Environmental Health Support Officer in Taunton

Salary: Grade 14 ranging from £25,185 to £25,989 per annum

Join Somerset Council as an Environmental Health Support Officer. Are you looking for a varied and meaningful role where you can make a real difference to local communities? As an Environmental Health Support Officer at Somerset Council, you’ll be at the heart of helping people and businesses access important services that keep communities safe, healthy and thriving. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys problem solving, working with people and learning new skills.

No two days are the same and you will support a wide range of environmental health and licensing activities, helping customers find solutions and ensuring services run smoothly. You’ll be part of a friendly and supportive team, with opportunities to build your knowledge and develop your career within the council.

Role Summary

In this role, you’ll support the delivery of environmental health and licensing services by managing a variety of applications and service requests and providing advice and guidance to customers and colleagues. You’ll play an important part in making sure people get the help they need quickly and efficiently, whether that’s answering queries, resolving issues or supporting casework. Working closely with your team, you’ll use your growing knowledge and skills to help maintain high standards, ensure processes are followed correctly and contribute to improving services for everyone who uses them.

What you'll do - Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-skilled case management and service support team to deliver a wide range of statutory and non-statutory processes efficiently and effectively.
• Act as the first point of contact for service requests, managing applications, queries and complaints through to resolution.
• Provide technical advice and support to members of the public, businesses and internal colleagues.
• Manage and update systems, databases and records, ensuring data accuracy and supporting others with training where required.
• Support system administration, reporting, consultation processing and wider business support activities.
• Assist in maintaining and updating systems in line with legislative changes.
• Handle finance-related processes including purchase orders, invoicing and debt recovery.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to service improvement and customer experience initiatives.
• Investigate and resolve service requests, negotiating and influencing outcomes where appropriate.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, policies and procedures to deliver informed support and advice.

What We’re Looking For – Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Flexible and innovative approach to problem solving under supervision.
• Ability to contribute to service review, development and continuous improvement.
• Ability to follow operating procedures accurately and contribute to their development.
• Flexible and able to manage a varied workload, prioritising competing demands.
• Excellent knowledge of several different services across the council.
• Working knowledge of Database Administration and experience of using databases and generating performance reports.
• Experience of case managing in a similar role or within a regulatory services environment, including service requests, applications and inspections.
• Experience of dealing with members of the public.
• Grade 4/C or higher at GCSE in English, Mathematics and Science, or equivalent experience.
• Educated to A-level standard, or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of licensing and environmental health legislation.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to deal sympathetically and empathetically with members of the public.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Excellent IT skills, familiar with database and reporting systems, with the ability to work accurately at speed.
• Works well within a team.
• Ability to manage difficult situations.
• Experience of working with elected members or in a political environment.
• Experience of working as a system administrator.
• Business Administration/IT Level 3 Qualification or ICDL – International Certification of Digital Literacy (Previously ECDL – European Computer Driving Licence), or equivalent.
• Persuasive and encouraging, adopting a coaching style to enable customers.

Any Additional Information

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Full-time (37 hours per week).
• There is a requirement to work from different locations across Somerset.
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Emily Bear, Environmental Health Support Manager at emily.bear@somerset.gov.uk.