Trading Standards Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Role: Trading Standards Officer (TSO) / Senior Trading Standards Officer (STSO)

Role purpose

1.1       To achieve compliance with all statutory and non-statutory requirements that come within the functional responsibility of the post, and to undertake other duties associated with the substantive role, as may be required from time to time to meet the needs of the service.

1.2       To achieve Council, Departmental, Divisional and team objectives, improve community well-being and provide value for money services.

1.3       To provide a high quality, customer focussed, and safe living and trading environment for residents, traders and the local community.

Principal Objectives

Knowledge and Skills

2.1       To maintain a high standard of Trading Standards knowledge, competency and skill by participating in personal learning and development, as necessary or as required.

Enforcement, Advice, and Better Regulation

2.2       To provide high quality, sound, timely and accurate professional advice, guidance and information about any work matter, to customers or colleagues, members of the public, Member of the Council, solicitors, architects, surveyors and other professionals in a format that is understandable and appropriate, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.3       To properly handle evidence, records and data to ensure that confidentiality, continuity, evidence integrity, data quality, data protection and requests for information requirements are observed.

2.4       To deliver, as directed, a range of services in accordance with legislation, codes of practice, corporate policies, local systems, policies and guidance and good professional practice. This will include but is not limited to inspections, projects, surveys, alternative enforcement activities, publicity, attending meetings, processing applications, visits, investigating complaints and service requests, sampling, monitoring, gathering evidence, making test purchases, carrying out PACE interviews, taking statements and determining appropriate action, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.5       To undertake consistent, proportionate, targeted, accountable and transparent enforcement action, in accordance with best practice advice and guidance and enforcement policies, commensurate with the grade and post, to resolve any identified non-compliances. This may include seizing goods, prohibitions, closures, preparing and serving statutory and fixed penalty notices, simple cautions and other legal documents, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.6       To prepare legal cases and evidence for Court, Tribunal or other statutory Hearing.

2.7       To appear and give evidence as a witness at Court, Tribunal or other statutory Hearing.

2.8       To be aware of the impact on businesses, consumers, residents or others who might be affected by any enforcement or regulatory action taken. 

2.9       To conduct investigations and other enforcement work with regard to breaches of legislation, in compliance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), Criminal Proceedings and Investigations Act (CPIA) and Human Rights Act (HRA).

Service Delivery

2.10    To assist and carry out work activities in accordance with the Division’s Quality Management System (QMS) by participating in QMS projects, internal audits, updating and developing processes, procedures and standard documents in order to make continuous improvements and enhance customer satisfaction, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.11    To competently deal with the processing of applications, notifications, referrals, consultations, schemes, licences, registrations and grants, carry out reviews and give approval, as directed using any powers that have been delegated, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.12    To work in accordance with Council policies, procedures, protocols, processes, risk assessments and relevant service plans.

2.13    To deal with the preparation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of clear, logical, accurate and timely reports, documents, schedules of work, spreadsheets, data analysis and feedback, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.14    To be a flexible and effective team member, supporting the service and its objectives by taking a flexible approach to work activities across the division, places of work, team changes, work systems, practices, case allocation, times and hours of work.

2.15    To take a flexible approach to duties outside of normal office hours during changes in demand, as part of your post requirement, staffing unavailability, crisis, emergency etc.

2.16    To provide a high level of customer care and deal sensitively and courteously with residents and other customers, traders, members of the public and their representatives.

2.17    To represent the Council at meetings, internal or external and liaise with other authorities, agencies, council services, service providers, government representatives, architects, surveyors, solicitors, other professionals, traders, residents and other customers, as appropriate, commensurate with the grade and post.

2.18    To actively support high performance, service excellence, customer satisfaction, achieve personal and team-based work targets, work programmes and project objectives.

2.19    To use computer-based databases and record keeping programmes to accurately enter and record information about work activities according to the Council’s data quality principles.

2.20    To safely and correctly use equipment for testing and sampling as appropriate to grade and requirements of the post.

2.21    To use computer terminals (which may be desktop, handheld, fixed or mobile) to input information and access data from text-based databases and mobile communication equipment such as smart phones or two-way radios, and other technology as required to carry out the duties of the post.

