Environmental Care Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title                    Environmental Care Officer

Main Purpose of the Job

To work in partnership with others and as part of a team of Environmental Care Officers to ensure that environmental issues such as environmental enforcement and regulatory highway inspections are undertaken across the Borough.

Provide presence and support to various community organisations to address local concerns, engaging with the community, creating partnerships in a multi-agency approach to combat enviro-crime and reduce anti-social behaviours by developing preventative methods through creative thinking, setting required level of monitoring ensuring equal access to services and crossing cultural and language barriers. To promote, maintain and control a clean, safe and green public realm.

Key Responsibilities        

Work on an area basis to deal with local environmental issues such as fly-tipping, littering, dog fouling, abandoned vehicles, fly-posting, etc by means of fair and proportionate education, advice and enforcement using a wide range of legislation vested in the Local Authority.

Investigate record and report incidents of ‘enviro-crime’ within the Borough, including, where appropriate, examining and removal of items for evidence. Manage own workload using a multi-disciplined approach by using own initiative following Statutory, Regulatory Directives and Council Policies

Serve Notices and issue Fixed Penalty Notices in accordance with a wide range of legislation, to help promote the aims of the post.  Monitor and assist in recovery of payment of the Fixed Penalty amounts and where necessary undertake interviews, prepare evidence for court and appear as a witness if required.

Undertake detailed highway safety inspections throughout a designated area, in accordance with the Council’s policies and procedures and within the scheduled timescales.

Survey & assess defects observed on the highway or reported against stated guidelines and arrange for minor ad-hoc repairs as appropriate to protect highway users and provide SBC defence against trip/fall insurance claim for personal or property damage or loss. Advise maintenance engineers in identification and planning of future maintenance schemes making recommendation for treatment, assisting in preparing estimates and monitoring of budgets

Record accurate measurements of all surveys and inspections on the Council’s systems including an accurate daily diary of inspections and measurements as well as recording information in hard copy or using suitable technical portable devices.

Observe, report and where appropriate inspect, measure, gather evidence, record and report data for statutory and other local priorities covering possible breaches of planning regulations, foreshore incidents and other measurements i.e., Performance Indicators and Corporate Priorities.

To note any actions by site owners or occupiers that may be relevant to planning issues and report these to the Planning Management Section, by way of a brief report.

Manage ‘hotspots’ and analyse patterns of deposition and defacement, breaking down problems to implement long term preventative solutions. Conduct light clearance of wipe-able graffiti, flyposting removal, litter and sack removal contributing to corporate aims.

Conduct on-site Risk Assessments identifying hazards to the public and making necessary arrangements or recommendations to remove or reduce the harm

Monitoring the performance of contractors within the service area (including waste collection, street cleansing, grounds maintenance, graffiti, highways, street lighting and public toilets) evidencing performance defaults covering all aspects of contract inspection role in the Borough, maintaining high local quality standards

Inspect and report on obstructions of relevant land within the Borough and make recommendations for remedial action and undertake inspections of works to ensure Borough safety, instigating enforcement or advice action to mitigate risk to public

Order, programme and supervise minor maintenance works on all relevant land and ensure public safety through Risk Assessment to protect safety of public whilst work in progress, by directing staff and contractors within legislative and H&S limits. Particularly utility contractors or developers who need to erect signs, barriers and provide proper direction and control of traffic.

Inspect licence applications; undertake approval and monitoring of compliance within set conditions, and advise and support maintenance engineers in identification and planning of future maintenance schemes as required.

Work in partnership with other key agencies and Council departments to improve efficiencies and innovate the service and ensure no barriers to effective service delivery and implement Equality Impact Assessment. Respond to customer enquiries within timeframes, managing expectations and at times, dealing with abusive and irrational behaviours. Building positive relationships crossing cultural and language barriers promoting local environmental quality, through innovative service delivery

Assist in the establishment of procedures, processes and I.T introduction to improve efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of services.

Seek personal development by developing new skills and attending relevant training.

To work a shift pattern covering period of 8:00 – 20:00 and out of hours call outs from 20:00 to 08:00am including weekends and undertake street lighting inspections on rota basis. Review, amend and instigate Winter Service Plan assessing technical forecasting systems to call out operational service, ensuring continuance of service in extreme weather, sometimes working out of hours, to maintain the highway for safety of users, including safe use of quad bikes in pedestrian areas

To be available to attend out of hours emergency situations on a rota basis and provide a first response service 24hrs per day, 365 days per year, completing on site risk assessments, using own initiative to implement required actions to protect the public, agencies and contractors where required.

To ensure compliance with Health & Safety and all other appropriate legislation in the execution of the post’s duties. This includes liaison with the police and all other emergency services.

To carry out patrols along the Foreshore, reporting hazards such as oil and sewage. To inspect and report any damage to emergency telephones, lifesaving equipment, signs/ notices and arrange for immediate repair/replacement to protect the public, and also report damage to chalets/beach huts, kiosks, groynes, groyne markers, sea walls, jetties, slipways, wharves, piers and other Council properties on the Foreshore.

Any other duties as required from time to time taking into consideration the grade of the post and capabilities of the employee in the Authority’s service and at any of the Authority’s establishments.

To deputise for the Senior Community Patrol Officer as may be required from time to time.

Responsibility for Resources

Maintenance of vehicle, completing daily/weekly checks where appropriate and other PPE supplied, ensuring fit for purpose.

Ensure that Council owned equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and stored securely.

Responsive maintenance budget to carry out repairs to identified priority defects considering the limitations of the budget.

To provide cost estimate for the works and instructions

Health & Safety equipment for personal use.

Mobile technology to access and input.

Standard Phrases    Ensure compliance with all Health & Safety legislation, Departmental and Corporate policies, and have consideration for financial implications of activities, promoting best value and best practice.

To be familiar with Equal Opportunities good practise and with the Council requirements for Diversity and to implement this in all aspects of working practice and promote it in the team and workplace