Environmental Health Officer (food safety)

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title:                               Environmental Health Officer (food safety) 

Description

We are looking for a qualified Environmental Health Officer to join the food team of our south London client, we are willing to pay up to £38 per hour for the successful candidate.  The contract is for an initial three months, although it may be extended 

Role Purpose:

To be part of a team concerned with enforcing Food, Health and Safety and Health Protection legislation within the Borough by means of enforcement, advice, and education.

To actively enforce and investigate all areas of Food Health and Safety and Health Protection, by undertaking investigations, inspections and sampling.

To carry out in a professional manner the duties of an Environmental Health Officer and to assist the Team Manager in the implementation of all related policies and procedures.

A. Job Description

1. Resident & Community Contribution

To demonstrate understanding of the Council’s Customer Care Standards and ensure that these standards are met in order to deliver the Council vision of ‘putting our residents first’.

2. People Management

No direct supervisory responsibility however may be requirement to assist in induction and training of peers and new employees.

3. Operational Service Delivery

To maintain a high degree of knowledge of Environmental Health Law in particular as it relates to Health and Safety, Food Control, Health Protection and Infectious Disease.  Keep fully conversant with all legislative and technical developments in relation to the function of the team.

To prepare, as necessary, reports and statements of evidence for legal proceedings resulting from the contravention of Environmental Health Legislation and to attend court, to give evidence on behalf of the Council.

To prepare as necessary proofs of evidence, rebuttal evidence, notes for cross-examination for Planning Inquiries and to give evidence relating to environmental issues on behalf of the Council.

To exercise professional judgement over the range of assigned duties and determine and implement appropriate courses of action, working on one’s own initiative and within the policies laid down.

To assist CCDC and Public Health England with the function of preventing spread of infectious diseases.

To carry out duties outside normal working hours as may be necessary subject to mutually agreed arrangements.

To provide professional advice on a wide range of Environmental Health issues to members of the public, and other organisations, officers from other departments of the Council.

Participate in mechanisms to ensure effective consultation and communication with service users and service providers on policy and procedural changes.

Participate in the development and implementation of information technology solutions.

Maintain an awareness of the legislation and regulations in respect of Health and Safety at Work, foster safe working practices.

Maintain an awareness of Council’s legal duties and policy objectives in respect of equal opportunities and customer care and ensure that they are implemented in practice.

To assist EHOs and Technical Officers in carrying out follow up enforcement visits.

To assist with the training of student Environmental Health Officers and other staff as required.

Undertaking inspections to enforce Food Safety and Health and Safety legislation as may be required in accordance with current procedures to ensure the Council complies with its responsibilities under the relevant legislation, identifying required remedial action.

4. Service Planning & Development

Maintain knowledge of the current Team Plan and have an understanding of own contribution in order to ensure delivery of this plan.

5. Financial & Resource Management

To demonstrate cost-consciousness and identify any cost effective changes to own way of working.

6. Service Improvement

To identify and suggest any improvements to current ways of working in order to deliver a more efficient and effective service for customers.

 7. Contacts

Internal: All Departments of the Council’s Services to a Senior level of Management, and elected Members.

External: Other local authorities and Central Government Departments - to a high level of management;

Outside Organisations, Local Authority organisations, Traders, Pressure Groups, Industry and Commerce - to Managing Director level; senior staff in other local authorities, Heathrow Airport Ltd - to Senior levels of Management;      Solicitors, Barristers, Court Officials and witnesses;

Other law enforcement bodies; Politicians and members of the public Consultant in communicable Diseases, SVS DEFRA.

8. Additional Responsibilities

Complete other reasonable tasks in order to fulfil role purpose or as instructed by management.

To be conversant with the operation and application of the Service’s computer systems and other information technology.

To maintain an awareness of the legislation and regulations in respect of Health and Safety at work, fostering safe working practices.

To maintain an awareness of the Council’s legal duties and policy objectives in respect of equal opportunities and customer care, and to ensure that they are implemented in practice.

To participate in training to achieve personal development.

To carry out duties outside normal working hours as may be necessary, subject to mutually agreed arrangements.

9. Key Performance Indicators

To achieve performance targets as detailed in employee’s personal Performance and Development Agreement.

B. Person Specification

1. Qualifications

Diploma/Degree/MSc in Environmental Health

EHORB Registration

Certificate of professional competence 

2. Statutory or Role Specific Requirements

Current full driving license

Must have a car to travel to enable you to carry out visits around the borough      

3. Experience

Two years post qualification experience in the field of food safety including food safety inspections.

Recent experience of carrying out high risk food safety inspections, food standards inspections and relevant enforcement.

Two years post qualification experience in the field of health and safety and/ or other environmental health investigations and enforcement.

Working in a large organisation and dealing with competing priorities.

Writing detailed reports

Service of Statutory Notices

Experience with common software such as Word, Excel etc

Experience of acting on own initiative

4. Knowledge & Skills

Good knowledge of Environmental Health legislation with the ability to interpret and communicate to public and other staff.

Understanding of legislation in relation to food, health & safety, infectious disease and other environmental health functions administered by the specialist group to which attached.

Ability to organise ones own workload, determine priorities and meet deadlines.

Ability to make balanced decisions on the expediency of taking enforcement action and negotiating solutions where appropriate, in accordance with council procedures and good practice

Capacity to absorb new knowledge quickly and efficiently.

Ability to work under pressure.

Ability to liaise with residents and businesses in an assertive and confident manner.

Willingness and ability to work as part of a team as well as on one's own initiative. 

Comfortable with computers/new technology.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

5. Competencies   

“Can do” positive attitude

Demonstrates a commitment to changing work practices and processes, and a willingness to try new ways of working or thinking.         

Takes responsibility and delivers results

Adapts to changing demands to ensure that objectives are met, overcoming problems and making well considered decisions.

Team working

Acts as a role model to others in the team, sharing knowledge and experience when necessary, whilst respecting and valuing the contribution other team members’ experiences can bring.

Communication

Demonstrates well developed written and verbal communication skills; and the confidence to present reports and verbal accounts credibly to a variety of different audiences.

Customer Care

Develops contacts and relationships with customer/ client groups, regularly reviewing service delivery and taking responsibility to ensure quality service provision.

Takes ownership of personal development

Takes action to develop own and others' capability and knowledge by promoting and supporting developmental opportunities to improve performance.