Trading Standards Professional

Full Vacancy Description

Job Description                              Trading Standards Officer

Job Purpose:

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.

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

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

Description of Duties:

Knowledge and Skills

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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 mobile phones or two-way radios, and other technology as required to carry out the duties of the post.

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.

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

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

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

Qualification and Experience:

Foundation Certificate in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards or equivalent.

Over 3 years experience in an enforcement capacity within Trading Standards.

Experience in carrying out investigations

desirable

Higher Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (HDCATS).

Qualified as an Accredited Financial Investigator.

Lead Assessor qualification or equivalent.

Management qualification (minimum A-Level/BTEC grade or equivalent)

TSI Assessor or Verifier.

Skills and Knowledge: 

To have a working knowledge of CPRs, BPRs, 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 managing projects both internally and with external stakeholders, within agreed deadlines and according to specification.

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.

Ability to serve Suspension Notices.

Provides Primary Authority/ Home Authority advice to companies

Lead Officer for multiple underage test purchasing programme, including alcohol.

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

Regularly submits 5x5x5 intelligence for all areas of trading standards work.

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.

Ability to identify 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.

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

Ability to successfully apply for external funding.

Ability to supervise junior members of staff.

Experience of monitoring performance against agreed criteria and/or performance indicators

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.