Environmental Health Practitioner / Senior Food Safety Officer

The purpose of the job role is to work as part of a team to deliver the operational and enforcement activities as detailed in relevant service plans and Councils outcome framework. To offer advice, inspect businesses, and respond to service requests from the public, businesses and other stakeholders using necessary enforcement powers as appropriate

Responsibilities;

·  Enforce all Food, Hygiene and Standards, Communicable Disease, Health & Safety, Public Health and Port Health legislation

· Recommend and implement formal action including prosecution, seizure and detention of food and goods, closure of premises, prohibition of work activities, rejection and or destruction of imported products

· Undertake the inspection of food manufacturing, storage, distribution and retail premises including vessels, to assist in the discharge of NELC’s statutory food & port health authority functions

·  Undertake a range of activities relating to regulatory services to support the team

·  Maintain accurate records, collect evidence including witness statements, prepare criminal proceedings and give evidence as required

· Compile inspection reports, legal notices, letters and take further legal actions as necessary in response to the above areas of work including seizure, detention, prosecution and prohibition of food or work activities

· Investigate accidents or occupational health incidents at relevant commercial workplaces, including potentially fatal or other serious incidents

· Investigate public health incidents, such as food poisoning outbreaks and cases of notifiable infectious disease

·Action and / or allocate requests for service and investigate complaints. Issue advice and enforce remedial actions as necessary

·Undertake investigative sampling and analyse results particularly with regard to product safety and food standards and take appropriate actions

·Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected at this level

Role specification;

• Inspection of commercial premises and vessels, monitoring and sampling of food and water and enforcement of relevant legislation.
• Delivery of broad range of services, including advisory and regulatory functions within food, food standards, , health & safety and public health 
• Effective relationship management and resolution of conflict situations and challenging behaviour
• Experience of ‘point of entry’ food control or official controls relating to health and safety

Knowledge;

• Detailed specialist knowledge of statutory and regulatory frameworks relevant to food and, health & safety and public health

Required Skills & abilities;

• Application of specialist skills to provide a range of advanced activities across food, port health, health and safety and public health functions
• Analysis and application of food, health & safety and public health legislation, statutory guidance, technical updates and good practice
• Meets all competency requirements for Authorised Officers in Statutory Food Law Code of Practice
• Meets all competency requirements for Authorised Officers in relation to the Enforcement of Health and Safety at Work
• Knowledge and experience of interviewing in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
• Ability to undertake enforcement work including good observational skills and acknowledgement of the importance of accuracy

Education & qualifications;

•   Either Environmental Health Officer accredited by the Environmental Health Registration Board or Holder of the Higher Certificate in Food Control together with extensive  experience of food regulatory controls (equivalent to NQF Level 5/Degree
• Relevant qualification in relation to Occupational Health, Safety & Welfare e.g. qualified Environmental Health Officer, NEBOSH Certificate, equivalent qualification or substantial experience
• Continuing personal and professional development including maintaining authorised officer competencies and CPD requirements of Statutory Food Law Code of Practice

Working Arrangements

•  Flexible to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to work in an agile way across a range of sites
• Occasional evening work will be required

Ref: S80