Trading Standards Professional Apprentice
Fixed Term, Full Time
Up to £30,678 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
Closing Date: 27th May 2024
Essex Trading Standards is looking for a highly motivated person to join its team. Would you like to contribute to the Essex community and be proud of the impact of your work? Are you looking for a new challenge and career progression? This could be the opportunity you are looking for!
Our People Plan 2021-2025 seeks to invest in our people, with a focus on diversity, equality and inclusion, collaboration and continuously understanding how to upskill our workforce. We are proud to offer the opportunity for a Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship to join the Trading Standards Team. The successful candidate will have previously completed the Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship and possess excellent organisation and communication skills.
Benefits:
- Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options
- Wide range of learning and development opportunities
- IT equipment and home-working equipment provided
- 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + option to purchase extra
- Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
- Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
- Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with LifeWorks
- Disability Confident Leader: we're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job
- Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave
- Employee support networks, to ensure everyone in treated with dignity and respect
- A fully funded Level 6 Trading Standards Professional qualification delivered online over 29 months + End Point Assessment (typically 5 months)
The Role:
Trading Standards is responsible for supporting legitimate business activity by providing advice and support, encouraging economic development and prosperity, and helping to create a level playing field. We protect the economic interests of Essex residents (particularly the more vulnerable members of the community) by using all the tools available to swiftly and effectively tackle rogue traders and businesses that cause the most consumer detriment. We adopt an intelligence led approach to enforcing a broad range of Trading Standards legislation including fair trading, underage sales, food and product safety, animal health and welfare to name just a few.
This exciting opportunity will see you developing further the knowledge, skills and competencies already obtained via the Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship to become a Trading Standards Officer. Having successfully completed the Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship prior to this role, you will now undertake the training and learning requirements of the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship with more specific Trading Standards modules to complete your training. You will work closely with, and be supported by, members of the Trading Standards team throughout your training and when qualified, will be considered for a Trading Standards Officer post.
The role will require successful study of Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship and end of study assessment with CSA Learning . You will be responsible for managing your own training and development to gain and apply a working knowledge of Trading Standards legislation, developing skills and competencies to enable effective enforcement and investigation.
Click here to read what our Apprentices say about working in Trading Standards:
Harriet's Blog
Rachael's Blog
What will you be doing?
- Development, planning, delivery and management of enforcement projects, to ensure
- Trading Standards enforcement priorities are met
- Lead on investigations and all enforcement activities, including carrying out PACE interviews, preparing notes, statements and prosecution reports and giving evidence in court to comply with the Trading Standards Investigation Protocol
- Working collaboratively with other enforcement agencies (such as the Police, VOSA, DEFRA) District Councils, Parish Councils and politicians; attending external meetings such as Alcohol Licensing Reviews and Parish Council meetings to represent the council
- Carry out visits to businesses to ensure compliance with legislation, provide advice and decide on the most appropriate remedy for non-compliances at the time of visit
- Responsible for liaising with members of the public and complainants to gather intelligence and provide updates on progress made with enquiries and complaints
- Review and grade intelligence using a threat matrix approach, to ensure best use of resources
- Responsible for consultancy services quotations, customer relationships management and agreed sums of petty cash, to ensure Council financial policies are complied with, all spend is auditable and income opportunities are maximised
- Responsible for undertaking a range of enforcement activities alone and as part of a team (e.g. 'test purchasing' operations of age restricted products, licensing inspections) to deliver Trading Standards enforcement priorities
- Responsible for accurately recording work undertaken and prepare accurate and concise guidance letters to business and consumers to ensure the delivery of Trading Standards priorities
- Mentor and assist with training Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprentices (Level 4)
- Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework
About You:
You will have:
- Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area
- Evidence of the ability to develop skills and knowledge relevant to the role
- Excellent communication skills and ability to deal confidently with a range of stakeholders
- Be comfortable working both alone with minimal supervision and as part of a team of Trading Standards professionals
- A proven ability and willingness to study and develop the skills and knowledge to successfully complete the Level 6 Trading Standards Professional Apprenticeship
- Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
- Evidence of the ability to use bespoke databases or other IT applications
- Excellent organisational skills are a must, together with the ability to assess, prioritise workload and hit agreed deadlines
Essential Requirements for the role:
- You will have successfully completed the Level 4 Regulatory Compliance Officer Apprenticeship and have demonstrable experience of working in a regulatory environment
- This role requires the post holder to be mobile throughout a wide operational area including travelling around the county of Essex and beyond. Driving licence and a vehicle, or ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means, is essential
Why Essex?
Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
To read more about us please visit:
Economy, Investment & Public Health
Entry to Work
How to apply
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Seize the day! Discover your future as a Trading Standards Professional by hitting the APPLY button now!
Additional Information:
If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here.
If you have queries on this role or require further information, please email: work.placements@essex.gov.uk
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