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Posted By Zoe Barnett
We run very successful out of hours learning sessions throughout the year, offering a range of activities. They are run by teachers and instructors, generally using schools/libraries/museums etc and cater for youngsters aged 10-11.
We want to improve our monitoring of H&S procedures, improve the formal recording of risk assessments etc but this has opened a huge can of worms and they are wriggling all over my desk. The basic problem is identifying who should actually carry out the H&S work - teachers running the activities? The LEA? If so, who? School Advisers are unwilling, teachers say they are too busy (though I did have to grit my teeth when they said their six weeks' summer break wasn't long enough) and there isn't anyone in a central position to co-ordinate it all. The problem is compounded by the fact that there are often several staff at a session and no-one has overall leadership as it is understood that to offer this role would be a disincentive and would cause problems with recruiting teachers to the programme.
Not unnaturally, especially on a Friday afternoon, I am keen to get out of doing as much work on this as possible and so wondered if any colleagues have management/co-ordination systems that work in similar scenarios. I am happy to draw up audits, checklists, generic risk assessments etc for completion by whoever - I just want to know what sort of chain of command works (though of course if you have documents that you're happy to share I'd be grateful.) As ever I would be happy to return the favour as and when I can.
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Posted By Bill Elliott
Hi Zoe - Yes I can hear the wriggling from here! - OK who is it that has managerial responsibility for these sessions, rather than trying to find someone to take on the role after the fact, what about incorporating the requirement for the H&S work as a CONDITION for the sessions to go ahead - it should after all be considered as a managmeent issue along with everything else and not adressed separately. It will not be popular of course.
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Posted By Ken Taylor
If you are Medway Council providing education within your own buildings, I would have thought that this work should be done by your management as advised by your H&S advisers. If you don't have the people to do this, you may have to bring in a consultant but management will still have to 'own' the assessments, etc and I suspect that much of what goes on will be able to be covered by generic assessments, policies, etc for existing activities within the buildings described.
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Zoe Barnett
I probably didn't explain myself properly - the problem isn't what we need to do to comply with H&S regs etc but how to ensure it happens, because at present there isn't a clear H&S management structure for these sessions, due to their very nature. Risk assessments are in place for the premises, we can get them done for the activities, all I need is a suggestion as to the best and most practicable way of co-ordinating the process. Looks like this one could run and run...
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Rank: Guest
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Posted By Ken Taylor
Thanks Zoe, so it's a problem of how to manage and monitor the health and safety. Sounds like you need a sort of peripatetic visiting manager/co-ordinator.
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