Trading Standards Officer

Full Vacancy Description

Job Title:                              Trading Standards Officer

Purpose of this role:

To support local businesses and help consumers by tackling unfair and unsafe trading practices through enforcement, advice, and education. Ensuring that businesses operating in the County comply with trading standards legislation intended to maintain a fair and safe trading environment.

Key relationships:

Line Managed by the Trading Standards Manager

Liaise, advise, and work with Council colleagues regarding the provision of statutory services and how trading standards requirements impact on other Council Plan Priorities

Liaise, advise, inform, share, and act on intelligence about breaches of trading standards legislation with external partners, agencies, and other Enforcement Authorities e.g., Police, HMRC and Environmental Health

Advise and inform local people and community groups including Service Users (consumers and businesses)

Liaise, share and act on intelligence with government departments e.g., Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Office of Product Safety and Standards, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Food Standards Agency.

Liaise, advise, and work with other partners to inform and educate service users including the media, voluntary sector groups (e.g., Citizens Advice) and trade and industry representative groups (e.g., Chamber of Commerce and the Local Enterprise Partnership).

Supervise, train, share information and work together with team colleagues leading projects and investigations as may be required.

Key result areas include:

Plan and lead project work, surveys, and inspections designed to assess the level of business compliance with trading standards legislation and take action to improve compliance where necessary.

Key result areas include:

Plan and lead project work, surveys, and inspections designed to assess the level of business compliance with trading standards legislation and take action to improve compliance where necessary.

Assess and investigate complaints which reveal breaches of trading standards legislation using the appropriate criminal or civil law options. Prepare witness statements and reports of investigations, giving evidence in court where necessary.

Give accurate advice to consumers and businesses on trading standards law – distinguishing where appropriate between legal requirements and those of good practice. Act as a lead contact for businesses which have a Primary Authority or Home Authority partnership with the service providing advice and guidance on legal requirements.

Conduct duties in accordance with the statutory enforcement powers accorded to trading standards officers complying with relevant legal duties and regulatory codes of practice applicable to the service.

Plan, co-ordinate and lead corporate, regional, or multi-agency enforcement initiatives and represent the service at a local and regional level.

Provide support for service improvement initiatives and designated divisional functions.

Assist supervise and train less experienced officers in a range of duties.

General Responsibilities:

Equality and Diversity

Actively support the Council’s Equality and Diversity Policy.

Health and Safety

Ensure own compliance with the Council’s Health & Safety policy/procedures and that of any resources you have responsibility for.

Risk Management

Identify opportunities and risks associated with the service and escalate/report to management.

Information Security

Comply with the Council’s policies on information security including the ICT Security Policy, Internet and Email Policy and Safe Haven Guidance.

Key result areas include:

Plan and lead project work, surveys, and inspections designed to assess the level of business compliance with trading standards legislation and take action to improve compliance where necessary.

Assess and investigate complaints which reveal breaches of trading standards legislation using the appropriate criminal or civil law options. Prepare witness statements and reports of investigations, giving evidence in court where necessary.

Give accurate advice to consumers and businesses on trading standards law – distinguishing where appropriate between legal requirements and those of good practice. Act as a lead contact for businesses which have a Primary Authority or Home Authority partnership with the service providing advice and guidance on legal requirements.

Conduct duties in accordance with the statutory enforcement powers accorded to trading standards officers complying with relevant legal duties and regulatory codes of practice applicable to the service.

Plan, co-ordinate and lead corporate, regional, or multi-agency enforcement initiatives and represent the service at a local and regional level.

Provide support for service improvement initiatives and designated divisional functions.

Assist supervise and train less experienced officers in a range of duties.