Enviro-crime Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title:                  Environmental Crime Officer

Description

The contract is with Watford District Council. 

The successful candidate will be asked to work for 18.5 hours per week

The contract is scheduled to run for an initial two months

Pay is £18 per hour PAYE or £21.80 umbrella

Purpose of Role:

Based within the Environmental Health and Licensing Department in Environmental Services you will work within one of the teams and be responsible to the Environmental Health Manager of that section.

The role requires you to work with communities to achieve clean and safe streets and gardens by effectively responding to problems such as litter, fly tipping, accumulations in gardens, dog fouling and associated anti social behaviour. Primarily you will utilise powers under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environmental Protection Act along with any other relevant enforcement legislation.

Overview:

Working with a variety of other agencies within the Borough, Council or across boundaries you will develop effective ways of tackling environmental crimes and assisting residents to keep their gardens clear. This will include developing a range of education and promotional activities to achieve high levels of public and stakeholder awareness and participation.

You will respond to service requests and complaints, undertake pro-active vehicle or foot patrols and identify breaches of regulatory requirements. This will necessitate investigation, intervention & enforcement activities that shall be delivered to a professional standard in compliance with guidance on evidence gathering for prosecutions, appearing as a witness when necessary.  This will include the issuing of fixed penalty notices.

The role requires occasional working in the early morning, late at night and weekends.

Key Accountabilities:

The postholder will have to plan their work load over a short term, balancing a reactive caseload with ongoing project work and other scheduled proactive work, having regard to the unit plan, the service plan and the Council’s priorities.

As an Authorised Officer of the Council. The postholder will be expected to use their professional judgement to make unsupervised enforcement decisions in all aspects of their work. During the course of their work, the post holder will be expected to deal with unexpected and unanticipated situations.

An ability to work unsupervised, and to use one’s initiative is required.

The post holder will need to meet a number of deadlines in this role, such as:

•           Response times for dealing with complaints

•           Completing projects on time

•           Planning and completing proactive and educative work

•           Meeting statutory deadlines

The post holder will need to manage an ongoing caseload with enquiries and interruptions on a frequent basis, whilst ensuring that the work is still carried out to time. It will be regularly necessary for the post holder to continuously revise priorities based on changing circumstances and information received.

The post holder will need to be flexible to provide an immediate response to environmental crime emergencies, such as a large potentially hazardous fly tip.

The post requires awareness and balanced judgement with lengthy periods of concentration and/or short periods of work-related pressure.

The post holder will have to undertake frequent site visits and patrols. This will involve searching through fly tips and accumulations, taking and securing evidence and removing bags of waste as appropriate for safety and evidence purposes. A full (current) driving licence is therefore essential. It will also involve regular walking patrols around the Borough on survey, education and enforcement work.

The post holder will regularly have to transport and operate equipment such as A boards, and occasionally they will use and deploy monitoring equipment, such as CCTV, sometimes at height.

The post will regularly entail dealing with emotional, confrontational and stressful situations and conversations will often be difficult, particularly, when the officer is unable to meet the expectation of the customer, or when enforcement action is taken.  This may be in person on site or at the town hall, over the telephone or in writing.

The post holder will have to deal with situations where their actions may have a direct impact on individuals or groups within the borough e.g. the service of fixed penalty notices.

The post holder will regularly encounter difficult situations with a risk of aggression being encountered.  In some situations the post holder may be required to wear body armour / stab vests

Difficult physical environments are not uncommon on site visits, for example searching dumped waste for evidence and pest infestations.

People Responsibilities (impact on customers)

To investigate Enviro-crime complaints that affect the health and wellbeing of those in the Borough and to take and recommend appropriate action in accordance with the Council’s Enforcement Policies.  This will include preparation and service of statutory notices including fixed penalty notices under relevant legislation such as those under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.

To patrol the borough and issue on the spot fixed penalty notices for the offence of littering.

To undertake proactive work to promote awareness and educate customers and stakeholders in relation to Enviro-crimes. This will include presentations, preparation and running of events, attendance at internal and external meetings.

To respond to all requests for advice and assistance on environmental crime issues, including liaison with members.

To gather evidence in appropriate cases, draft prosecution files in conjunction with the Senior ECO, attend and give evidence in court.

Liaise on a regular basis with other enforcement and waste management officers to provide mutual support and assistance.

To undertake follow up work to assess progress on compliance with legal requirements and to instigate further action where contraventions remain.

To liaise and establish good working relationships and partnerships with officers within this service, across the Council, customers and other outside organisations (such as Police, Environment Agency and other relevant statutory agencies) and persons in order to properly perform the range of duties. This includes attending meetings and working parties.

To maintain up to date detailed records of all cases and inspections undertaken and ensure the transfer to computer based systems to aid statistical returns.

Facilitate and maintain computerised databases, personal records and the exchange of information under relevant legislation, utilising Uniform software.

Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies in employment and service delivery.

