Description Salary £27,269 - £31,067 Per Annum | Permanent, Full Time | 37 hours per week Job Title – Trading Standards Service Officer – Fair Trading (Grade 6) Location – Preston Hours – 37 Hours per week Full time /Permanent Closing date – Sunday 2nd February 2025 We are currently recruiting… A Trading Standards Service Officer to work within the Fair Trading Team at Lancashire County Council This is an exciting opportunity for to join our team and develop skills as a Trading Standards Investigator. Primarily based in the Fair Trading team, you will be able to maintain a varied and interesting caseload and work closely with other team members to collectively meet service objectives. If you do not have existing law enforcement experience then you will be expected to work towards a professional qualification endorsed by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Lancashire is the fourth largest local authority in England and is a delightful mix of bustling towns and cities with a rich history of industry and creativity, sitting alongside peaceful, picturesque countryside and magnificent coastlines. Lancashire is the best place to live, work, visit and prosper. The Trading Standards Service has a key role in protecting residents and visitors from fraudulent and illegal practices as well as tackling rogue trading practices and supporting honest businesses to grow and thrive. What we are searching for… Investigation and Analytical Skills – You will start to build up a detailed knowledge and gain experience of applying the relevant legislation and current standards to Trading Standards activities. You must be able to work independently and have confidence to make independent decisions relating to investigations that we undertake. You will maintain accurate records and produce reports acceptable to service standards for use in criminal proceedings. You will have a caseload that requires you to be a methodical and analytical thinker, you will record and analyse information, and respect timescales – you'll understand the importance of accuracy, attention to detail and professional conduct. Communication & Collaboration – You will need you to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, this could be: victims of crime; business owners; consumers; and other agencies – in this role you may need to have difficult conversations, so how you approach each situation will be key. You'll work closely with team members to achieve the best outcome for the service and our customers. Advise & Influence – You will have interpersonal skills that enable you to advise and influence colleagues and consumers and encourage businesses to meet their statutory obligations. Why join us… Join our team and we'll offer you excellent opportunities to do new things, a commitment to support you, and the potential to influence and improve the way we work. In return for your passion and expertise we offer all our staff a very good benefits package. Benefits: There's fabulous flexibility and the opportunity to create the work life balance you'll love with up to 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays, 2 additional days at Christmas and an additional 20 days that can be purchased too – we also have a generous local authority pension with shared AVC's available, and a benefits package that will exceed your expectations, from a 24/7 Employee Assistance Program to a range of discounts on dog care, day care, holidays at home or abroad, long service awards, Medicash, support groups, cycle to work schemes and eye tests plus much more Development: you will get support and development along the journey – there will be time for supportive reflection and supervision for yourself, opportunities for personal growth and development, multidisciplinary initiatives, mentoring, apprenticeships, the opportunity to make a difference, feel valued and achieve the job satisfaction you've always wanted plus all the benefits of working with Lancashire County Council Inclusivity: we don't have a "one size fits all" idealism, we embrace diversity which includes personal and family requirements; therefore we support an array of flexible working opportunities to attract diverse talent. We take inclusivity seriously and would like to improve the diversity within our teams to better reflect the people we serve, so we are particularly keen to hear from you if you are a person of colour, from the LGBTQ community or have a disability. The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful, you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Further information can be found on the 'Our Recruitment Process' tab. You will be required to provide a car for use in connection with the duties of this post and must be insured for business use. However, we may consider you if you cannot drive because of a disability. When necessary, you will be required to work outside of core hours, which can include some weekend working, and work across other areas of the Service. We reserve the right to close a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications. How to apply… For a confidential and informal discussion please contact Julie Waddington on 01772 533508/ julie.waddingtonlancashire.gov.uk For full details of the role and to apply, please visit our website Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence. Job Description and Person Specification