Health and Safety

Who is responsible for Health and Safety?

The Trust is governed by legislation and guidance from the DFE in terms of Health and Safety.      

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-and-safety-advice-for-schools

Accountability and responsibility for H&S sits with the following:

• Trust Board

  • Approves the Trust level H&S policy 

  • Approves arrangements for appointing competent H&S person.

  • Audit Committee receives termly H&S reports including reports from internal scrutiny / external H&S advisors

• CEO

  • Responsible for ensuring effective processes and a culture embracing H&S pervades WMAT

• COO

  • Oversees the processes for H&S reporting and monitoring

  • Reports to termly Audit Committee on H&S compliance

• Local Governing Body

  • Receives termly reports on H&S from schools via Resources / Estates committee meetings

  • Reponsible for appointing a governor with H&S oversight

• Principals / Headteachers

  • Responsible for creating a culture embracing H&S throughout their schools

  • Responsible for ensuring all H&S checks are reviewed with Business / Operations and Estates Managers

  • Responsible for maintaining high standards of H&S

• Business / Operations Managers

  • Responsible for ensuring all H&S checks are completed and actions completed 

  • Responsible for maintaining records of all H&S checks 

  • Responsible for regular staff H&S group meetings

• Estates Managers

  • Responsible for completing H&S checks and recording in Every with appropriate documentation attached

• Staff

  • Responsible for reporting any H&S issues 

  • Participating in H&S feedback / staff group

Governance

The Trust has an overarching Health and Safety Policy which is reviewed annually by the Trust Board in the Autumn Term.    

This policy is set out in 3 parts:

• Part 1: Statement of General Policy on Health, Safety & Welfare

• Part 2: Organisation and Responsibilities for Health, Safety & Welfare

• Part 3: Arrangements and Procedures for Health, Safety & Welfare

Part 3 requires local amendment to reflect any arrangements and procedures which are specific to individual schools / sites.   This might include facilities such as swimming pools / hydrotherapy pools eg which not all schools have.      The LGB should review and approve the local H&S policy part 3.   Part 1 should reflect individual school personnel, and the policy should be signed by the Headteacher and Chair of Governors.   The signed copy should be retained in your policy areas.

Competent Person

The Trust buys in external Health and Safety support from Surrey County Council H&S team.  This meets our requirement to have access to a ‘Competent Person’.  Schools from other Local Authorities eg Hampshire, are able to join the SCC SLA as a member of WMAT under the Silver Package.  See attached PDF for more information.

Training

The Trust expects colleagues to complete a range of Health and Safety training on a regular basis.  Details of training requirements are set out within the Health and Safety policy.

Business / Operations Managers are encouraged to complete IOSH Managing Safely in Schools accreditation.     This can either be a 

Those working in Estates / IT would typically require annual training in:

• Asbestos management

• Manual Handling

• Working at heights

• Lone Working

• Fire Safety

• Fire Warden 

• Legionella

• Risk Assessments

Staff across schools would be expected to receive outline Health and Safety training annually; Fire Safety and Fire Warden training as appropriate and Display Screen Equipment training for all those using screens regularly eg admin / office staff.

Recording of H&S checks

The Trust uses Every as its online system for recording Health and Safety checks.    This is a cloud based system which is used for:

• Recording all estates issues requiring attention by staff

  • This can be set up as an icon on desktops by IT

• Determining which H&S checks require to be completed, what frequency and when they need to be completed.

  • Reminder emails can be set up to show on a weekly basis all outstanding checks / upcoming checks to enable schools to plan effectively.

• Creating reports for LGBs and the Trust Audit Committee

  • All schools are required to produce and share H&S reports from Every to show compliance.     This should include a copy of the Trust level Compliance Matrix and the ‘Awaiting documentation’ report

• Attaching evidence of completed checks

  • Every should be used for all documentation.   The system has an app for phones / ipads which means both photos and files can be uploaded by way of evidence.

• The system has a range of checks which are included within the Trust Compliance Matrix used to report to the Trust Audit committee termly.    Meeting dates are on the Trust Calendar.   Reports are sent one week ahead of the meeting dates.   Schools are required to ensure checks have been completed and reviewed / evidence uploaded.