Housing Enforcement Officer

1. Purpose of Job:

To provide technical professional enforcement services with the overall aim of protecting and improving the health, safety and welfare of every resident, worker and visitor within the Borough.

* The post holder will be required to undertake their duties in the Private Sector Housing Team in one of the following sections:-

* HMO Licensing

* Housing Enforcement

* Empty Properties

The post holder will operate flexibly and changes in priorities may involve the post holder being employed in any of the above areas or Regulatory Services.

2. Key accountabilities:

The Housing Enforcement Officers, and EHOs will be required to:

a) Undertake the investigation of service requests and identify contravention of legislation and corrective action to be taken. This will include taking the appropriate action in line with the relevant policies, procedures and legislation in relation to appeals, infection, accidents, risk or other circumstances within the general purview of the section. Inspect or visit vehicles, stalls, plant or equipment.

b) Identify licensable premises and take all necessary steps to licence the premises within target times, ensure compliance of licencing conditions, and taking the relevant enforcement action.

c) Carry out the enforcement of legislation and other powers in a timely and efficient manner, as may be required in line with service and statutory legal guidelines. This will include the presentation of evidence at legal and other quasi judicial hearings. Initiate legal action where appropriate advising the Legal Service of technical considerations and contraventions.

d) Prepare and deal with correspondence, licences, briefs and other documents.

e) Originate reports in the appropriate format including the preparation and evaluation of statistics.

f) Scrutinise, process and comment on applications, plans reports schemes or other submissions for environmental guidance or clearance as directed.

g) Undertake the sampling, testing or seizure of products, materials, gases or substances.

h) Liaise with officers within Regulatory Services, council services, outside organisations, companies and individuals in order to deliver an effective Environmental Health Service.

i) Ensure the Group Manager is kept fully informed on any aspect of work which is controversial, political, strategic, financial or otherwise of a sensitive or highly complex nature.

j) Keep up-to-date with changes in legislation, policies, attitudes and techniques relevant to their service groups.

Professional Membership/Qualification

Successful completion (or imminent completion) of an Environmental Health degree or postgraduate MSc course, accredited by the CIEH in Environmental Health (Housing Enforcement Officer)

Or

Demonstrable professional experience in the relevant specialism

Fully qualified EHORB registered and eligible for Corporate Membership of the CIEH (EHO)

Experience & Knowledge

Existing technical knowledge of the relevant areas of Environmental Health or the ability to develop technical knowledge.

Experience of taking enforcement action.

Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills and able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writingwith a wide range of contacts and to deal with difficult or complex issues

Ability to accurately draft legal documents