Senior Oh Advisor And Nurse Team Lead

SBU/Department: Office of the Vice Chancellor, Occupational Health

FTE: Full Time (1.0 FTE) - 37 hours per week

Duration of Contract: Permanent

Salary: UH8 £44,263pa to £51,283pa with potential to progress to £56,021pa on achieving designated skills and experience

Annual Leave: 30 days plus standard public holidays and an additional 4 days including the closure of our office between Christmas and New Year

Location: College Lane campus, Hatfield

The University of Hertfordshire is an exemplar within the sector and one of the region’s largest employers. Due to our growth, we are looking for an experienced Occupational Health Nurse, preferably with Specialist Community Public Health Nursing - OH registration to support the Head of OH with the operational management of the service. This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual looking to build a more senior career in OH, within an environment full of opportunities for personal and professional growth.

You will be working within a friendly professional OH team providing a wide range of OH services to employees and students (as appropriate) across the university, while supporting managers, Human Resources and ultimately the university in meeting key health and wellbeing responsibilities and ambitions. You will operationally oversee a small team of OH Nurses in providing a high-quality service, work collaboratively the health and safety team and other stakeholders, and provide deputy support to the Head of OH in the overall management of the department.

The Senior OH Advisor and NurseTeam Lead will support the OH department in the provision of comprehensive Occupational Health services to all employees and students (as appropriate) across the University, and will take ownership and lead on aspects of the OH service in fulfilling the objectives and needs of the university. This role will be required to undertake clinics for both staff and students, oversee nursing staff supported by the Head of OH, and with the support of senior managers, deputises for the Head of OH when the need arises.

Some of the general duties will include demonstrating care, understanding, sensitivity and professionalism to all persons utilising the OH service and undertaking pre-employment/placement screening, advising on candidate’s fitness for a specific job role/course of study. Through assessment and suitable follow-up reviews you will provide professional advice to managers and HR on an individual’s fitness to work, rehabilitation and phased return to work programmes.

Your management duties will also include providing direct line management to the OH Nurses including the provision of professional advice, support and guidance, and provide support to the wider multidisciplinary team (as appropriate) and working with the Head of OH to review the Clinical skill mix and to develop and support ongoing recruitment.

Additionally you will, make clear recommendations based on information provided and sound judgement, seeking additional information and advice where required; organise resources and plan tasks in collaboration with the team but will have autonomy in planning and organising work related activities; generate data for annual reports, audits and surveys within the OH service and establish and maintain links with relevant professional bodies.

You must have a strong level of practice experience in OH and ability to demonstrate good experience in managing or formally supervising and supporting staff is preferable. You will also have a clear interest building a more senior career in OH. You must be a team player, pragmatic, self-motivated, have a proactive attitude to work, and have corporate awareness and an understanding of good customer care. Crucially, you must be able to function autonomously, and make autonomous decisions when the need arises, as well as maintain strict client confidentiality.

Practically, the role will require someone with great interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) and is conversant in the use of Microsoft Office Applications e.g. email, word processing and PowerPoint etc. You must be able to prioritise and manage time effectively particularly as you will need to juggle between managing your own caseload and your management responsibilities. Experience in the use of other IT applications for data entry and record keeping, and in leading on or promoting workplace health, safety or wellbeing issues (particular within a Higher Education setting) would be beneficial.

You will be a registered Nurse – Adult - Part 1 of the NMC register and hold a minimum of a Degree/Diploma, or equivalent, in Occupational Health Nursing or significant experience in OH and actively working towards a formal OH qualification.

Being registered as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse – OH with the NMC is desirable.

The University requires that the successful applicant who is offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required, and this will include details of cautions, reprimands, or final warnings, as well as convictions. The University of Hertfordshire complies with the 'Code of Practice for Registered Persons and other recipients of Disclosure Information'. DBS Checks may be renewed in line with policy.

Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a ‘Certificate of Good Character/Conduct’ from each of those countries.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Irene Boham, Head of Occupational Health: Email - i.boham@herts.ac.uk, Mob: 07889 652218.

Closing Date: 25 April 2024

Interview Date: TBC

Reference Number: 058435

Date advert placed: 04 April 2024

Our vision is to transform lives: UH is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and building a diverse community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of their protected characteristics, and recognise there are different ways applicants may achieve the criteria in this document. We offer a range of employee benefits including generous annual leave, flexible location opportunities within the UK, discounted Sports Village memberships and free Active Staff sessions, personal and professional development and family-friendly policies. #GoHerts