To keep abreast of changes in legislation, policy, practices and techniques across the range of environ-crimes.

To consult and inform the Environmental Health Manager of any casework which is controversial, political or otherwise of a sensitive nature.

Participate in the corporate work of the Council and service as appropriate.

To have a contributory responsibility for the development and production of policy / practice / procedures related to the services delivered. Making suggestions and contributing towards service improvement.

Supervisory Responsibilities (managing others)

This role has no direct line management responsibilities; however it will be necessary to occasionally manage multi agency projects, directing a wide range of professionals to deliver set objectives.

The post holder will be required to assist in the training and supervision of in-house officers and support staff, work placements and students.

It will be necessary for the post holder to provide cascade training to their peers.

Financial resource responsibilities (managing finances)

The post holder is responsible for issuing fixed penalty notices for littering offences and working with the income department to ensure current and correct records of payments are maintained.

The post holder will be involved in the tender process for some ‘Works in Default’

Ensure that finance is accounted for in accordance with financial regulations and guidance

Physical Resource responsibilities (managing non-financial assets)

A Council owned van is provided for the use of the post holder whilst on duty.

The post holder will have shared responsibility for maintenance of the electronic fixed penalty register.

The post holder is personally responsible for confidential files they are working with/compiling and information is to be held in compliance with Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.

The post holder has shared responsibility for data entry and report generation including direct input of data required for national indicators. 

Shared responsibility for the maintenance of some equipment such as noise monitoring equipment, head cameras, stab vests and mobile CCTV.

Equipment to be utilised, procured, maintained and stored in compliance with financial regulations and guidance

Person Specification

Knowledge/Skills: 

•           Detailed knowledge of Enviro-crime and environmental protection legislation and regulations.

•           Ability to work on own initiative under own motivation to resolve problems / issues. (Essential)

•           Ability to apply legislative and policy requirements in order to achieve practical and legal compliance. In occasional cases there will be no clear policy or legal solution. (Essential)

•           Ability to write reports and statements to a high standard utilising I.T. to ensure efficiencies in personal working practices. (Essential)

•           Ability to problem solve using knowledge of existing resources and new resources to make and recommend informed decisions and solutions, this will occasionally require innovative solutions.

•           Ability to interpret legislation, guidance and best practice.

To plan work effectively to meet short and long term targets and deadlines.

•           To communicate effectively, verbally and in writing with a wide range of people (such as customers, elected members, colleagues, contractors, outside agencies etc) from varied professional, technical and cultural backgrounds in order to deliver positive outcomes. (Essential)

•           To communicate complicated, sensitive and complex information in an appropriate format for the receiver, for example compliance with legislative requirements. (Essential)

•           Ability to diffuse situations that may arise from dissatisfied and anxious service users, dealing with contentious issues in a considerate and appropriate manner (Essential)

•           To advise, negotiate and influence individuals and businesses to adopt/desist a particular course of action.

•           To work with officers within and outside of the Service and external organisations to publicise and resolve Environmental Crime issues.

•           To work effectively and develop as part of a team.

•           To undertake training to keep up to date with new developments in Environmental Crime, as well as to learn from others and share own learning.

•           An understanding of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and a commitment to implementation in the post holder’s job.

•           Ability to maintain detailed notes and records on cases and investigations undertaken, in accordance with Service procedures.

•           The ability to use and deploy monitoring equipment, such as CCTV, sometimes at height and to remove items such as dumped rubbish and litter. 

Experience

•           Experience of implementation of enforcement procedures, gathering and preparing evidence in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and giving evidence in court (Essential)

•           Experience of working in a multi agency environment

•           Experience of organising own flexible working hours to meet the demands of the service

•           Experience of working with external and internal customers, understanding their needs and providing a high standard of customer care (Essential)

•           Experience of using information technology to prepare reports, evidence and maintenance of records (Essential)

ICT/Technical Expertise

•           Ability to use Microsoft Office applications effectively, including Outlook and to produce documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

•           Ability to use case management database, currently Uniform. 

•           Ability to maintain detailed notes and records on cases and inspections undertaken, in accordance with Service procedures.

•           Ability to use equipment and software to enable photographs to be suitably stored as evidence.

Personal Qualities

•           Develops and maintains positive working relationships with others.

•           Shares ideas, information and knowledge.

•           Has credibility with peers and senior managers.

•           High customer service ethic – is passionate about meeting customer/client expectations, championing vulnerable customers and improving service levels.

•           Keeps pace with change – acquires knowledge/skills as the business develops.

•           Is flexible to meet service and customer needs.

•           Self motivated and committed to delivering high quality service and protecting public health.

•           Engenders trust and respect from customers, colleagues and partners.

•           Acts with integrity and sensitivity.

•           Takes personal responsibility.

•           Supports team members.

•           Manages pressure well.

•           Maintains professional, polite and courteous manner even in challenging situations.

•           Works to understand customer’s issues and to offer positive solutions.