Senior Trading Standards Officer PO4

As a member of the Trading Standards team you will be responsible to the successful delivery of the business objectives of your designated team that will contribute to the achievement of the Mayor's priorities, Council's corporate objectives.

Carry out the duties of a Trading Standards Officer, undertake inspections, investigate complaints, prepare prosecution reports, undertake project work and carry out work outside of standard office hours.

Plan, prepare and carryout targetted operations utilising resource from across the service as appropriate to ensure the objectives of the service are met i.e. underage sales, counterfeit operations (Tobacco, DVD's etc), minimum wage and business standards operations.

Seek to raise compliance through adopting a collaborative partnership approach with businesses seeking prevention and compliance building opportunities.

The post holder will be dealing with complex issues and difficult to resolve problems across the remit of the role with the aim of raising business standards across the borough and potentially on a regional basis also. The post holder will need to seek creative and innovative solutions that achieve sustainable and long term improvements working closely with a range of colleagues and partners.

Undertake out reach work with communities and where behaviours exist that impact upon communities seek to change these behaviours utilising a range of intervention types including but not limited to engagement, notices, seizure and ultimately prosecution action.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
· Authorised to enforce a full range of trading standards and ancillary legislation allocated to the service unit.
· To contribute to the development, maintenance and promotion of the Council's policies on equal opportunities and the development of good staff and community relations. Undertake out reach work with communities and where behaviours exist that impact upon communities seek to change these behaviours utilising a range of intervention types including but not limited to engagement, notices, seizure and ultimately prosecution action.
· To carry out work associated with corporate quality and initiatives as directed, developing policy and practice along with new systems and work procedures.
· Seek to raise compliance through adopting a collaborative partnership approach with businesses seeking prevention and compliance building opportunities.
· To report on issues affecting the area for which the post holder is responsible, to public meetings, working parties etc. and attend those meetings as required.
· To generally assist and support field staff from all disciplines in the discharge of their duties, providing guidance and support to colleagues and subordinates.
· To keep records and make returns either manually or electronically as directed.
· To acquire and apply specialist knowledge in a significant area of service delivery, taking responsibility for keeping up to date with developments, and providing training and guidance to colleagues.
· To communicate in a confident and assertive manner that is in line with established policies, practises and priorities of the Council and maintains and enhances its credibility. To communicate in a way which meets the needs of a diverse audience and in a way that influences effectively
· To liaise at a senior level with Council Officers and outside organisations on matters for which the post holder is responsible.
· To keep records and make statistical and other returns in the form prescribed and the frequency required. To use manual and computer-based record systems as necessary.
· To take the lead role on projects from inception to conclusion using project management techniques.
· To prepare detailed reports and/or briefing documents recommending defined courses of action.
· To inspect trade premises, investigate complaints and carry out enforcement action as appropriate, including prosecution. To utilise intelligence resources to target actions appropriately to where they are most needed and make the biggest impact
· To advise consumers and traders of their rights and obligations under all trading standards legislation
· To investigate complaints arising from business or trading practices and carry out enforcement action as appropriate.
· To undertake cases in accordance with PACE and CPIA requirements. This includes preparing case papers, investigating infringements (including bypass provision) and making recommendations for action.
· To investigate Trading Standards /Proceeds of Crime offences and prepare legal cases in accordance with statutory code of practices to facilitate successful prosecutions.
· To coordinate POCA investigations across the authority with authorized officers from other teams and in association with Finance and Legal Officers To develop expertise in a specialist area of trading standards work related to the priorities of the service at any given time, to update staff on the area of expertise and to draft reports for the team manager recommending procedures and policy changes where necessary.
· To keep abreast of legislative and technical developments in the specialist areas in which the post holder is developing expertise.
· To make test purchases, take samples and carry out screen tests within established guidelines.
· To be responsible for the care and maintenance of working standards and all equipment as allocated.
· To amend and update databases as instructed and co-operate with administrative staff over the maintenance of computer based and/or manual information and record systems and maintenance of the service.
· To attend court as a witness for the local authority.
· To attend meetings as appropriate.
· To devise and carry out programmes of education, advice and enforcement to consumers, business and others as appropriate.
· To give talks to schools, businesses and other groups as directed.
· To prepare and write letters and reports of a complex nature including reports recommending changes in procedure and policy. To assist in implementing changes where appropriate.

