommodates the impacts
of the changing world of work, industrial and technological advance, the green
economy, the role of HSE in post EU Exit chemicals regulation and the Building
Safety Regulator.
The new
strategy provides HSE with an enabling tool, direction and principles through
which HSE has the flexibility to innovate, reform and trial new ways of working
to establish those with the greatest effect, whilst maintaining those that have
been proven to have a positive effect and have stood the test of time.
Further
information about the HSE and its Board can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/index.htm
DWP is seeking one Non-Executive Director (NED) with a range of
established skills/competence to join HSE’s Board. We are
looking for candidates who can provide experience from other organisations with
challenges on a similar scale to HSE.
A Message from Sarah Newton, HSE
Chair
I
joined the HSE Board as its Chair in 2020, following a career in the business
and voluntary sector, as well as serving for nine years as a Member of
Parliament and a Non-Executive Director on an NHS Trust. I am passionate about
building relationships to ensure that we work together to improve work related
ill health and protect workers in their place of work.
HSE
has a world class reputation as an effective regulator working with a wide
range of stakeholders to prevent death, serious injury and ill health to those
in the workplace and those affected by work activities.
Great
Britain continues to be one of safest places to work but there is still much
more to do. In the current climate, it has shown the scale of challenge that
HSE still faces in making Britain an even healthier and safer place to work –
this is why we have a new strategy ‘Protecting People and Places’. The
new strategy is designed to keep HSE focused on tackling both new and
traditional risk, at the right time and in the right way. It has clear
objectives and themes, to guide our future interventions and regulatory
activities, such as HSE’s role as the Building Safety Regulator and in the
chemical’s regime, post EU Exit.
We
must continually adapt our approach to work effectively and seek out new
opportunities. We must continue to drive home the importance of managing risk
as good proportionate risk management is essential for sustainable economic
growth.
Working
with our broad range of stakeholders, both in the public and private sector, we
are looking for a Board member who is committed, engaged and enthusiastic in
working with others to protect people and places. We need someone who will
share our vision and future direction for HSE and are willing to help us face
our challenges. There will be exciting prospects to help steer HSE through the
next few years, which will be a great opportunity.
I am
personally committed to promoting greater diversity in HSE, which includes on
the HSE Board and I would warmly welcome applications from the widest possible
field of candidates.
A Message from Peter Schofield, DWP Permanent Secretary
I want
DWP and our arms’ length bodies to be places where everyone, whatever their
background, feels supported to achieve their potential. By being an inclusive
employer, bringing into the organisation and developing talented people from
diverse backgrounds, we will be better able to provide the best possible
support to those we serve.
That is
why we want to reach the widest possible pool of talent for public appointments
and I want to encourage applications from people from all backgrounds. We
know we have a long way to go. As an example, the Lord Holmes Review (December
2018) identified that there are over 6,000 public appointments dealing with all
aspects of our lives but just 3% were held by disabled people. I therefore
particularly welcome applications from talented applicants with a
disability.
If you
are looking for an opportunity to use your talents to make a difference to the
lives of millions of your fellow citizens, we look forward to hearing from
you.
The
successful candidates will contribute to the Board’s role in leading HSE, with
the opportunity to influence the future direction of health and safety in Great
Britain.
Key
responsibilities include:
·
Helping lead the work of HSE
by operating effectively as a Board Member and contributing to Board meetings
and discussions;
·
Chairing or participating in
the activities of Board Committees;
·
Building and maintaining
effective working relationships with a broad range of networks and
stakeholders.
·
Representing HSE externally,
acting collectively in representing its decisions to stakeholders and the
general public;
·
Acting as a critical friend
to HSE’s senior staff, particularly in their area of expertise; and
·
Demonstrating a commitment
to the Seven Principles of Public life.
The HSE
Board is responsible for:
·
Setting and delivering HSE’s strategic aims and
objectives within the agreed policy and resources framework agreed with
Ministers.
·
Overseeing the budget and ensuring HSE complies
with the rules for the use of public money.
·
Ensuring that effective arrangements are in place
to provide assurance on governance, risk management and internal control.
·
Appointing the Chief Executive Officer, setting
their performance objectives and remuneration (with Ministerial consent).
The Board
currently consists of the Chair and ten Non-Executive Directors (NED).
The Board has four sub-Committees chaired by Non-Executives: Audit and Risk Assurance;
People and Remuneration; Finance and Performance; and Scientific, Evidence and
Engineering Assurance Committee.
The Board
currently consists of the Chair and ten Non-Executive Directors (NED).
The Board has four sub-Committees chaired by Non-Executives: Audit and Risk Assurance;
People and Remuneration; Finance and Performance; and Scientific, Evidence and
Engineering Assurance Committee.
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website