Head of Health and Safety
Up to £75,000 + Excellent Benefits
Gilwell Park, Chingford, London (with hybrid working)
Irwin and Colton are delighted to have been engaged by The Scouts Association to recruit a new Head of Health and Safety. The Scouts prides itself on being an excellent employer (Investors in People gold standard) - the culture is collaborative and supportive, and employees are encouraged to work in a highly flexible way. Their pension, health and leave arrangements are generous and you would become part of a high performing, innovative and ambitious leadership team whose primary focus is on changing young people's lives.
The organisation has over 500,000 members nationwide, spread across 8,000 scout groups, all of which are run and organised entirely by volunteers. Each of these groups provides the opportunity for young people, from aged 4 upwards to undertake outward bound activities on a regular basis, so therefore incur challenging risks.
This role is an ideal opportunity for an experienced health and safety leader to shape and develop the existing HQ safety team - with considerable additional resources for 2024/5 - in order to enhance the work being undertaken in respect of safety policy development, training, advice, and services to the thousands of volunteer scout leaders across the UK. Additionally, the role is responsible for the health and safety of the Scouts 500 employees, mainly based at its HQ but with many dispersed around the country.
The role will require some regional travel around the UK and a considerable amount of evening and weekend working to facilitate collaborative work with senior volunteers.
Responsibilities of the Head of Health and Safety will include:
Leading the safety function for the Scouts to drive the right culture and practice throughout all scouting activities and within the HQ operations
Working closely with senior volunteers, embedding our safety strategy for scouting, based on analysis of need across the organisation and monitoring its effectiveness
Proactively developing and implementing 'on the ground' appropriate rules, policies and guidance relating to the safe provision of Scouting and maintain these in line with best safety practice
Providing a high-quality advisory service to the movement and to the Scouts' managers on safety matters
Representing the Scouts externally on matters of safety, including liaison with families, courts and external regulatory bodies
The successful Head of Health and Safety will have:
Chartered Member of IOSH (with relevant qualifications)
Extensive experience in Health and Safety/leading high-risk activities
Excellent communication skills with proven experience engaging colleagues, volunteers, and staff
Ability to fully appreciate the nature of a volunteer delivered service and ability to influence and sensitively achieve compliance with safety requirements
Enthusiasm and the desire to really make a difference in health and safety
Knowledge of outdoor and adventurous activities, including residential experiences, including new and developing trends
Flexible and pragmatic, bearing in mind the need to work some weekends/bank holidays/evening times (with time off in lieu)
This is an excellent opportunity to work for one of the UK's most historical and respected charities. For more information and to apply please contact Matthew Cathcart at or 01923 432 636.
