Health and Safety Policy

Policy Statement

Tara Professional Recruitment is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its employees, temporary workers, candidates, visitors and others who may be affected by its activities.

We recognise our responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated UK health and safety legislation and are committed to maintaining working practices that minimise risk and promote a positive health and safety culture.

As a specialist education recruitment agency, our responsibilities extend both to our own workplace and, where appropriate, to the temporary workers we supply to schools and educational establishments.

We will take reasonable and proportionate measures to identify hazards, assess risks, provide appropriate information and respond promptly to health and safety concerns.

Our Health & Safety Objectives

Tara Professional Recruitment aims to:

• Provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

• Identify and appropriately manage workplace risks.

• Prevent accidents, injuries and work-related ill health.

• Provide employees with appropriate health and safety information and guidance.

• Ensure temporary workers receive relevant information concerning their placement.

• Work collaboratively with client schools regarding health and safety responsibilities.

• Record and investigate relevant incidents and concerns.

• Promote employee physical and mental wellbeing.

• Review our health and safety arrangements regularly.

Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for health and safety rests with the Managing Director.

Management will ensure that:

• Appropriate risk assessments are undertaken.

• Employees receive relevant health and safety information.

• Workplace risks are appropriately managed.

• Accidents and incidents are recorded and investigated where necessary.

• Appropriate action is taken when health and safety concerns are identified.

All employees are responsible for taking reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.

Employees must report hazards, accidents, unsafe practices or health and safety concerns promptly.

Office Health & Safety

As an office-based professional services business, key areas of risk include:

• Display screen equipment (DSE).

• Workstation ergonomics.

• Slips, trips and falls.

• Electrical equipment.

• Fire safety.

• Manual handling.

• Lone working where applicable.

• Workplace stress and wellbeing.

Tara Professional Recruitment will maintain proportionate controls appropriate to these risks.

Employees using display screen equipment regularly will be encouraged to set up their workstations correctly, take appropriate breaks and report any concerns.

Fire Safety & Emergency Procedures

Employees will be made aware of:

• Emergency evacuation procedures.

• Fire exits and escape routes.

• Assembly arrangements.

• Procedures for reporting emergencies.

Fire exits and escape routes must remain unobstructed.

Where Tara occupies managed premises, we will cooperate with the landlord or building management regarding fire safety, evacuation and other building-wide health and safety arrangements.

Temporary Workers & Client Schools

As an employment business supplying teachers and education professionals to client establishments, Tara Professional Recruitment recognises the importance of ensuring appropriate health and safety arrangements for temporary workers.

Prior to or at the commencement of an assignment, we will seek appropriate information concerning:

• The nature and location of the assignment.

• Relevant workplace risks.

• Any specific health and safety requirements associated with the role.

• Any necessary experience, qualifications or training.

• Relevant emergency and reporting procedures where applicable.

Client schools and educational establishments are responsible for maintaining a safe working environment under their control and providing temporary workers with appropriate site-specific information, instruction and supervision.

Temporary workers are expected to comply with the client's health and safety procedures while on assignment and report hazards, accidents or concerns to the client and Tara Professional Recruitment as appropriate.

Safeguarding

Due to the nature of our work within education, health and safety operates alongside our safeguarding responsibilities.

Tara Professional Recruitment maintains appropriate safer recruitment and safeguarding procedures and expects all temporary workers to comply with the safeguarding policies and procedures of the educational establishments in which they work.

Accidents & Incident Reporting

All employees and temporary workers are encouraged to report work-related accidents, incidents, near misses and significant health and safety concerns promptly.

Where an incident involving a temporary worker occurs at a client establishment, Tara will cooperate with the client to establish the circumstances and determine whether any further action is required.

Where applicable, incidents will be managed in accordance with statutory reporting requirements, including RIDDOR.

Risk Assessment

Tara Professional Recruitment will undertake appropriate risk assessments relating to its own operations and working environment.

Risk assessments will be reviewed where:

• Working arrangements materially change.

• New hazards are identified.

• An accident or significant incident occurs.

• Existing controls may no longer be adequate.

Employee Wellbeing

We recognise that health and safety includes both physical and psychological wellbeing.

We promote:

• Reasonable workloads.

• Open communication.

• Appropriate breaks.

• Work-life balance.

• Early discussion of workplace wellbeing concerns.

• A respectful working environment.

Training & Information

Employees will receive health and safety information appropriate to their role.

Where additional training is identified as necessary through risk assessment or changes in working practices, appropriate training or guidance will be provided.

Monitoring & Review

The Operations Director will periodically review:

• Risk assessments.

• Accidents and incidents.

• Health and safety concerns.

• Working practices.

• Temporary worker feedback where relevant.

• Changes to applicable legislation or guidance.

This policy will be formally reviewed at least annually or following a significant change in operations, legislation or identified risk.