The Westbrook Trust is a multi-academy trust with four primary schools in Kent. Despite consistently high ratings for Health & Safety from the local authority, the Trust considers this is more than just a tick-box exercise - it’s about true accountability and best practice.

Chief Finance and Operations Officer Richard Warnham saw an opportunity to benchmark his MAT’s service against other providers. He approached Judicium Education in 2020 for a fresh perspective on H&S, with a particular focus on Fire Safety.

Judicium’s expertise in school environments and objective oversight as a critical friend have helped the Trust dig deeper into how they can improve H&S provision. Judicium has identified areas requiring improvement and demonstrated how to address them, helping the Trust to build a stronger H&S compliance framework – and safer schools. 

Richard sees many benefits to Judicium’s bespoke approach, identifying 5 key benefits for the Trust:

A Dedicated Adviser

The Trust’s key consultant, Rachel, visits termly and provides ongoing support by email and phone, ensuring the schools stay proactive in their compliance efforts. 

“Rachel’s responsiveness and expertise have been particularly valuable. Judicium’s service has shown ROI through both tangible improvements and greater peace of mind.”

A Proactive Approach

Proactive support has resulted in quick and targeted action, better documentation and improved compliance. For example, a structural inspection of external fire escapes had been overlooked during fire risk assessments. Corrective action has now improved legal compliance and made the school safer. This proactive approach also ensures the Trust is always prepared: staff know what to do in an emergency, and the last-minute time-pressure and stress that can accompany audits and inspections is reduced.

Streamlined Processes

The online JEDU portal has streamlined processes, saving time by providing easy access to documentation such as risk assessments that can be adapted rather than created from scratch. Richard points to notable time and workload efficiencies since working with Judicium.

Comprehensive Training

The Trust says Judicium’s training has contributed significantly to staff skill development and operational efficiency. For example, the Trust’s focus this year on fire compartmentation plans and fire safety (including fire door training) has improved fire safety at their schools.

Regular Updates

Continuous guidance and regular updates on legislation and best practices have been invaluable, according to Richard. “The support provided by Judicium, including updates on changes in health and safety practices, ensures the trust is always aligned. Judicium’s Health & Safety service has delivered significant value for money by increasing efficiency, mitigating risks and providing expert guidance,” concludes Richard.

“Bringing Judicium on board has significantly enhanced our confidence in our compliance and operational practices. We now have the assurance that we are fulfilling our responsibilities effectively, and the exceptional service and support from your team have been instrumental in getting us to this point.”

If you’d like to learn more about Judicium’s Health & Safety services, please feel free to contact enquiries on enquiries@judicium.com or 0345 548 7000