Work With Offenders - The Choices
Environmental Health Officer
An environmental health officer is there to work within the public housing sector to carry out a series of inspections and investigations into various potential environmental health violations around the local community. The areas that they cover include: Food safety; health and safety; pollution control; contaminated land; public health and pest control. They often work closely with the Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) during their regular inspections, deal with HMO complaints, general housing complaints, and work with the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Prior knowledge of any of these organisations would be a great advantage to prospective candidates. This is high profile local authority role and carries with it a large amount of responsibility.
The investigation areas often deal with issues such as asbestos, safety procedures and property damage. The position holder would have to be able to work accurately, efficiently and comfortably within these areas. Knowledge of environmental issues and the effects of neglect and damage would be greatly advantageous to prospective applicants. Successful candidates will hold a bachelor’s or MSc degree in a related health subject approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). It is obligatory that they would have completed at least a year-long work-based learning placement and would have passed a series of professional exams whilst working as a trainee EHO.
Environmental health officers specialise in areas such as inspecting businesses’ health and safety standards, food hygiene and food standards, following up complaints and investigating outbreaks of food poisoning, infectious disease or pets. The role can also focus on advising community groups and giving educational talks or investigating accidents in the workplace. All officers are expected to keep detailed reports of their findings and the progress of cases, so knowledge of both computer and paper filing and documentation is necessary. They work closely with housing, building control, trading standards, waste management officers and the relevant health and safety executive.
Qualifications: Candidates will hold a bachelor’s or favourably an MSc degree in a related health subject approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Experience: At least a year-long work-based learning placement and would have passed a series of professional exams whilst working as a trainee EHO. At least two years work related to the environmental health enforcement sphere.
Skills: IT, written and verbal communication skills, people skills, knowledge of current and past environmental issues.
