Public Protection Officer/Environmental Health Practitioner (Food Safety)

Public Protection Officer/Environmental Health Practitioner (Food Safety)

Salary starting from £41,160

Attractive salary rates available to the right candidate.

We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic, conscientious and motivated registered Food Safety Practitioners or Environmental Health Practitioners to work within our Regulatory Services Department. You will work within the Public Protection Team primarily carrying out food hygiene inspections but also assisting with occupational health and safety, and infectious disease control work as required. The service is responsible for enforcing a variety of legislation and regimes so you will need a basic knowledge of relevant Environmental Health legislation; including Food Safety and Sampling, 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. We may consider applications from individuals who have completed the Higher Certificate in Food Control but still need to complete their Portfolio.

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.

Core duties of the role will be:

• Working under your own initiative to manage a caseload of allocated work to specific timescales and performance targets, including programmed food hygiene inspections, food complaints and related investigations.
• 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.
• 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.
• To liaise closely with the public, external partner agencies and internal departments to increase effectiveness of enforcement work using strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• 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 includes:

• Competitive salary
• Flexible working hours
• Remote/Hybrid working
• Flexible annual leave and working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme membership
• Reduced cost leisure membership
• Employee Wellbeing package
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

If you would like an informal discussion about this role then please contact Emily Whittaker the Senior Environmental Health Practitioner on 07748 623815 or emily.whittaker@thanet.gov.uk

Closing Date for Applications: Monday 20th January 2025

Interviews to take place: TBC