Food Safety Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Description                              Food Safety Officer           

Purpose Of Role:

To discharge the Councils statutory and non-statutory functions as well as it’s related strategies and policies with regard to food safety and workplace safety, health and welfare by carrying out official food controls and other interventions.

Support businesses to achieve full legal compliance through advice and education programs but where necessary take the appropriate and proportionate enforcement actions in accordance with national and Council policies and relevant legislative provisions to safeguard public health and the food supply chain.

Respond to, and where necessary investigate and report upon complaints and requests for service in relation to food safety and workplace safety, health and welfare issues. Where necessary liaising with the relevant external agencies including the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Health & Safety Executive (HSE), Public Health England etc.

Investigate reported infectious disease complaints and notifications.

Work collaboratively with other teams and departments towards achieving the Council’s strategic objectives.

Key Accountabilities:

Undertake and discharge the responsibilities of a duly appointed and warranted Environmental Health Officer.

Exercise warranted powers and authority to make application to Court under Food Safety or Health & Safety legislation including, for the ‘closure’ of food premise giving rise to imminent risk to the health of the public.

Act as the Council’s specialist and where appropriate expert witness on matters within the post holder’s professional expertise and where appropriate, making such expertise, knowledge and experience available to the team and the Regulatory Services Department.

Act as point of reference for expert knowledge, professional interpretation of legislation and guidance as applicable in the support of Regulatory Services Officers in the team as well as the Regulatory Services Department and Council.

Undertake and self-manage within delegated parameters and authority lead responsibility for specific areas of service delivery in Food Safety and related H&SWA matters, initiating, executing and overseeing proactive complex projects to improve business awareness and compliance in these areas.

Produce written guidance on matters within the post holder’s knowledge, expertise and professional competence. Including, interpretation of legislation and applicability as well as implementation of compliance codes, best practice and working procedures/protocols. 

Contribute to the setting and achievement of service objectives and performance targets for the team.

Deputise for the post holder’s line manager/ team leader as and when required.

Key Performance Indicators:     

Relevant National and local performance indicators.

Timely achievement of targets and work programmes.

Accuracy.

Exhibition of high levels of professionalism, personal leadership and team working.

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities  

In depth practical and theoretical knowledge and skills sufficient to effectively carry out technically specialist and complex difficult duties within the Food & Workplace Safety team 

Evidence of high-performance enforcement service delivery and customer care.

 Ability to train and equip other Regulatory Services Officers in specialist areas of work.

Essential Qualification(S), Experience And Registration

Higher level specialist qualification relevant to Food Safety duties. Including, Diploma/Degree in Environmental Health, or equivalent food /environmental related diploma or degree course

Qualification to act as an Environmental Health Officer (EHORB Registration);

Maintenance and proof of professional requirements regarding Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

Experience

Experience of undertaking complex investigations and enforcement work  

Experience of technical supervision of staff, students or contractors.

Experience of applying Equalities/Diversity policy guidance to team work.