Trading Standards Officer in Birkenhead

Carry out criminal compliance enforcement activities across the regulatory service functions. Within a generic team carry out inspections, surveys and investigations into complex and serious breaches of trading standards legislation. Identify legal contraventions and select, recommend and execute appropriate enforcement activity based on assessed risk. The post holder will have sole responsibility for undertaking this work and the duties will include presenting solutions to bring a resolution to complex issues.

KEY TASKS

• Undertake and/or supervise complex projects involving a range of stakeholders, aimed at securing business compliance with all Trading Standards legislation.
• Prepare reports, undertake correspondence, conduct interviews, brief the Council Solicitor, and when necessary, give evidence in Court.
• Enforce all relevant legislation utilising a full range of enforcement powers from an informal educative approach to formal legal proceedings as laid down in the Divisions Enforcement Policy.
• Significant participation in project teams to deliver local and national health promotion initiatives.
• Monitor performance and quality standards and ensure that Trading Standards work complies with policy and procedures and the standards required in the local service level management agreement and in the sub-regional partnership agreement.
• Research, review, develop, consult on and implement policy and procedures for Trading Standards to help the Council to achieve its objectives in relation to Trading Standards, including production of management reports to identify changes and trends.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the management of the Service by supervising, training, mentoring and monitoring the work of less experienced colleagues, checking their work, providing specialist advice and guidance as necessary.
• Demonstrate by example continuous improvement and high quality service provision.
• Participate in initiatives and consistency exercises to monitor the work of peers to ensure that Officers within Trading Standards enforce the law consistently and uniformly.
• Give new business advice to members of the public and commercial undertakings within Wirral.
• Respond to complaints and enquiries from Councillors, MPs, Senior Managers, members of the public and our business partners.
• Work with other Council Departments/Teams to establish partnership working.
• Provide presentations and training to Council Staff from other Sections and Departments as well as outside agencies to inform about the work of Trading Standards.
• Deal with Business owners who are discontent with outcomes and where personal and political pressure is placed upon them to respond to issues, this will be through face to face contact at public meetings, written and verbal communication.
• Ensure the well-being of Wirral residents by providing an expertise role working to meet local needs in terms of accessing good quality Trading Standards advice and information.
• Use persuasive skills and have the ability to change peoples behaviour when dealing with high level and complex negotiations.

Financial

• Contribute and support the Senior Manager in establishing fees and costs for the operation of work undertaken by Trading Standards.
• Make formal proposals on resources, objectives and targets for service planning purposes to support the delivery of effective and responsive services.

Resources

• Responsible for the care and maintenance of equipment and evidence, ensuring security and continuation of evidence chain.
• Ensure the security of information and data management.
• Ensure accurate and appropriate data is collected and databases are kept up-to-date.
• Exercise discretion at all times regarding confidential information and to observe relevant codes of practice and legislation in relation to data protection and personal information.
• Support the Senior Manager in the review and negotiation of Service Level Agreements for the operation and service provision of Trading Standards.

Planning and Organising

• Develop and maintain a lead officer role in relation to one or more aspects of the work of the Trading Standards Section.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the care and maintenance of equipment and evidence to ensure security of evidence and continuity of the evidence chain.

Experience:

• Have experience of training, mentoring and the development of less experienced colleagues.
• Have experience of working with a range of statutory, voluntary and other organisations or agencies to achieve the successful development and implementation of partnerships.
• Have experience of investigating enquiries from Members of Parliament or Councillors and drafting replies to their enquiries.
• Have experience of giving presentations.
• Have experience of preparing Cabinet Reports.
• Have experience of Civil Enforcement procedures and the Enterprise Act.

ADDITIONAL WORK ELEMENTS

NOTE: The job role holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with the job role descriptor grade as directed by the Head of Service. This job role profile will be reviewed regularly and may be subject to amendment or modification at any time after consultation with the post holder. It is not a definitive statement of procedures and tasks, but sets out the main expectations of the Service in relation to the post holder's responsibilities and duties. Elements of this job role profile and changes to it may be amended in light of organisational and service requirements.