2.22    To participate in the Department’s contribution to ensuring an effective response to civil and other emergencies using skills/expertise relevant to the functions of the post, and in accordance with council emergency procedures.

2.23    To work in accordance with the council’s smart working policy to assist in providing value for money services.

2.24    To carry out any other duties as directed commensurate with the grade and purpose of the job.

2.25    To support the Council’s image, reputation, employee code of conduct and objectives.

3.         Equal Opportunities:

3.1   To know and adhere to the Council’s equal opportunities policy and equalities legislation and implement in relation to job responsibilities in employment and service delivery.

3.2       To promote the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policies through the recruitment, career development and communication responsibilities of the post.

3.3       To assist in the development of work designed to reach out to vulnerable groups and the socially excluded.

3.4       To know and adhere to the Council’s equal opportunities policy and equalities legislation and implement in relation to job responsibilities in employment and service delivery.

4.         Health And Safety

4.1       To take reasonable care for his/her own health and safety and any other person(s) who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work, in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work, Etc. Act.

4.2       To co-operate with the Council in so far as is necessary to enable it to comply with its duties under relevant health and safety legislation.

Selection Criteria/Person Specification

Job Title:        Senior/Trading Standards Officer (S/TSO)

Candidates:

The essential skills, experience, knowledge, abilities and qualifications for this position are outlined below.  When completing your application form, please address your answers directly to each of the selection criteria below. This enables the panel to assess your ability to meet each criterion. It’s essential that you give at least one example of your ability to meet each of the 5 Values and Behaviours: Responsive, Innovative, Collaborative, Enterprising and Serving our Public.

Applicants, who do not directly address each item in the selection criteria below, on their application form, are unlikely to be shortlisted.

Values & Behaviours

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to meet these behaviours.

A

Equal Opportunities

A commitment to the Council’s equal opportunities policy and the ability to understand and implement the policy in relation to the job responsibilities. 

B

Qualifications:

For S01

Educated to GCSE, “O” Level or NVQ Level 3 or having equivalent experience

Trading Standards (tbc) or Regulatory Compliance Apprenticeship or equivalent

Appropriate CTSI modules

For S02

Foundation level CTSI Trading Standards qualification or Equivalent

Appropriate CTSI modules

For P01-PO2

Level 2 CTSI Trading Standards qualification or Equivalent

Appropriate CTSI modules

For PO3 -P04

Diploma in Trading Standards (DTS)/Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS) or equivalent

CTSI Practitioner status

Appropriate CTSI modules

For PO5

Appropriate qualifications as for S01-P04

Management qualification Level 2 or equivalent

C

Experience, Skills and Knowledge:  Applicant must fulfil the requirements in all the previous grades to attain a particular grade.

For All Grades –

To have a working knowledge of CPRs, BPRs, CRA, Lettings, underage sales, pricing, credit, safety and other consumer protection legislation sufficient to carry out the duties of the post.

To be able to carry out the statutory duties relating to the regulation of businesses and the investigation of consumer complaints, including the interpretation and application of legislation.

To demonstrate by example an understanding of statutory processes and instigating criminal proceedings sufficient to carry out the duties of the post.

Experience of planning, organising and prioritising workloads to satisfy performance targets and meet deadlines.

Experience of using initiative and innovation to resolve problems and improve service delivery.

To have highly developed communication and interpersonal skills and to be able to converse, both orally and in writing, concisely with a variety of different audiences and have the ability to contribute to corporate issues within the organisation.

To have an understanding of computers and the ability to use computers and software to input and extract data, write letters and reports and produce other documentation.

Regularly submits IDB intelligence reports for all areas of trading standards work.

For S01

Experience of working in a regulatory environment.

Studying for the Trading Standards (tbc) or Regulatory Compliance Apprenticeship.

Over 12 months experience working within Trading Standards in an assistant role.

Evidence Officer.

Lead on key priority areas as designated.

For S02

Completed Trading Standards / Regulatory Compliance Apprenticeship or equivalent.

Regularly lead in enforcement activities within Trading Standards.

Assisting with FOI and VIP complaints.

Deputise for TS Manager as appropriate.

For P01

Ability to serve Suspension Notices.

Provides Primary Authority/ statutory advice to businesses.

