Job info	Job info details
Job title	Food and Safety Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Community & Customer Services
Business unit	Community Safety
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Principal Officer (Food & Safety) and Senior Environmental Health Officers
Accountable to (line manager)	Principal Officer (Food & Safety)
Salary grade	I
JE ref	ADC011

1. Key purpose of job

• To maintain and improve food safety and health and safety within Torbay by carrying out the full range of interventions including inspections, audits, surveillance, sampling, advice and education and working in support and conjunction with the other members of the Food and Safety Team.
• To undertake enforcement to ensure compliance with the legislative requirements relating to business premises where Torbay is the enforcing authority.
• To focus on the delivery of Export Health Certificates to the fishing industry. Whilst you will be expected to manage your own workload in this area you will be supported by the Lead officer for this area when needed.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Delivery of an efficient and effective service through the delivery of flexible, quality services in line with the Council’s fit for future ambitions which meet the needs of the community and to assist in the delivery of relevant corporate objectives.
• Improved standard of food safety and health and safety within the commercial sector through the provision of a risk-based service.
• Effective customer service standards by having an understanding of the business community, so maintaining and developing a positive working relationship with the business community and other partners to help ensure effective compliance in both food safety and health and safety.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• To ensure that people who use the service are treated in a courteous and fair manner and in line with the principles of Better Business for All.         
• To carry out a range of targeted Food Safety interventions in medium risk food businesses to ensure that regulatory contraventions are effectively and promptly communicated to the duty holder followed by proportionate education and /or enforcement action where necessary to achieve legal minimum standards and to promote good practice.
• To certify Export Health Certificates for EU and Non-EU exports.
• To investigate complaints about food businesses and workplaces, to evaluate the seriousness of each, identifying the cause and ensuring that where appropriate, corrective action is implemented to prevent a recurrence.
• To carry out a range of enforcement activities including: the service of statutory notices and prosecutions.
• To complete individual business records effectively and timely to ensure that the decisions made can be effectively justified.
• To respond to Food Alerts and other statutory notifications and carry out appropriate follow up action.
• To respond to incidents of infectious disease and outbreaks to prevent the spread of infection, this may include removing affected food from sale, improving hygiene standards and excluding food handlers and other high-risk professions for their work activity.
• To deliver training, education and technical presentations to colleagues, businesses and other groups.
• To attend meetings with groups and partners such as the Food Standards Agency and Health and Safety Executive as and when required.
• To collect evidence in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and to prepare reports and statements in the course of instigating legal proceedings. To attend court and give evidence as a witness in connection with food safety, to attend appeals, tribunals and Coroner's inquests as required.
• To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of legislation, best practice and procedures in food safety/health and safety to enable competent delivery.
• To assist the Team Manager and Senior EHO’s in the formulation of reports and business plans as required.
• To contribute towards developing the service through strategic direction and regular self-review of performance to ensure targets are met and standards are in line with Council priorities customer requirements and legislative changes.
• Work with the Team Manager, and other senior officers to promote and support collaborative relationships with partners that deliver new and innovative approaches to tackling service and/or cross cutting issues and secure improved outcomes for Torbay, and across the service.
• Undertaking as required, research and study of special projects and presentation of information and advice in relation to those specialisms.
• Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and promoting public safety through the work of the department at all times.
• Promoting and participating in any promotional campaign that may be developed by the department.
• Assisting any other members of the Commercial Team in the exercise of their duties at the discretion of your line manager.
• Provide a customer focused service that strives to be innovative in its search for continuous improvement.
• Promoting the Commercial Team in respect of any of the above matters by entering into informal and formal discussions, consultations and correspondence both verbally and in writing with owners, occupiers, licensees, etc. 
• To deliver the requirements of the post in line with service targets and objectives.
• To carry out any other duties as may be required by the post.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• None. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Office/home working environment with visits to commercial businesses.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Display Screen Equipment work, normal physical effort with a small amount of manual handling.  The post holder will be required to go on a boat for the purposes of mussel sampling if needed.

8. Specific resources used by the post

• PC, telephone, inspection equipment such as thermometer etc. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Business owners, members of the public, agencies such as Public Health England, the Food Standards Agency etc.

Internal

• Torbay Council employees, Elected Members. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post is eligible for hybrid working. 
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
• As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Food and Safety Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Adults and Community Services
Service	Community & Customer Services
Business unit	Community Safety

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• To be able to use an effective range of modes of communication including verbal, email, telephone, formal and informal reports taking into account issues of confidentiality.
• To be able to use tact and persuasion to impart information that the recipient may not wish to hear. Ability to deal with difficult situations in a calm and sympathetic manner.
• Attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records to provide accountability and deliverability.
• Ability to use appropriate computer packages.
• Good organisational ability, particularly self-organisation, ability to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, whilst working to tight and changing deadlines.
• Ability to plan programmes of work in advance and react to changing priorities.
• Ability to assess information in a timely manner to determine the appropriate action and ensure that this is communicated to relevant officers.
• Ability to elicit information both verbally and through written communication to allow a robust assessment of risk.
• To make decisions based on the evidence provided and to seek and question if further information is required. 
• To work as part of a team as well as on own initiative.
• To have good customer care.
• Ability to adhere to multiple policies and procedures but be able to consider the options and give advice where necessary.
• Ability to problem solve and carry out a range of investigatory skills.
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Ability to identify service improvements. 
• To be able to contribute towards change and innovation.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Knowledge of computer database systems their use and the importance of maintaining accurate and timely records.
• Up to date detailed technical and working knowledge of food and safety legislation.
• Knowledge of the broad public health Agenda and of national, regional and local priorities. An understanding of how Food Safety and / or Health and Safety can contribute to these.
• Knowledge and ability to inspect medium risk premises under food safety legislation.
• Knowledge of infectious disease legislation.
• Keeping up to date with changes in technology and guidance from the HSE, FSA and external research bodies.

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of database principles.
• Knowledge of the principles of the General Data Protection Regulations.
• Knowledge of the Better Business for All principles.
• Knowledge of PACE.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Dealing with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.
• Experience of delivering regulatory services. Their practices, best practice techniques and legislative impact.
• Experience of working effectively with external partners to achieve delivery outcomes.
• Experience of working on specialist projects seeing them through from, the planning stage to the final evaluation.
• Experience of working with competing deadlines whilst meeting targets.
• Working on computer-based packages and managing information/data.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Use of electronic document management systems. 
• Experience of undertaking health and safety investigations, accidents and workplace complaints.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to degree level standard (including HND, professional/enhanced skill qualification) or equivalent demonstrable work-related experience in appropriate areas.
• Higher Certificate in Food Premises Inspection or Food Control to undertake food safety work in line with the Food Law Code of Practice .

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• Full European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or equivalent.
• NVQ Level 4 in Health and Safety, NEBOSH certificate or Diploma in Health and safety.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent homeworking.