Main Vacancy Details

Category

Trading Standards, Enforcement

Location

London

Contract Type

Contract

Salary

Competitive Salary Offered

Consumer Protection Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Profile

Consumer Protection Officer Private Sector Housing Enforcement

To carry out trading standards enforcement work to assist in the delivery of the Council Plan objective

To play an active role in shaping a private rented sector that works

Carry out advisory and enforcement work under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and subordinate legislation in the lettings agent and private sector housing sector

To liaise and work with the Private Sector Housing team in Supporting People as and when required

Example outcomes or objectives that this role will deliver:

To act on local information and intelligence about letting agents that are not compliant with the law

To liaise with the appropriate redress scheme and other industry bodies in getting intelligence and information

To work with third sector bodies like Shelter and Citizens Advice about problem letting agents, landlords and property managing agents

Responsibility for ensuring the timely investigation of cases in line with the National Trading Standards and Council Plan priorities, enforcement policies including the Regulators Code

Work with Private Sector Housing colleagues and other members in the Housing Division of the Supporting People Directorate

Be familiar with issuing of Penalty Charge Notices under the Consumer Rights Act 2015

Liaise with finance personnel with raising invoices and assisting them with civil debts to the Council where appropriate

Prepare and present reports to senior officers and councillors.

Work with Legal Services, ensuring that relevant officers and departments are consulted, that comments are incorporated, and decisions implemented within identified timescales.

To liaise with Principal Trading Standards Officer and Head of Private Sector Housing on all enforcement matters.

On occasion attend appropriate external meetings in connection with this work. This may include the GLA and London Trading Standards Letting Agents Focus Group.

To help keep up to date the GLA’s Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker with relevant Council data.

Ideally has good knowledge to carry out online investigatory checks using online forensic tools.

Develop and maintain a vision for quality and continuous service delivery improvements with a strong focus on customer service

To keep abreast of relevant existing, new and draft legislation, advice, regulations, training updates, changes and other developments relevant to delivering the Council’s Trading Standards Service.

To assist Principal Trading Standards Officer with information requests e.g., Freedom of Information, Data Protection, Members Enquiries and any other requests/complaints about any of the letting agent/housing related Trading Standards enforcement work.

People Management Responsibilities:

There are no line management responsibilities. The post holder will be the lead investigatory officer.

Relationships:

Reports to the Business and Consumer Services Manager. Case supervision and work allocation will be undertaken by the Principal Trading Standards Officer. Works closely with the redress schemes; third party sectors like Shelter and Citizens Advice; London Students; relevant council departments and where appropriate other Trading Standards enforcement officers. This role will be expected to identify, build and sustain effective partnership relationships with colleagues and a range of stakeholders (internal and external to the Council) acting as a point of expertise, which support the delivery of outcomes and meet priorities of the service.

Key contacts

are likely to include:

Public Businesses/ business representatives Cabinet members and ward councillors Directorates and services across the Council Other local government and regional authorities, including the Greater London Authority Officials responsible for lettings enforcement at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Non-government agencies like Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Citizens Advice, Shelter, London Students and the redress schemes.

Work Environment:

Mixture of office based work, site visits and attendance at internal and external meetings.  The post holder will be required to attend evening meetings or other out of hours’ visits or events outside core working hours, as necessary. The post holder will be expected to work independently and with minimal supervision, and will be seen to apply sound judgement and a commitment to delivering excellence and a high quality service the community. The post holder is required to work in a busy and demanding office environment with competing demands and priorities, working flexibly to meet individual and service objectives. The post holder will work in an agile way in line with the Council's move to a flexible and paperless work environment, prioritising their own work within the empowered and enabled team culture, recognising and utilising the expertise of others where appropriate.

Technical Knowledge and Experience:

Essential:

Competency in trading standards and / or consumer protection work with recent experience of delivery and training for role requirements

Essential: Experience of managing and investigating complex casework using own initiative and limited supervision

Essential: Significant experience of taking enforcement action for failure to comply with requirements of appropriate legislation and statutory notices, including obtaining legal warrants of entry from courts, having progressed cases to court, prepared and given evidence in court.

Essential: Full working knowledge of RIPA including disclosure, CPIA, Regulator’s Code, PACE and Trading Standards legislative powers.

Desirable:

Diploma in Trading Standards or Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards or equivalent DPCP/Board of Trade

Desirable: Experience in letting agent enforcement and/or experience in tackling housing problems using trading standards legislation.

Have a detailed knowledge/understanding of the legislative framework relevant to trading standards and experience in its application to casework.in order to identify and secure innovative interventions in the investigation of complaints and other enquiries.

Select and prioritise work undertaken according to risk and impact. Prepare and write clear reports, specifications and other documentation relevant to legislation and service of notices.

Effectively monitor the progress of works/actions required by informal/formal action.

Report and recommend enforcement action for failure to comply with requirements of legislation and statutory notices. Attend court, prepare and give evidence as required; and participate in PACE interviews.

Ability to analyse data to inform leads, decision-making and resource deployment to achieve case resolution.

A high degree of political awareness, including ability to work with publicly elected representatives.

Demonstrate excellence in customer care and understanding of the role of local government in supporting residents and businesses to access high quality services.

Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners to identify innovative and creative approaches to service objectives.

Experience of taking an organised approach to own work load whilst dealing with conflicting priorities and ensuring a customer service focused approach.

Demonstrate diagnostic complex problem solving skills.

Ability to adapt plans in response to change

Demonstrate experience of providing advice on complex cases and ability to act as a mentor for training purposes.

Demonstrate experience and ability to manage sensitive intelligence and information securely ensuring that data is managed in accordance with the Data Protection Act

The role will be based in an enabled and empowered team focused service where all officers are expected to work as one team to assist in the development of a culture where knowledge and experience is shared and responsibility for making decisions on complex issues is shared, where appropriate.

This Vacancy is no longer open for applications. Please search vacancies or submit your CV

Main Vacancy Details

Category

Trading Standards, Enforcement

Location

London

Contract Type

Contract

Salary

Competitive Salary Offered

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020 8360 7289
Kenyon Block Consultants Ltd,
87-89 High St,
Hoddesdon, EN11 8TL
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