Private Sector Housing Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title: Private Sector Housing Officer

We are looking for a committed Private Sector Housing Officer to be join a north London local authority private sector housing enforcement and licensing team on a contract basis

To apply for this role you will need to hold a degree in Environmental Health and a Certificate of Registration of the Environmental Health Registration Board (EHRB) or equivalent and have post-graduate experience in Housing law enforcement. You will also need to have current practical knowledge, with regulatory and operational experience.

You should be self-motivated and confident with a sound knowledge of the relevant law to be proficient in housing inspections including the identification of defects and their remedies. You must have experience of using the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System.

You will need to have good investigative, decision-making and problem-solving skills, as well as being able to manage your time effectively and work well as part of a team.

The role requires excellent communication skills and the ability to deal confidently and effectively with the public, businesses and members of other organisations. A strong work ethic, ability to deal with a varied caseload and a commitment to customer service are essential.

This post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Job Description

Purpose:

To manage complex applications, regulatory issues, projects, schemes and functions with minimal supervision for completion within prescribed timescales, costs and specifications. To ensure the Council’s statutory duties are discharged in relation to Environmental Health with minimal supervision and within prescribed timescales

Key Responsibilities:

The carrying out of technical duties in respect of a wide range of environmental health legislation.

These duties will include, but not be limited to, the inspection of premises with regard to the regulation of food standards and hygiene, health and safety, environmental protection and compliance with housing standards; the sampling of environmental media or food products and the gathering of evidence relating to environmental health offences.

Main Duties

To investigate requests made to the Council, including gathering relevant evidence, relating to the full range of environmental health legislation enforceable by the Council.

To undertake visits, inspections, surveys and investigations as directed, in relation to the Council’s Environmental Health function.

To undertake enforcement activities including the service of formal notices, preparation of case papers for prosecutions, and attending Court to give evidence.

To give advice, as required, on any matter within the professional or technical competence or knowledge of the post holder.

Produce reports, letters, notices, schedules, plans and other appropriate documents as may be required.

To undertake monitoring and sampling, using appropriate technical equipment.

To provide technical support to colleagues as may be reasonably required.

To keep and maintain paper and electronic office records, produce reports and complete statistical returns as required.

The carrying out of such environmental health duties as may be required, including work outside normal office hours from time to time.

To maintain agreed performance targets and to meet the requirements of relevant performance management and inspection regimes.

To attend such meetings as a representative of the Authority as may be necessary, some of which may be outside normal office hours.

To comply with all relevant legislation to ensure effectiveness in the role.

To undertake any other duties of a similar nature commensurate with the level of the post as required by the Head of Public Protection and Regulatory Services

The post holder must carry out their duties with full regard to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct and all other Council Policies.

The post holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety rules and regulations and with Health and Safety legislation.

The post holder must act in compliance with data protection principles in respecting the privacy of personal information held by the council.

The post holder must comply with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the management of Council records and information. 

The post holder must have a competent working knowledge of the Service’s IT applications including inputting and extracting data.

To comply with the principles and requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR in relation to the management of Council records and information, and respect the privacy of personal information held by the Council