Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Principal Officer (Food & Safety) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Adults and Community |
Service |
Corporate & Business Services |
Business unit |
Community & Customer Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial) |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial) |
Salary grade |
40 - 43 |
JE ref |
COMSA92 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To manage effectively the work of the Food and Safety team to achieve agreed performance outcomes (team includes food hygiene, food standards, export health certification service, external health and safety and infectious disease control). To be the lead and competent officer for these roles.
- To develop and implement strategies, policies and plans relevant to the role of the Team.
- From time to time to undertake investigative duties and assist other Officers of the Team in the operation of their duties.
- To deputise for the Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial) when required.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- The provision of quality services which meet statutory needs and those of other stakeholders within legislative and budgetary constraints.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Co-ordinating the work of the Food and Safety Team providing an integrated service across all the relevant disciplines within the team.
- Advising the Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial) and other Senior Officers and Elected Members on all aspects relating to issues associated with the responsibilities of the Food and Safety Team.
- Being the Lead Officer for Food Safety and Health and Safety at Work and principal professional adviser on all aspects of practice and advise the Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial) and Environmental Health Managers on aspects of policy relating to the postholder’s own professional discipline, ensuring that the best professional and technical advice is provided, and the best practice followed.
- Ensuring the delivery of high-quality cost-effective services within the Food and Safety Team and contribute to any process review and other performance/management reviews of the Section.
- Acting as “Lead Officer” and “Authorised Officer” for specific duties and responsibilities which may be ascribed from time to time.
- Working with the Regulatory Service Manager in the management of the resources of the Business Unit to effectively deliver the Business Unit’s responsibilities.
- Leading the Food and Safety team to ensure:
- Efficient and effective service delivery within the allocated budget.
- The co-ordination of the Team’s function with other Teams and Services within the Division and Authority.
- Compliance with relevant legislation and Regulations.
- Co-ordination of activities within the work of other local voluntary, community and statutory agencies.
- To ensure that the export health certification service runs effectively and that the Food Competent Certifying officers are fully competent and properly trained in this role.
- To ensure that enforcement issues are progressed even-handedly, fairly and transparently.
- To establish with the Management Team and other Team Leaders within the Business Unit:
- Clear and measurable plans, budgets, targets and procedures for each operational unit or aspect of the Service.
- Effective systems to measure the operational performance of Service and achievement of objectives.
- Performance targets for each member of the Food and Safety Team.
- Participate in the Corporate management of the Authority and provide professional advice and guidance on all of the Business Units functions to the corporate planning and decision-making process.
- To supervise staff within the postholder's control to ensure that they are provided with motivation, guidance and support; that their performance is monitored and appraised; that their training needs are identified and that they receive appropriate leadership in matters of professional interpretation, in conjunction with the Regulatory Service Manager.
- To promote the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards throughout the work of the Section.
- To establish and maintain effective communication and co-ordination with appropriate external statutory and community agencies and service users in order to establish the most effective ways of meeting needs and developing the highest standards of service provision.
- Ensuring that any performance matters are addressed.
- Representing the department and the Council at Committees, Working Parties and at meetings with other Local Authorities, Government Departments, industry and commerce, etc.
- Conducting all external relations in such a way as to enhance the Authority’s good standing and public image.
- Leading personally by carrying out inspection, investigating serious complaints and undertake quality monitoring inspections with postholders within the Team.
- Maintaining clear internal communications between management and staff and participate fully in the relevant Management Team meetings to ensure its effective operation.
- Keeping abreast of current and proposed legislation, identifying necessary or consequential repercussions, promulgating information and advice, instigating appropriate action and monitoring its implementation.
- Undertaking any other duties which may be reasonably assigned commensurate with the level of the post.
- To lead and manage staff to ensure:
- Compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
- Co-ordination of activities within the work of other local voluntary, community and statutory agencies.
- Effective contribution to the Councils strategic objectives and policies.
- That enforcement issues are progressed even-handedly, fairly and transparently and that compliance with the Regulators Compliance Code principles and the Business Units enforcement policy is monitored and adhered to.
- Ensuring that all staff within the postholder’s area of responsibility comply with Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, statutory obligations including their health and safety obligations and other provisions.
