Food Safety Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job description                  Food Safety Officer

General

We are looking for a qualified Food Safety Officer to join North Somerset Council on a temporary basis

The work will predominantly be category D inspections

The pay is £15.94 per hour PAYE or £19.62 umbrella

Contract length up to six months full time

Role purpose:

Expected to undertake specialist or technical assessments/activities and make decisions within the Food Hygiene and Health and Safety Service using skills that would have be usually gained through academic or professional qualifications and practical experience The role is part of a collaborative team responsible for delivering food hygiene and health and safety interventions on behalf of the council. Roles at this level will often be involved in supervising/managing the work of others or their professional development within an overall management framework.

Typical activities   

Knowledge, skills & experience

Direct service delivery of the food interventions programme at risk bands D and associated activities as directed by the team manager.

Service of Improvement Notices associated with the food interventions programme and any legal action arising as a result of this activity.

Act in a mentoring role to any graduate health professional employed within the service or as an intern.

Manage the more complex cases and authorise work/remedial action and develop a framework for programmes of work to meet legislative requirements.

Carry out health and safety interventions as directed by the team manager and serve improvement and prohibition notices as required.

Contribute to the management of infection control measures throughout the district, and at Bristol Airport

Undertake business support activities in line with the authority’s business support programme designed to improve legislative compliance.

Manage a caseload of technical projects or inspections and lead on enforcement action as necessary. 

Provide information and advice to identified businesses or individuals as detailed within the programme of work or through spot checks and ensure the appropriate action is taken to comply with legislation and technical standards.

Take a lead role in preparing cases for enforcement or other legal action within the appropriate timescales.

Contribute to the supervision, management and development of others to improve service standards and delivery.

Provide a dynamic response to enforcement issues over and above routine workloads especially where there is a requirement to support other groups within Regulatory Services.

Give information and advice to businesses and the public about legislative requirements and standards for protection and safety.  Establish & maintain appropriate links between the public and other professionals to encourage a clear understanding of each other’s priorities and ways of working.

Communicate effectively with contractors, colleagues and businesses, both verbally and in writing, through the appropriate use of case notes and other record keeping within information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.

1.         Relevant degree and EHRB certificate of registration or

2.         Significant experience in inspection of all category food premises and compliance with the competencies for authorised officers as detailed within the current Food Standards Agency Code of Practice.

Officers must hold an appropriate health and safety qualification which as a minimum should be the NEBOSH certificate in Health and Safety

Officers should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the legislative framework within which the service operates which gives rise to a variety of technical skills and sound understanding of the standards, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to the role.

Experience of supervising others within the same field of work

Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them.

Ability to engage with businesses and partner agencies in a positive manner in support of North Somerset’s business agenda.

Ability to collect and collate evidence and present findings in court as the acknowledged subject expert.

Ability to manage/organise own work to meet the requirements of the service plan, agreed deadlines and targets

Understanding and recognition of professional boundaries.

Demonstrate competency to deliver and support the Better Business for All Agenda.

Performance measures    Competencies

Quantifiable objectives ~ e.g. number of cases held at any one time, impact evaluation of service delivery, quality of records, court papers etc

Feedback from businesses, customers, colleagues and partner agencies

Key Performance Indicators (where available)

Line manager assessment

Delivery of food safety interventions programme

360 feedback from staff and colleagues

Performance of the team

Completion of Statutory returns to government

Team Working ~ cooperation and flexibility, is able to give and receive constructive criticism and solicits ideas from others

Service user/ outcome focused ~ achievement of results through appropriate decision making, evidenced based investigations, enforcements etc

Problem solving & judgement ~ develops solutions, makes links between identified potential issues and possible solutions, and is confident in making decisions within guidelines.

Planning & Organising ~ Prioritises work, organising work for self and others to agreed deadlines

Business Awareness ~ Understands the contribution the role makes to the service and organisation as a whole and recognises how the actions of others impact on own role.

Leadership Standards ~ demonstrates the behaviours set out in the council’s leadership standards.