Advert details
We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic, conscientious and motivated Environmental Health Practitioners and registered Food Safety Practitioners to work within our Regulatory Services Department. You will work in a multi-disciplinary role within the Public Protection Team covering occupational health and safety, food safety, and infectious disease control. The service is responsible for enforcing a variety of legislation and regimes so you will need to hold qualifications and specialist knowledge of all relevant Environmental Health legislation; including Food Safety, Occupational Health and Safety, Infectious Disease Control, Imported food, the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Public Health Acts. The role provides an excellent opportunity to work and gain experience across multiple areas of Environmental Health.
Applications from registered Food Safety Officers for the Public Protection Officer post will require you to hold the Higher Certificate in Food Control with CIEH and have specialist knowledge of food safety and hygiene legislation.
You will be joining a busy, friendly, supportive and professional team within a forward-thinking and innovative service which is already utilising technology to enhance the service we deliver and providing its officers with efficient and modern working practices supporting a great work-life balance.
Core duties of the role will be:
1. To deliver a high quality service to the public that is consistent, open and balanced and in the first instance incorporates an educative approach to guide businesses to compliance with current legislation and codes of practice.
2. To instigate enforcement action, when necessary, according to Codes of Practice and Enforcement Policies, including preparing, serving, and enforcing legal notices, cautions and prosecutions relating to multiple areas of Environmental Health within level of authorisation.
3. To liaise closely with the public, external partner agencies and internal departments to increase effectiveness of enforcement work.
4. To acquire & maintain specialist expertise in the fields of public protection and environmental protection including, but not exclusively, food safety, health & safety, infectious disease control, sampling regime & port health, statutory nuisance, and public health depending on role and level of authorisation.
5. To manage a caseload of allocated work to specific timescales and performance targets including programmes food hygiene inspections that fall within the food hygiene ratings scheme.
6. The role will involve conducting regular inspections to ensure that legislative requirements are complied with; and to participate in a National Food Hygiene Rating System or equivalent. You will also be required to undertake the investigation of complaints, assess the level of non-compliance and initiate appropriate action. To attend hearings and give evidence at Court, as required (see attached JD for Principal Accountabilities)
7. This post holder is required to have a full clean UK driving licence and own transport and is educated to degree level in environmental health for the Environmental Health Practitioner role or Higher Certificate in Food Control for Public Protection Officers.
Our staff benefits package include:
8. Competitive salary
9. Flexible working hours
10. Remote/Hybrid working
11. Flexible annual leave and working arrangements
12. Local Government Pension Scheme membership
13. Reduced cost leisure membership, including Theatre tickets and sporting activities
14. An extensive Employee Wellbeing package
15. Cycle to Work Scheme
Unfortunately we cannot accept applications from students for this role.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.
Thanet District Council serves the beautiful coastal towns and villages in East Kent; including Broadstairs, Margate, Ramsgate and Minster, providing a variety of services to over 135,000 residents.
Our historic seaside towns of Ramsgate, Margate and Broadstairs and surrounding villages are rich in heritage and opportunity. With 19 miles of stunning coastline, our beautiful Blue Flag beaches, the internationally renowned Turner Contemporary, and the UK’s only Royal Harbour are all just a short train ride from central London thanks to the high-speed rail link. Our proximity to the port of Dover and the Eurotunnel at Folkestone mean Europe is literally on our doorstep too.
All of this, combined with a flexible approach to how we work makes it an exciting time to join Thanet District Council. We have set our sights high. We want our residents to enjoy the highest quality services. We want to ensure that by listening to local people, working in active partnership and doing things in an innovative way, we can accelerate improvement to meet the challenges ahead.
Closing Date for Applications Tuesday 7th May 2024
Interviews to take place W/C 13th May 2024