Number of Vacancies:
1
Time Type:
Full time
Worker Type:
Regular
Proposed Interview Date:
Monday, October 5, 2026
Hours of Work:
37
Hiring Manager:
Sarah Smith
Contact Number:
01482 613189
Job Description Summary:
This is a full time, permanent position. (up to £5,387 market supplement)
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact David Sayers, Food, Health and Safety Manager on 01482 414 949 or
[email protected]
Recognising the workforce demand these posts are enhanced with a market rate pay supplement in excess of the top of the substantive grade. An annual review will take place which could reduce, increase or remove the enhancement subject to market conditions.
We are looking for a Food Safety Environmental Health Officer to join our busy team at Hull City Council. As a career graded post, it would suit both an experienced EHO or a newly graduated EHO looking for a supportive team to help develop their skills and progress their career.
if you would like to be part of a Food Safety team working with a wide variety of businesses, then this opportunity may be just the challenge you are looking for. Your role will be focussed on ensuring that excellent regulatory and advisory services are provided to businesses based within our City. You will be closely involved with food safety inspections, complaints from the public/businesses, investigating infectious diseases, advising businesses, and interventions based on both national and local priorities.
The city also has a number of registerable business activities and hosts a large number of events, these areas of work come with close engagement and can include both educational and enforcement activities. You can look forward to working with a dedicated team of officers who strive to protect the community of Hull and promote a high level of compliance within our businesses.
ROLE AND PURPOSE
Grade 7
To work within a professional environmental health team involved in discharging the City Council’s statutory duties and functions in relation to Food and Health and Safety.
To provide and participate in the provision of a highly customer focused response to requests for the Environmental Health (Food, Health and Safety) Services. To engage in the inspection and regulation of lower risk food premises.
Grade 8
All of the above plus
The work will involve taking a lead role in the inspection and full regulation of low and medium risk food businesses, dealing with infectious diseases and dealing with food safety concerns from the public.
Grade 9
All of the above plus
The work will involve taking a lead role in the inspection and regulation of higher risk food businesses, dealing with infectious diseases and dealing with serious food safety concerns from the public.
To enforce legislation which exists to protect public and environmental health, and to provide support, guidance and advice to the public, industry and commerce, so as to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of Hull, and to support a safe and fair trading environment in which industry and commerce can flourish.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
1. Customer Focus –
Grade 7
To respond to public requests for advice and reports of concerns in a timely and effective way and provide an evidence trail associated with interventions which will allow a qualitative review of action undertaken.
To facilitate the effective understanding of food safety and hygiene issues to businesses using a communication style to suit the person and the situation.
To be able to provide advice and coaching to food businesses.
Grade 8
All of the above plus
To use a variety of communication techniques to ensure that business customers are given every opportunity to take full ownership of their responsibilities and achieve full compliance.
To be able to confirm or gather required information by using active listening and effective questioning techniques.
Grade 9
All of the above plus
To conduct detailed inspections and surveys within high risk businesses and domestic premises, to determine standards, secure improvements and ensure compliance with legal requirements, so as to safeguard public health, safety and welfare.
To be able to manage challenging and difficult situations in an objective manner.
2. Statutory Obligations
Grade 7
To be able to implement requirements of legislation within an established policy framework. To be able to formulate communications which satisfy the requirements of The Food Law Code of Practice and associated Guidance. To be able to deliver advice guidance and written reports, including written warnings, which are accurate and consider the requirements of applicable legislation.
To be able to correctly identify when follow up action is required and what action is required to achieve compliance.
Grade 8
All of the above plus
To implement existing legislation and take formal action with respect to the service of Hygiene Improvement Notices.
To know how to draft, serve and withdraw notices and orders. To have knowledge and understanding of imminent risk to health.
Grade 9
All of the above plus
To interpret new and existing legislation using professional judgement, and to determine appropriate courses of action when non-compliance with legislation or risks to public health are identified. Actions will range from the provision of advice, guidance and written reports, the service of a variety of legal notices and sanctions, to the preparation of reports for legal proceedings. This will also include the use of emergency prohibition procedures.
3. Investigations
Grade 7
To investigate allocated service requests and submit findings to the relevant officer.
Grade 8
All of the above plus
To conduct an investigation to assess compliance with relevant legislation in accordance with applicable legal requirements, codes of practice , policies and procedures, considering where relevant business type, products present and processes being used, the issue being investigated including relevant time limits, the information required and how it can be obtained.
The preparation of an investigation file or record as a part of a reactive investigation.
Includes the preparation of witness statements and participating in the interviewing of suspects.
Grade 9
All of the above plus
To use statutory powers to investigate complex service requests, officer identified contraventions, and statutory notifications from Government Agencies. To identify breaches of legislation, non-compliance with statutory codes of practice, and risks to public health. To make incident reports to the FSA in conjunction with lead Food officers.
