Environmental Health Officer

We are looking for qualified Environmental Health professionals to join our busy Commercial team. Islington is a busy inner London Authority seeking to ensure business compliance across the borough. You should be a dynamic, hard-working person who has a passion for improving standards and taking enforcement action where needed. You will need to do the basics brilliantly, and engage with residents and communities to help us keep residents and businesses safe.

The Commercial team deal with food safety, health and safety at work, infectious disease prevention, public health work and public health complaints regarding commercial premises. The team works on a proactive and reactive basis.

Main duties of the job

You will be securing food hygiene and food standards improvements to a range of food businesses in the borough through inspection, engagement and enforcement.

You will be investigating RIDDOR reports and health and safety complaints as well as carrying out a range of intelligence led health and safety inspections.

You will be investigating and resolving complaints of a public health nature, such as odour nuisance or drainage issues, associated with commercial premises.

You will be utilising your expert knowledge of relevant legislation to identify the most appropriate enforcement action to secure compliance with legal requirements. You will also collate and present evidence in court and may be required to present evidence at certain types of licensing committee.

You will be authorised to undertake the full range of enforcement powers, including Improvement and Prohibition Notices, simple cautions and Prosecutions.

You will manage a mixed caseload of reactive service requests, project work and proactive inspections.

You will collect, use and analyse data to validate interventions and maintain thorough records of actions and decision making.

You will establish good working relationships with business owners, complainants, UKHSA, FSA, HSE as well as other council officers to achieve the best outcomes for service users.

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't be clearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.
To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out 'CARE', which is what we think public service is all about.
Watch our video to hear more about our mission and how you can help us achieve it from the Leader of the Council, Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz.
Recruitment information
It is the policy of Islington Council that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. We welcome applications from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates and acknowledge our responsibility to mitigate against racial discrimination.
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

There are a range of benefits to working for Islington:

• Up to 31 days leave per year (plus 5 days with long-service entitlement)


• A range of flexible working arrangements


• Excellent pension scheme


• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential


• Annual season ticket loan


• Zone 1-2 Travel card


• Cycle to Work Scheme and discounted gym memberships


• Payroll giving


• Personal computer incentive scheme