Named Competent Person support
A documented appointment and certificate of service evidencing the agreed arrangement.
Competent person for schools.
Can you evidence competent advice?
If your school faced an inspection, serious incident or HSE investigation, could you demonstrate that the people making safety decisions had access to competent advice?
Request competent person supportNo obligation. Understand your current position.
WHERE THE EXPOSURE LIES
Could you answer these questions with confidence?
Without clear access to competent support, leaders can be left making decisions outside their expertise — with gaps that only become visible when something goes wrong.
- Who provides your competent health and safety advice?
- Has your school had its annual external safety audit?
- Do you understand your legal obligations?
Named support. Evidence of informed decisions.
Our retained Competent Person service gives your school or trust a named source of professional guidance, agreed contact arrangements and support with interpreting your responsibilities.
Telephone and email advice
Access to guidance on day-to-day questions, complex issues and decisions affecting school safety.
RIDDOR and incident advice
Help assessing reporting obligations and deciding what investigation or specialist support is needed.
A route to wider protection
Combine competent advice with school audits, Leadership Protection, management systems and fire support as agreed.
WHAT THIS GIVES YOUR LEADERSHIPKnow where you stand.
Know where you stand.
Know what needs to happen next.
A clear view of the gaps, practical recommendations and an agreed route to improvement. You can demonstrate the steps taken to understand risk, make informed decisions and follow through.
FOR ACADEMY TRUSTS AND MATS
Competent person support across more than one school.
Academy trusts need a consistent way to access competent advice while still understanding the risks at each school. We help central teams connect trust-level expectations with school-level action.
Explore academy trust support- Named competent support for CEOs, trustees, central teams and school leaders
- Advice that links audit findings, incidents, RIDDOR questions and management review
- Remote support nationally, with easier site visits in the South East and Cumbria
- A route into Leadership Protection, school audits, fire safety and safety management systems
Employers must appoint competent assistance under regulation 7 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Support can come from suitably competent employees, with external help where needed. Appointing a consultant does not transfer the employer’s responsibilities.
CHOOSING YOUR SUPPORT
Clear scope. A practical next step.
Understand the support before making a commitment.
What does a retained competent person service include?
We agree a named adviser, contact arrangements and the scope of ongoing health and safety advice for your school or trust. Our service supports day-to-day decisions and incident or RIDDOR questions. School audits, fire safety and management-system work can be agreed alongside the retained advice; your proposal makes clear what is included.
Can you support our existing school team?
Yes. We work with headteachers, school business managers, estates teams and trust leaders. External advice supports your team’s decisions and helps identify when specialist input is needed. It does not replace your organisation’s ownership of health and safety.
Can we combine competent advice with a school safety audit?
Yes. We can scope competent person support alongside an independent school health and safety audit, with prioritised findings and an action plan. Tell us about your current arrangements so we can agree a proportionate package.
How do we arrange support and get a quote?
Start with a free, no-obligation Teams call. Tell us the school or trust name, number of sites, location and the support you need. We will discuss your current arrangements and provide a proposal with the scope and cost agreed before work begins.
WE’RE ON YOUR SIDE
Request a leadership consultationIdentify the gaps before they become your next incident.
Speak to us about competent person support for your school or trust.