Environmental Health Officer

5 Star Recruitment; Esher; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental recruitment agency is seeking an Environmental Health Officer to conduct food hygiene inspections and investigate complaints related to Food Safety. The ideal candidate will possess a professional qualification in Environmental Health, experience in a regulatory setting, and strong communication skills. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, maintaining accurate records, and providing excellent customer service. A valid vehicle access is required for this role.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Environmental Health with certificate of registration from EHORB.
• Experience in a regulatory setting concerning food hygiene and health.
• Former work in Environmental Health Team with excellent public service skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine and reactive food hygiene inspections.
• Investigate complaints related to Food Safety.
• Develop and monitor work programmes and targets.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Knowledge of Food safety and Hygiene

Flexible and adaptable team worker

Good presentation skills

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Education

Professional qualification in Environmental Health

Membership of CIEH

Corporate membership of CIEH

Additional specialist qualifications

Job description

About the job Environmental Health Officer

Job Description

About the role

As a Food and Safety Environmental Health Officer, you will be part of the Food and Safety team, under the general direction of the Principal EHO. In this role, you will be responsible for carrying out Food Hygiene Inspections. You will contribute to the provision of an effective, innovative, efficient and responsive service.

The main purpose of the role:

• To carry out the duties to the highest professional standards ensuring statutory and legal obligations are delivered and communicated in a customer focused manner optimizing available resources in the Services areas of work. Main duties include:
• Programmed routine and reactive food hygiene inspections.
• Complaint investigations across Food Safety.
• Appropriate enforcement in line with our enforcement policy and principles

Specific duties and responsibilities

• The EHO will work to agreed objectives, using their own initiative to develop, prioritise and review activities. To establish work programmes and targets, ensuring their achievement. To carry out day-to-day activities including the completion of inspections and investigations across the service area, monitoring progress on works specified and keeping records, as required, and to participate in project work as deemed necessary.
• To keep informed in all aspects of the Teams functions, including new legislation, regulations, codes of practice and policy decisions, especially those relating to current duties. To maintain contact with other Teams within the Council, other local authorities, government departments and external agencies, as appropriate.
• To keep the PEHO appraised of their workload and of any constraints affecting performance.
• To act in accordance with current written procedures and to assist in their review and development.
• To ensure that appropriate records including those stored in Northgate and other systems and including statistics are properly and accurately maintained.
• To ensure all written communication is of a professional standard and effectively communicates the relevant information and where necessary the required actions.
• To initiate enforcement action for infringements of relevant legislation where necessary, in accordance with the Enforcement Policy, including preparing reports, statements of witness, in readiness for legal proceedings and attendance and delivery of evidence in court as required.
• To offer advice and assistance to the general public, other officers and external agencies, as appropriate.

Special Conditions

Access and use of a vehicle for work purposes throughout the borough will be required.

Talent and conduct

We expect the highest standards of conduct from our employees and at all times you must carry out your duties with integrity and in accordance with the Code of Conduct for employees. You will be required to declare any potential conflicts of interest.

Equal opportunities

We have a strong commitment to achieving equality of opportunity and expect all employees to implement and promote our policy in their work.

Health and safety

We are committed to a healthy and safe working environment and expect all employees to implement and promote its policy in all aspects of their work.

Personal and sensitive data

You will have regard for the duty of care owed to personal data and sensitive personal data and any other confidential or sensitive information which you access in the course of your employment ensuring adherence to the Data Protection Act and the Council's Information Security Policy and related guidance.

Confidentiality

We are committed to maintaining privacy of all staff and customers. We expect all staff to handle all individuals personal information in a sensitive and professional manner. All staff are under an obligation not to gain access or attempt to gain access to information they are not authorised to have.

Key requirements

Desirable/ Essential

To be tested by:

Application (A)

Test (T)

Interview (I)

Qualifications and Education

1. Professional qualification in Environmental Health (e.g. degree or diploma), with certificate of registration from EHORB or Higher Certificate in Food
2. Membership of CIEH
3. Corporate membership of CIEH
4. Additional specialist qualifications relating to or transferable to environmental health
5. Additional specialist qualifications (management education and qualifications)

Experience

1. Worked in an Environmental Health Team and has gained experience of working in a regulatory setting both in terms of food hygiene and safety and/or health and safety
2. Experience in dealing with members of the public, business and external organisations delivering excellent customer service
3. Previous experience of undertaking prosecutions including preparing witness statements and appearing in court

Knowledge, skills and abilities

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills
2. Good presentation skills
3. Knowledge of Food safety and Hygiene
4. Good working knowledge of current Environmental Health Legislation with the ability to apply to real life scenarios
5. Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
6. Flexible and adaptable team worker

Special requirements

1. Approachable and friendly manner
2. Calm under pressure and self-motivated
3. Ability to prioritise work with the minimum of supervision, proven record of service delivery
4. A commitment to provide high quality, caring service to all customers, particularly to vulnerable groups
5. Willing to work flexibly including out of office hours work, and home working as required
6. Access to a vehicle to carry out inspections and visits throughout the Borough