Trading Standards Officer / Enforcement Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job description      Trading Standards Officer / Enforcement Officer

General

This is a 2 month contract

Enhanced DBS, valid within 12 months, and Children's Barred List Check is required

Remote working is potentially an option

A full clean driving licence, valid in the UK is required.

Purpose:

This service provides Trading Standards functions on a joint consortium basis for two boroughs

To achieve compliance with all statutory and non statutory requirements that come within the functional responsibility of the post by providing advice and enforcement of consumer protection legislation in the subject areas of fair trading, safety, scams, rogue trading, underage sales and weights & measures (with suitable qualification)

Handling service requests, providing business advice to include 'primary authority' partnerships to achieve compliance, conducting inspections and investigations using the full range of powers and ensuring both Council and Service objectives are achieved

Providing a customer focused service.

Duties:

Responding to routine service requests, conducting high risk business inspections and investigating alleged breaches of Trading Standards enforced legislation

This role has regular contact with the public and business

Maintain high standards of knowledge, competency and skill participating in learning and development with the area of consumer protection law and associated legislation such as Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act, Proceeds of Crime Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act etc. and relevant codes of practice

Scrutinise service request/complaints, notifications, referrals, consultations, license/registration applications and intelligence databases to make appropriate and informed decisions as to when to exercise any statutory powers and when performing use of powers

Make comment and/or draft Council policies, consultations, reports, procedures, risk assessments, inspection plans, service plans or similar, advise on their adequacy within your field of professional expertise and implement as required

Prepare and present literate, numerate, accurate and timely investigation reports or similar, making use of charting and data analysis where appropriate to present work. To handle evidence, records and data in accordance with legislative requirements to maintain confidentiality and evidential integrity

Deliver a range of functions including test purchasing, business inspections, surveys, market surveillance, investigations, sampling, interviews, processing service requests and leading primary authority relationships in accordance with internal procedures, legislative requirements and/or other codes of practice or policies

Obtain, consider and retain all available evidence in accordance with legal requirements; to undertake consistent and proportionate enforcement action to resolve any identified non-compliances. This will include writing witness statements, exercising powers, conducting interviews, preparation and service of statutory or fixed penalty notices, drafting warning letters, simple cautions and preparing legal cases and evidence for Court or other statutory hearings

Comply with Council's financial processes for the procurement of goods or services and oversee work carried out by any supplier. Account for ad hoc petty cash payments used when performing statutory duties, market and attract income generation opportunities for the Service, record and process payments such as fees, penalty notices and primary authority income

Complete investigations making recommendations of formal sanctions, gathering evidence when necessary for legal proceedings in the Magistrate and Crown Courts; appearing and giving evidence in Court, applying for surveillance and communications data applications, entry warrants or presenting evidence in any other statutory hearing.

Person Specification:

Detailed knowledge of a wide range of criminal Trading Standards legislation

Ability to carry out complex criminal investigations

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Hard working attitude

Possess an in-depth and current knowledge of consumer protection law including offences, defences and powers, relevant case law and its application

Possess an in-depth and current knowledge of testing procedures in relation to safety matters

To achieve grade GPO3 or above, hold the full Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards' or equivalent

To achieve grade GPO4, be registered as a Chartered Trading Standards Practitioner or hold a weights and measures qualification

Interpreting and explaining consumer protection law, in writing, face to face or over the telephone to a diverse community and wide ranging business type

Managing and prioritising, with minimal intervention, a demanding workload, consistently meeting or achieving objectives, standards and performance

Undertaking investigations into non-compliance, using a range of enforcement powers and preparing well documented infringement reports

Tackling non-compliances swiftly, fairly and proportionately, if necessary using formal or regulatory controls

Experience of using influencing skills including coaching, listening, guidance, mediation, persuasion, in the face of resistance to resolve poor performance, behaviour or sub-standard work, non-compliant or unsustainable practices.