Environmental Health Officer (food)

We are looking for a food qualified Environmental Health Practitioner to join our south London local authority client The contract is due to run for at least twelve months Main Purpose The commercial team provides a professional and specialist service to discharge the partner Councils statutory responsibilities to enforce the full range of commercial activities under Food and Health and Safety Legislation. The role will involve the full range of Food and Health and Safety activities including programmed Food and Health and Safety visits, food sampling, accident investigations, approved premises regulation, infectious disease control and overseeing the safety of drinking and leisure water. The role also includes investigating service requests from the public, other professionals and the commercial sector relating to its legislative remit, and to take enforcement action where necessary. Main Duties and Responsibilities To maintain and extend an excellent up to date knowledge of Commercial Environmental Health 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 Commercial Environmental Health, 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 range of services in accordance with legislation, codes of practice, corporate policies, local policies and 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, informal and formal sampling, carrying out PACE interviews, taking statements and recommending appropriate action to Lead Officer Environmental Health Commercial (LOEHC) and Environmental Health Manager Commercial (EHMC). To undertake consistent, proportionate, targeted, accountable and transparent enforcement action, in accordance with best practice advice and guidance and enforcement policies, to resolve any identified non-compliances. This may include seizing food, serving hygiene emergency prohibition notices, preparing and serving statutory and fixed penalty notices and other legal documents, commensurate with the grade and post. To prepare infringement/non-compliance reports and evidence for legal proceedings at Court, Tribunal or other statutory Hearing. To give evidence as a witness at Court, Tribunal and/or other statutory hearings as required. To consider the impact on businesses, consumers, 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. To carry out planned inspections in relation to Food Hygiene and Standards to the full range of risk premises A to E using the full range of interventions including inspections, audits, verification and advisory visits. Where appropriate to apply the correct rating to the premises in accordance with the Food Standards Agency's Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. To carry out planned inspections to commercial premises in relation to Health and Safety in accordance with the service plan using the full range of interventions including inspections, audits, verification and advisory visits. In conjunction with LOEHC and EHMC 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 identify, develop and formalise Home Authority Partnerships with businesses trading in regional, national or international markets and provide comprehensive and accurate advice and support on all aspects of Commercial Environmental Health Legislation. 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 LOEHC and EHMC 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, traders, members of the public and their representatives. To undertake customer satisfaction, stakeholder engagement and consultation surveys/exercises as directed by LOEHC and EHMC 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 promote the service by giving presentations to consumer, business or voluntary organisations, participating in displays, and the development of work programmes designed to reach out to vulnerable groups and the socially excluded. To provide guidance and support to Technical Officers and assist in the training of all Commercial Team staff, particularly in relation to professional qualifications. When appropriate to work with the Trading Standards Accredited Financial Investigator to carry out Proceeds of Crime Act enquiries, investigations and evidence gathering. To actively support and encourage high professional standards and excellent service delivery ensuring that personal objectives and targets, inspections, projects, investigations and other work is 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 to carry out the duties of the post. To assist the EHMC in the preparation of statutory plans and performance returns. To develop and deliver training to businesses and other stakeholders across the full range of Commercial Environmental Health duties developing guidance documents and other information material suitable for distribution to businesses. Carry out complex investigations into food poisoning outbreaks, serious Health and Safety Incidents and accidents and outbreaks of infectious disease. To maintain a specialist portfolio knowledge of a major aspect/priority field of Commercial Environmental Health work, leading on the implementation of work for that area including training and assisting other officers in that field as necessary, and LOEHC/ EHMC and senior officers of the Council. 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. Senior Environmental Health Practitioner (ME12) Additional Requirements To act as the single point of contact for partner businesses in accordance with the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO) Primary Authority scheme providing advice and liaising with other agencies, legal representatives, Directors and senior company representatives. To identify opportunities for external funding and apply for the same on behalf of the service. To provide complex assured legal advice to local businesses on all aspects of Commercial Environmental Health law, including developing guidance documents, on behalf of both the Regulatory Service Partnership (RSP) and any trading entity/commercial business operated by the RSP. To develop and deliver training to businesses, including the development of materials and promotional literature, on all aspects of Commercial Environmental Health law, on behalf of both the Regulatory Service Partnership (RSP) and any trading entity/commercial business operated by the RSP. Please send your CV through to infokenyonblock.com For information about similar roles please visit www.kenyonblock.com