- Ensure contingency arrangements are in place in order to maintain required service delivery levels at all times.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
- Responsibility for revenue budgets within the post holder’s area of responsibility.
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Responsibility for 8 staff within the Food and Safety Team.
- The Food and Safety Team is part of a wider, integrated Commercial Team function for the Business Unit. Principal Officers will lead and manage staff from outside their traditional line management boundaries for key initiatives and projects as part of this wider delivery process.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- The post holder will be required to work occasionally outside of normal office hours to deliver the teams objectives. This will include attendance at e.g. out of hours inspections of business premises; large scale public events to assess compliance with relevant legislation etc. This will require the post holder to be working outdoors in all weathers and be exposed to unpleasant/dirty/noisy environments.
- The post holder will be required to have regular contact with trade representatives and the community at a variety of locations across Torbay.
- In order to assist other Officers of the team, the post holder will undertake joint inspections / investigations with team members. Such joint visits will be to provide a specialist opinion on complex or contentious matters and also to provide an element of quality assurance.
7. Physical demands of the post
- Normal physical demands are required for this post.
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External
- All businesses and the voluntary sector in Torbay.
- Torbay Business Forums/Chamber of Trade.
- Health and Safety Executive.
- Food Standards Agency.
- Environment Agency.
- Other Local Authorities.
- Magistrates Courts.
- Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue.
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
- Torbay and South Devon Foundation NHS Trust.
- Trading Standards South West (TSSW).
- Department for Business and Trade and Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
- Internal:
- Divisional Director (Community and Customer Services).
- Regulatory Service Manager (Commercial).
- All other Team Managers and Principal Officers.
- Community Safety colleagues.
- Democratic Services.
- Elected Members.
- Children’s and Customer Services.
- Public Health Team.
- Colleagues in the wider Business Unit, employees at all levels across Torbay Council.
10. Other duties
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 based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- 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.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- 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 |
Principal Officer (Food & Safety) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Adults and Community |
Service |
Corporate & Business Services |
Business unit |
Community & Customer Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Possession of well-developed communication skills both verbal and written.
- Good organisational ability, particularly self-organisation, ability to see tasks through to a successful conclusion.
- Ability to communicate with a range of different people using different methods.
- Able to work across organisational and professional boundaries to achieve results.
- Able to plan and manage projects within a changing environment.
- Ability to prioritise workloads within deadlines, to operate effectively across differing work cultures and environments.
- Effective presentation skills including the ability to present complex information with clarity to meet the needs of the target audience.
- Analysis and interpretation of information relating to Environmental Health.
- Ability to lead and direct change.
- Ability to work on own or as part of a team.
- Good interpersonal skills and unbiased approach to dealing with others.
- 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
N/A
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Up to date knowledge of legal, technical and professional matters in relation to food safety, health and safety, Infectious Disease Control and legal processes.
- Knowledge of PC based computer systems.
Desirable knowledge
- Awareness of Local Authority budgetary controls and constraints.
- Knowledge of the demands of the Audit Commission, and other performance targets on the work of Local Authorities.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Demonstrable expertise in dealing with problems arising from complaints or inspections which could potentially lead to the institution of legal proceedings.
- Demonstrate experience in successful performance management.
- To understand political sensitivity and have experience of working with Elected Members.
- Experience of leading and managing a team.
- Proven or demonstrable track record of project and caseload management.
- Senior management experience gained within a food safety function:
- Proven leadership skills with demonstrated ability to articulate corporate vision and translate that into effective strategic and operational plans.
- Have the ability to plan and manage a complex and far-reaching program of work.
- Credible manager with gravitas and the ability to make an impact on our senior colleagues.
- Track record of responsibility for food safety matters in an urban area.
- Initiative and commitment with a flexible approach to work.
- Demonstrable post qualification experience in a management capacity.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of presenting Committee Reports.
- Experience in all fields of Environmental Health.
- Experience in the use of computer data systems.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Relevant degree level professional qualification (or similar) in one of the professional disciplines within the Business Unit’s area of responsibilities.
- A relevant management qualification or post graduate qualification at NVQ4 or above (or equivalent).
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- NEBOSH Diploma in Health and Safety at Work (or similar)
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate on-call working.
- Ability to accommodate occasional homeworking.