We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: To make a significant contribution to the delivery of environmental health services by a range of interventions including premises and business inspections, incident investigations, consultations and taking the appropriate follow up action including the use of formal enforcement procedures such as statutory notices, statements of evidence and the attendance at court as a witness.

To monitor service delivery standards including those delivered by third parties and to recommend and participate in service improvement and change programmes. To lead a specialist work area and deliver service provision for environmental and public health functions. To supervise and manage individuals on a day-to-day basis.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver and oversee a range of complex environmental health activities including business inspections, incident notifications, licence/approval inspections, complaint investigations and assessment of consultant reports. Assimilate complex and varied information to decide on statutory or non-statutory response to service requests and investigations, take forward appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution cases, in accordance with current legislation, council policy and best professional practice.
• Provide expert guidance, in depth specialist knowledge and direction to colleagues within the service, the wider organisation and partners on a wide range of environmental and public health activities.
• Responsible for direct supervision of Technical Officers and Senior Technical Officers/ Environmental Health Officers and student Environmental Health Officers, to include regular one to one meetings, appraisals, and workload reviews, providing appropriate feedback, allocation, checking and audits of work, co-ordination of training and development, and managing performance and attendance as appropriate.
• Responsibility for training and mentoring of Environmental Health Officers, Senior Technical Officers, Technical Officers, student EHO’s and other persons as appropriate.
• Assist in the effective management and procurement of resources to ensure quality, efficient and customer focused services are delivered.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from other teams and services to ensure broader outcomes are delivered e.g., to develop and participate in locality initiatives and programmes, undertake ‘joined up’ enforcement initiatives including with other agencies such as Police and Trading standards etc.
• Develop and maintain thorough and current professional knowledge on environmental health functions and services; this to be achieved by various methods including peer group working, technical and professional development etc.
• Lead on the development and implementation of service design and improvement activities in response to new legislative requirements, changes to service delivery methods and priorities etc.
• Attend Court, Tribunals, or other formal and legal proceedings to give evidence as a professional witness.
• Use specialist knowledge to prepare policies, service standards, reports, notices, and data as required.
• Accountable for, and manage specific environmental and public health activities and work programmes including working with other services, Local Authorities, and partner organisations e.g., Environment Agency, HSE, FSA, DEFRA, UKHSA etc. To include leading on certain work areas as allocated and providing a strong link with partner agencies to undertake the allocated areas of work including producing external reports and statutory returns.
• Maximise income by the production of financial reports and forecasts, ensuring accurate costing of services and the appropriate charging mechanisms are in place.
• Attend various forums and meetings e.g., Area Committees, Licensing Committees, community meetings, Scrutiny Boards etc. to provide reports as required and to take on board stakeholder views and concerns. To represent the Service and the Council at partner and external meetings (local, regional, and nationally), giving expert advice, contributing to service and policy development, using specialist knowledge to speak on the Council’s behalf.
• Ensure that the highest standards of customer service are provided and that customers are kept promptly and fully informed.
• Ensure that relevant databases and information systems are kept accurately updated and reflect current work activities.
• Contribute to the development of the service and adopt a ‘One Council’ approach.
• Demonstrate the Council’s Values through behaviour and approach.
• Deputise in the absence of the Team Manager commensurate to the grade of the post.
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of people including colleagues within the service and across the council, internal/external partners, agencies, customers, and the general public dealing with all contact in a professional manner.
• The postholder will work as part of a team but will also be required to work alone whilst fulfilling field or office-based tasks.
• In certain circumstances, in the interests of operational efficiency, rota cycles can be varied subject to appropriate consultation and with reasonable notice.
• A flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work outside of normal hours to respond to emergency situations on short notice is required.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• To participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards, and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism,