Public Protection Officer

Job summary

Salary: £36,124 - £37,938

Hours per week: 37 hours

Temporary Fixed term: 1 year

Interview date: Thursday 3 April 2025

Wiltshire Environment Council Protecting the Environment, Making Wiltshire Safe

We are looking for a Public Protection Officer to join our Environmental Control & Protection Team in our well-established Public Protection Service.

Main duties of the job

Our Public Protection Service sits within our large unitary authority, bringing together environmental control & protection, food & safety, trading standards, animal health, community safety, licensing, and pest control. Integration between these disciplines is not only encouraged but fully supported to deliver a quality service.

There are over 650 private water supplies within Wiltshire varying in size, from those serving just one property to those serving whole communities & large public attractions. As a Public Protection Officer with the Environmental Control & Protection Team, you will be instrumental in achieving both proactive and reactive work programmes associated with private water supply regulation. Working alongside experienced officers who are knowledgeable, dedicated, hardworking, keen to protect the public whilst exploring innovative ways of providing a sustainable regulatory service.

Our ideal candidate will hold a degree or equivalent experience in the field of Environmental Protection and/or maintaining the safety of drinking water supplies. A thorough understanding or previous experience of working in environmental protection and/or the operation and maintenance of safe drinking water supplies.

An approachable manner, excellent communication skills, and ability to independently prioritise your workload. A driving license is essential as the role involves traveling to and inspecting water supplies.

We welcome applications from Environmental Health graduates.

About us

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. That's why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right. Explore more benefits here!

Date posted: 13 March 2025

Pay scheme: Other

Salary: £36,124 to £37,938 a year

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 1 year

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: F0041-4221

Job locations

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Job description and responsibilities

There are legislative pressures on this postholder as they will enforce a range of legal powers and duties for the council. In addition, they will be subject to work demand and time pressures both from internal management and external timescales set by businesses and central government. To carry out a full range of environmental health, trading standards, and animal health duties as may be required, both within the specific responsibilities of the team, and also from time to time across the wider public protection service.

1. To be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of a range of statutory and non-statutory environmental health, trading standards, and animal health, animal licensing duties.
2. This role covers a range of statutory functions, including food safety, statutory health and safety functions, environmental protection, trading standards, and animal health, and emergency planning functions.
3. To be the department's designated specialist in a specific area of law.
4. Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Enforcing a range of legal powers and duties (in relation to animal health and welfare this will include inspections and sampling of feed businesses).
• Conducting inspections of a specified range of premises, especially those with high and medium risk ratings, to ensure compliance with environmental health, trading standards, or animal health legislation.
• Responding to complaints and enquiries by investigation or advice as necessary, using professional judgement to determine and implement consequent enforcement action.
• The post holder provides professional opinion in the field and makes decisions, frequently remote from the office without reference to anyone else or direct colleague support.
• Conducting criminal investigations (resulting from complaints, inspections, and officer initiative) to recommend action necessary from service of notices, cautions to assist with organisation of works in default, and preparing files for prosecution.
• Ensuring that Wiltshire-based businesses, including national companies, comply with Public Protection legislation by offering legal advice and acting as a point of reference for other UK enforcement agencies.
• Mentoring professional trainees studying for their professional qualifications and participating in their training, including responsibility for their health and safety.
• Contributing to and participating in the review and implementation of project work, surveys, and sampling programmes.
• Maintaining accurate records of actions on manual and computer systems, ensuring notebook records are contemporaneous and admissible as evidence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
• Providing education and training by facilitating and lecturing on courses and seminars, organising and providing subject-specific training for particular groups.
• Attending meetings of outside bodies and representing the council as necessary in matters relating to the post holder's caseload and expertise.
• Contributing to the planning, implementation, and review of operational policies and priorities.
• Providing cascade training to staff, at all levels within the service, on new legislation following attendance at National/Regional courses and seminars.

Specific requirements for this post:

• A significant proportion of the work done by the post holder may be carried out away from the office and frequently outside of normal office hours and in all weathers.
• Accessing difficult locations during investigations (e.g., attic spaces, climbing through undergrowth, over fences, or working on foot, including rough terrain).
• Manual handling in terms of lifting manhole covers during drainage investigations; working at height (i.e., climbing ladders to inspect silos, handling animals at market to check for lameness and reading of ear tags).
• Providing the council's out-of-hours standby response to public protection emergencies and investigations.
• Completing a minimum of 10 hours continuing professional development training in the relevant field per year.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• Specific professional/technical skills/experience gained from BSc (Hons) or MSc in Environmental Health, Food, Health and Safety or Animal Science related subject or full Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS), or Diploma equivalent to NVQ level 5/6.
• DCA Certificate in Competence in Animal Health and Welfare and/or agriculture or Higher Food Certificate.
• Compliance with Section 18 guidance for health and safety.
• EHORB registration for food and health and safety work.
• Some post-qualification experience in the related field of work.
• High level of knowledge and ability to interpret the complexities of relevant public protection legislation.
• Good diplomacy skills being able to deal with difficult people and diffuse difficult situations.

Desirable

• Relevant professional membership/registration.

Experience Essential

• Some relevant professional experience post-qualification in a similar work environment.
• Expert knowledge of relevant policy, systems, work practices, professional guidelines, legislation in the area of specialism.
• Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
• Good knowledge of other areas of the authority relevant to the service.
• Experience of representing the work area externally.
• Sound communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to conduct formal interviews and/or take legal statements.
• Good planning and organisational skills, with proven ability to prioritise and co-ordinate workload.
• Project management skills and experience.
• Experience in the use of specialist equipment/systems/techniques relevant to the role.

Employer details

Employer name: Wiltshire Council

Address:

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/