4. Prosecutions
Grade 9
To be responsible for, and have the discretion to initiate investigations to detect and rectify serious breaches of a wide range of legislation. To interview witnesses, take statements, collect, prepare and collate evidence correctly, thoroughly, professionally and in accordance with Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and departmental procedures. To prepare prosecution reports and to act as a witness in Court on behalf of the Council.
5. Sampling
Grade 7
To be able to engage in sampling programmes having received suitable instruction and training. To understand the role of sampling in protecting consumers and assessing business compliance, including limitations of sampling.
To understand the role of analysts and examiners and the advice they can provide when taking samples.
Grade 8 –All as above plus
To determine the need for, and to take and submit formal and informal samples. To be able to seal store and transport samples to a suitable laboratory using the appropriate procedure ensuring that the integrity and continuity of the sample is maintained.
To understand the range of potential enforcement and informal action following a sample being taken and where they would be appropriate.
Grade 9 –All as above plus
To interpret and evaluate the analytical and microbiological results and to use statutory powers to safeguard public health and secure continuous improvements in standards.
6. Entry Warrants and Seizure Powers
Grade 7
To be aware of the food safety powers for detention, and seizure of food products. To be able to identify when these powers should be used.
Grade 8
All of the above plus
To be able to draft the required paperwork for detention and seizure of products and be aware of the processes required to apply to the magistrates’ court for warrants and to enable the detention and formal seizure of food products.
Grade 9
All of the above plus
To make applications to the Magistrate’s Court for warrants, supervise their execution and ensure the seizure, detention and proper destruction of goods such as unfit food or gain entry to premises e.g. for the purposes of PACE Code B searches, and/or examine confidential records in the exercise of food and health and safety related enforcement powers.
7. Provision of Technical Advice and Guidance
Grade 7
To provide technical advice and guidance to individual businesses on a 1-1 basis.
The technical advice will be at a level proportionate to the risk associated with the business and the regulatory regimes in place associated with that business. At grade 7 the risk level will be lower risk
Grade 8
All of the above plus
The technical advice will be at a level proportionate to the risk associated with the business and the regulatory regimes in place associated with that business. At grade 8 the risk level will be medium risk
Grade 9
All of the above plus
The technical advice will be at a level proportionate to the risk associated with the business and the regulatory regimes in place associated with that business. At grade 9 the risk level will be higher risk
To develop and deliver technical reports, guidance or presentations to members of the public, businesses, schools, universities, colleges and other bodies in specialist areas of environmental health. To identify appropriate means of delivery including the provision of public displays, lectures, seminars, campaigns, advisory visits and the production of leaflets, with the aim of raising awareness of the risks to public health and to bring about improvements to the environment and public safety.
8. Production of Records and Data
Grade 7, 8 and 9
To produce accurate and timely correspondence, records, files and data, including the use of IT and the production of technical reports to ensure the delivery of quality assured highly focused customer service.
9. Performance Management
Grade 9
To supervise, guide and support less experienced professional officers, Technical Officers and professional trainees, to contribute to their professional development and ensure service delivery.
To achieve personal objectives and targets to ensure compliance with the Service Delivery Plan by working effectively as a team member.
10. Standby Scheme
At Grade 7/8/9
On request, the post holder will be required to participate in the Department’s out of hour’s standby scheme.
11. HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated legislation places responsibilities for health and safety on Hull City Council, as your employer and you as an employee of the Council. In addition to the Councils overall duties, the post holder has personal responsibility for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of other employees; additional and more specific responsibilities are identified in the Council’s Corporate H&S policy.
NC4551.Graduate EHO-EHO-Senior Food Safety Officer (Career Graded).docx
Compensation Grades:
GRADES 7, 8,9
Pay Ranges:
£32,597.00 - £42,839.00
Job Classifications:
3- Not Politically Restricted - Designated As Not Politically Sensitive (Politically Restricted Posts), Essential 3A - It is essential for the postholder to have a current driving licence and to provide a car for work. (i.e. someone who did not meet these requirements could not be appointed to the post, since it would be impossible for the postholder to do the job without using a private car). These requirements would be essential criteria on the person specification for the post. (Travel Allowance Policy), No - (Childcare Disqualification Requirement), No - (Statutory Post)
Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:
- A competitive salary
- An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
- Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
- Supportive and forward-thinking culture
- Great career development opportunities
Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.
We are committed to increasing the diversity, equality, and inclusion within our workforce to represent the people we serve and build an environment in which everyone can feel like they belong. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.
We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.
We reserve the right to amend the dates associated with this advert, which may include closing the advert early where required.
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Online searches, including social media, may be carried out as part of the recruitment process.
