Environmental Health Practitioner

Job Description

Job Title :Environmental Health Practitioner
Job Category : Facilities & Environmental Services
Location : Bridgwater House, Somerset Council
Hours Per Week : 37.00
Start Date : Immediate Start
Start Time : 08:00
End Time : 18:00

· The role requires working over the usual range of Environmental Protection functions, primarily Statutory Nuisance investigations, but also ideally planning and licensing consultations, public health cases and environmental permitting inspections

· This role offers hybrid working allowing work from home or a Council Office. They should expect to carry out field work and be office based for on average 2 days per week. The North office is in Bridgwater. The nature of EP work is that it is mainly reactive and some flexibility on this might be needed/possible.

· Typical hours Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm

Day to day work would involve:

· Investigating Statutory Nuisance complaints by way of standard procedures, using record forms, the Noise App and installing noise equipment where appropriate
· Responding to Planning and Licensing consultations
· Carrying out Environmental Permit inspections
· Enforcement -collecting evidence under PACE rules.
· Utilising Civica APP data management system
· Liaising with other colleagues in the Environmental Protection Team -Somerset North and other Somerset colleagues on policy/procedural matters.

Qualification
Essential
BSc (Hons) Environmental Health or MSc Environmental Health or equivalent, or qualified by strong, relevant professional experience.
Driving License and vehicle or ability to travel easily across the Council.
Compliant as Authorised Officer as defined by FSA Code of Practice Competency Framework – essential. – (May be applicable depending on discipline)

Desirable
EHORB Registration
Member of CIEH

Knowledge
Essential
Up to date comprehensive knowledge of legal, technical, and professional matters in relation to Environmental Health (Environmental Protection) areas of responsibility, legislation, and codes of practice.
Understanding of PACE and RIPA.
Knowledge and understanding of Health & Safety legislation and requirements.
Understand the principles of data protection.
Understand the implications of health inequality and issues around vulnerable persons
Desirable
Project and/or change management
Understanding of Council services and governance
Experience
Essential
Able to demonstrate understanding, and knowledge of policy and activities across Environmental Health functions.

Desirable

Professional competence / expertise and proven experience in the relevant specialism(s)
Experience of working for a local authority
Assisting in planning and delivering projects/ programmes
Preparation and presentation of reports to a variety of audiences
Experience of taking enforcement actions including legal cases, evidence preparation and presentation.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
The ability to communicate both orally and in writing, particularly in relation to report writing, presentations, meetings and negotiations.
Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues, partners, members and business representatives.
The post holder will be required to make frequent decisions and act without ready access to a senior officer.
Effective organisational skills.
Self-motivated and works well within a team.
Flexible, able to cope with a variety of tasks and an ability to prioritise competing demands.