TEAM:
· Available to work flexible hours to ensure there is support available to the service as necessary including an out of hours.
· The post holder may be required to work evenings, weekends and occasional public holidays in order to meet service requirements.
· He/she will also be expected to work remotely in the field or at any suitable office location

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

As appropriate the post holder's duties must be carried out in compliance with the following:

• Council's Equalities Policies and Strategies


• Date Protection legislation


• Financial Regulations and Standing Orders


• Health and Safety at Work legislation


These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exclusive nor exhaustive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading and scope of the post.

NB: All employees are expected to adhere to the Council's Diversity & Equality and Health and Safety Policies.

Good communication skills and ability to communicate verbally and in writing with individuals and groups at all levels, including with other organisations.

Able to convey verbally and in writing, in plain language and by reference to the appropriate section or paragraph and relevant case law, the main offences and controls under the legislation enforced.

Experience of routinely producing own unique correspondence in response to sensitive or complex matters.

QUALITY OF SERVICE:

Ability to represent the team and colleagues in respect of trading standards and other related functions, to assess and comment on information and opinion, and recommend appropriate courses of action.

Understanding of quality assurance requirements and EFQM gained through training courses or within the working environment. Also experience of work regarding these initiatives would be desirable.

Experience of planning, setting and updating own work against objectives, determining work methods to achieve objectives and receiving and acting upon feedback on work performance.

TECHNICIAL ABILITY:

Experience of providing comprehensive Home Authority Advice to a variety of types of premises.

Experience of advising business, consumers and other service users of the criminal and civil law relating to trading standards

Experience of preparing reports and statements to meet legal and court procedures and including taking the lead role in complex investigative work.

Experience of working as an enforcement officer in a trading standards department.

Ability to report on areas of dissatisfaction with service provision and working arrangements
Detailed technical and legal knowledge and understanding of major consumer protection laws and legislation administered by officers at this level.

TEAM WORK/PERFORMANCE:

Ability to lead team/project work and willingness to inform advice and support colleagues in tasks to meet organisational objectives, providing leadership and direction to individuals and to the team.

Willingness to create and enhance productive working relationships with immediate line manager and colleagues by providing information, seeking information and advice, making proposals for action, seeking ways of improving relationships, and performing in a helpful and willing manner.

Ability to lead meetings and group discussions, assist in problem solving and decision making, advising and informing others appropriately.

Experience of originating, leading and implementing projects to conclusion and reporting the results.

Experience of providing technical advice and support

Ability to support the maintenance of good conduct in the team.

Ability to monitor the use of financial resources and control the use of resources.

OFFICE DUTIES, SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES:

Ability to handle and transport heavy equipment and seized items in a safe manner (with assistance if necessary).

Experience of obtaining, evaluating, recording and storing information both manually and electronically to aid record keeping.

Ability and willingness to operate the information technology systems in use and to identify developments.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

Diploma in Consumer and Trading Standards (DCATS) or equivalent statutory qualification

Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

Holder of a Diploma in Financial Investigations qualification or equivalent

Membership of Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

NB: All employees are expected to adhere to the Council's Diversity & Equality and Health and Safety Policies.

Hackney Trading Standards Section have a vacancy for a forward thinking Senior Trading Standards Officer. You must have the ability to cover a wide range of Trading Standards functions when necessary. You will be expected to work with local businesses to ensure compliance with a wide range of Trading Standards Legislation. In particular dealing with counterfeit goods and conducting prosecutions.

In addition to fulfilling statutory obligations we expect officers to develop and manage a range of projects of value to our residents, businesses, national and local outcomes.

A creative and modern approach is expected combining prevention with enforcement to protect and empower local residents.

You must have substantial relevant work experience within a trading standards environment; be fully conversant with trading standards legislation, be confident and self-motivated.