Location
Westminster, London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£59,394 per annum

About the Role
Environmental Health at Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories, where passionate and expert professionals go above and beyond for their communities every day. As a Senior Environmental Health Officer in Westminster’s Private Sector Housing team, you will play a vital role in improving housing conditions and protecting residents in one of the most complex and high-profile housing markets in the country. Your work will focus on ensuring privately rented homes are safe, well-managed and fit for people to live in.

Working within the Public Protection and Licensing directorate, you will help deliver and enforce mandatory, additional and selective licensing schemes alongside a wide range of housing and public health legislation, including supporting the council’s duties under the new Renters’ Rights Act. You will carry out routine or unannounced visits and inspections to ensure compliance with legislation, using engagement, education or enforcement to improve conditions and deliver a fair and informed response to complaints and concerns.

Promoting and ensuring the integration of environmental health principles across the council and its partners, you will provide guidance and support to improve public health. Where enforcement action is necessary, you will initiate legal proceedings and prepare and give evidence in court. You will undertake project work to deliver service improvements and lead on high-profile or complex cases.

As a senior, experienced professional, you will guide and mentor new officers and apprentices, supporting the Principal Officer in staff training and quality monitoring systems. You will deliver a positive and proactive service, helping businesses and individuals understand and meet their regulatory requirements. You will also develop your expertise through training and development, sharing knowledge to improve public health.

Please refer to the Job Description and Environmental Health Jobs Westminster for more information.

Experience
Degree, diploma or similar qualification in Environmental Health with significant post-qualification experience in Private Sector Housing. Proven ability to respond to complex complaints from the public, stakeholders and elected members. Experience in building trusted relationships, de-escalating conflict in emotionally challenging situations, providing education and advice, and using regulatory powers to effect change. Well-developed experience working with a wide range of agencies and professionals.

Practical experience of case management including gathering information and evidence to support legal action, understanding rules of evidence and court proceedings, and explaining legislation, procedures and requirements clearly to others.

About You
Ability to listen carefully to different points of view and influence behaviour through knowledge sharing and outlining consequences. Skilled in assessing the appropriate intervention based on risk to the public and confident in making quick decisions. Excellent written communication skills with the ability to produce clear and accurate documents, correspondence and evidence.

Capable of managing workload to agreed targets, standards and timeframes, working with minimal supervision while in the community. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and willing to use handheld technology to record information and respond to customers.

Committed to building close working relationships with various teams inside and outside the council.

Qualifications
Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Environmental Health. Commitment to continuous professional development and training.

Additional Information
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers meeting the essential criteria will be automatically invited to interview under this scheme.