Lead officer for multiple underage tests purchasing programme.

Uses regional intelligence to take enforcement action for a range of disciplines.

Takes successful enterprise action when there are opportunities to do so.

Takes responsibility for the enforcement and regulation of premises and matters with a legal metrology element, where qualified to do so.

Consistently assesses and analyses intelligence, locally, regionally and nationally and takes effective enforcement action for a range of disciplines in accordance with the National Trading Standards Intelligence Operating Model.

For PO2

Lead for the enforcement and regulation of premises and matters with a legal metrology element, where qualified to do so.

Ability to identify potential threats, risks and harm in accordance with the National Trading Standards Intelligence Operating Model.

Ability to supervise junior members of staff.

FOI and VIP complaints.

Drafting of projects and funded bids, within agreed deadlines and according to specification.

Support development of policy and procedures.

For PO3

Lead in identifying potential threats, risks and harm in accordance with the National Trading Standards Intelligence Operating Model.

Successfully leads investigations and/or projects at a National and/or regional level.

Take the lead in the supervision of junior staff.

Experience of managing projects and funded bids, within agreed deadlines and according to specification.

CTSI Membership and able to demonstrate 20 hours CPPD a year for the last 1 year

Drafting briefing papers and reports for Councillors.

For PO4

Carries out proceeds of crime investigations, where qualified to do so.

Monitoring performance against agreed criteria and/or performance indicators.

Overseeing complex legal issues and projects.

Completing statutory and non-statutory returns about team performance.

Completing bids for external funding.

Lead in the development of policy and procedures.

For PO5

Managerial Responsibility/Deputise for team manager in absence.

Supervision of junior colleagues.

Proven experience as an Accredited Financial Investigator and / or SAO qualification.

Leading on training and supervision of apprentices or students.

Attending performance meetings with tutors.

Case reviews.

Project reviews.

Co-ordinate the compilation of the annual report.

Assist manager with budgetary matters.

Active delegate for IBC.

Attitude Matters

Your skills and ability are important however, we recruit as much for attitude as we do experience. 

We are looking for people who have the following attributes:

Complex problem-solving: The ability to work within a complex system and find simple solutions and outcomes that deliver real change.

Critical thinking: The ability to challenge the norms through evidence-based approaches using both numerical and critical reasoning and thinking.  You can rationalise decision-making and form views quickly and soundly from a range of sources. 

Creativity: You take approaches that demonstrate how doing things differently and creatively changes the dynamic in situations.  You can apply creative solutions that deliver hard outcomes. 

People management: You can get the best out of people.  You have a coaching-style and drive through a commitment to personal and professional development.  You are clear in your expectations and have exception feedback from your team about their working environment. You recognise and support people as individuals. 

Coordinating with others: You have the knack of working well with others.  You have an appreciation of your own presence and approach and can demonstrate how you have developed and continue to develop how you work with others.  You can recognise how others work, think, and feel to get the most out of collaboration. 

Emotional intelligence: You have a high degree of self-awareness and self-regulation in a wide range of situations from one-to-one conversations to team and group dynamics.  You can recognise motiving factors and demonstrate empathy appropriately applying a wide range of adaptive social skills.

Judgement and decision making: You can take rational and evidence-based decisions and take responsibility for your decisions and actions.  Where there is ambiguity or a lack of evidence you can demonstrate the ability to understand the environment and show flexibility in applying your judgement. 

Negotiation: You can demonstrate an understanding of the range of skills and techniques required to successfully negotiate with a range of other partners.  This includes understanding how to structure and undertake successful negotiation on an organisational-wide level. 

Service orientation: You must be unequivocal in your commitment and drive for outstanding service delivery.  Both in terms of the quality of products and work delivered as well as the achievement of objectives.  You and your team can demonstrate how your overall contribution to the organisation and service delivers to our organisational aims and objectives. 

Cognitive flexibility: The ability to recognise the environment in which you work and adapt and shift to this environment to maximise your own personal achievement and lead others in the same approach.  Applying cognitive flexibility to situation of significant change and transformation.

Who we are?

How we act defines who we are.  At the heart of our organisation is a common approach to defining ‘who we are’.  We are looking for people that can build this into everything they do.