Noise and Nuisance Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job description                  Noise and Complaints Officer

General

The role is for an officer to work within our Noise and complaints team. The individual will be required to work on our rota which includes working someday shifts (during the working week and at weekends) and some evening shifts (until 3 am on a Friday and Saturday and until 2 am on a Sunday). The officer would need to cover approximately 34 shifts in a 7 week period, therefore approximately 5 per week.

The pay is £18.01 per hour PAYE or £22.42 umbrella

Main Purpose of the Role

The Pollution Team provides a specialist professional service to discharge the Council’s statutory responsibility to enforce legislation and protect public health. It has a strong regulatory function around industry and the commercial sector, and also acts as a specialist consultancy service in areas of health protection.

The role of Pollution Practitioners is to investigate often complex and contentious service requests from the public, other professionals and the commercial sector relating to its legislative remit, and to take enforcement action where necessary. There is also a strong regulatory function of the post.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To investigate service requests relating to ‘statutory nuisance’ including; but not limited to, noise, air quality, dust, smoke, light pollution and fumes.

To discharge the Pollution Team’s duties under the Licensing Act 2003 as a responsible authority.

To regulate the environmental impact of the construction industry.

The investigation of service requests relating to rubbish accumulations including hazardous materials in commercial areas.

Investigation of service requests relating to pest and vermin control in the commercial sector.

Investigation of service requests relating to faulty drainage in the commercial sector.

To maintain and extend an excellent and up to date knowledge of Environmental Health/Pollution legislation, best practice, competency and skill ensuring that staff are acquainted with them to facilitate a continually improving service that meets stakeholder needs.

To provide high quality, timely and accurate professional advice, guidance and information about all aspects of pollution, to customers, colleagues, members of the public, Members of the Council, solicitors, and other professionals in a format that is understandable and appropriate.

To  properly  manage  evidence,  records  and  data  to  ensure  that  confidentiality, continuity, integrity, data quality, data protection and requests for information requirements are observed.

To deliver a wide range of services in accordance with legislation, codes of practice, corporate policies, local policies, guidance and good professional practice. This includes, but is not limited to; inspections, projects, surveys, alternative enforcement activities, publicity, attending meetings, processing applications, visits, investigating complaints and service requests, sampling, monitoring,  gathering   evidence, carrying   out   PACE interviews, taking  statements and appropriate/proportionate action.

To  undertake  consistent, proportionate, targeted,  accountable  and  transparent enforcement action,  in accordance with  best  practice advice ,guidance  and enforcement policies and to resolve any identified non-compliances. This may include seizing property, works in default, preparing and serving statutory and fixed penalty notices and other legal documents, commensurate with the grade and post.

To prepare reports and evidence for legal proceedings at Court, Tribunal, Committee hearings and other bodies.

To give evidence as a witness at Court, Tribunal and/or other statutory body as required.

To consider the impact on businesses, residents or others who might be affected by any enforcement or regulatory action.

To conduct investigations and other enforcement work in relation to infringements  of legislation, in compliance with the Police and Criminal  Evidence  Act (PACE),  the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), Criminal  Proceedings and Investigations Act (CPIA), Human Rights Act (HRA) and all relevant legislation.

To assist in the development of best practice policies and procedures by participating in internal audits, updating and developing processes, procedures and standard documents in order to ensure a continually improving service for stakeholders.

In conjunction with the PLO & PTM to formulate and implement proactive strategies for dealing with new service delivery and statutory requirements, developing and documenting appropriate policies and procedures having regard to local needs, regional initiatives and Government strategies. 

To work in accordance with Council policies, procedures, protocols, processes, risk assessments and relevant service plans.

To deal with the preparation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of clear, logical, accurate and timely reports, documents, spread sheets, data analysis and feedback.

To be a flexible and effective team member, supporting the service and its objectives by taking a flexible approach to work activities across the division, places of work, team changes, work systems, practices, case allocation, times and hours of work.

To work outside of normal office hours as required by PLO and PTM and have a flexible approach to carrying out duties as required by service demands.

To provide an excellent level of customer care and deal sensitively and courteously with residents and other customers, businesses, members of the public and their representatives.

To undertake customer satisfaction, stakeholder engagement and consultation surveys/exercises as directed by PLO and PTM to review service priorities and satisfaction levels.

To represent the Council at meetings, both internal and external and liaise with other authorities, agencies, council services, service providers, government representatives, solicitors, other professionals, traders, residents and other customers, as appropriate.

To actively support and encourage high professional standards and excellent service delivery, ensuring those personal objectives and targets, inspections, projects, investigations and other work are delivered within time limits.

Ensure that personal objectives and targets, inspections, projects, investigations and other work are delivered within time limits.

To use computer based databases and record keeping programmes to accurately enter and record information about work activities in a timely manner according to the Council's data quality principles.

To use computer terminals (desktop, handheld, fixed or mobile) to input information and access data as required by the duties of the post.

To assist the PTM in the preparation of statutory plans and performance returns.

To carry out duties across all Councils and Boroughs in the Regulatory Services Partnership.

To work within the provisions of the Council's policies for Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Value for Money, Data Quality and Customer Care and to ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard to and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other related legislation.

To carry out any other duties as required appropriate to the grading of the post.