Food Safety Officer

Location: Rochdale, UK
Contract: Interim

About the role

Our client, a local authority in Greater Manchester, is looking for an experienced Food Safety Officer to join its regulatory services team on an interim basis. The role is responsible for protecting public health by making sure food businesses across the borough meet their legal obligations and operate safely.

You will carry out a programme of inspections, audits and revisits at food premises, assess compliance with food hygiene and food standards requirements, and award food hygiene ratings under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Where standards fall short, you will give businesses clear advice and use informal and formal enforcement options proportionately, in line with the council’s enforcement policy.

The role suits an officer who can take on a live inspection programme quickly and work independently across a varied borough. Alongside planned work, you will deal with complaints, food sampling, food poisoning notifications and advice requests from businesses and residents, so sound judgement and strong communication skills will be important.

Main responsibilities

• Carry out planned food hygiene and food standards inspections and audits in line with the Food Law Code of Practice
• Assess businesses and award food hygiene ratings, handling revisits and appeals as required
• Investigate food complaints, including unfit food, foreign bodies and poor hygiene practices
• Investigate notifications of food poisoning and support the response to outbreaks of infectious disease linked to food
• Take food samples for examination and follow up on unsatisfactory results
• Provide advice and guidance to businesses on legal requirements, HACCP-based food safety management systems and allergen controls
• Use informal and formal enforcement powers proportionately, including notices, seizure and prosecution file preparation where required
• Register new food businesses and carry out approval visits where needed
• Keep accurate, up-to-date inspection records and meet agreed performance targets
• Work with colleagues, the Food Standards Agency, UK Health Security Agency and other partners as required

Requirements

Essential

• Proven experience working as a Food Safety Officer, Environmental Health Officer or comparable food law enforcement role in a local authority
• Qualifications and competence to carry out food hygiene inspections in line with the Food Law Code of Practice
• Sound working knowledge of food safety legislation, HACCP principles and food allergen requirements
• Experience of using enforcement powers proportionately
• Ability to manage a varied workload independently and to deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Confident use of IT and regulatory case management systems
• Full driving licence and ability to travel across the borough

Desirable

• A degree or diploma in Environmental Health, or equivalent
• Registration with the Environmental Health Registration Board or membership of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
• Experience of food standards inspections and food sampling
• Experience handling outbreak investigations
• Experience working in a Greater Manchester local authority

The offer

• Interim position based in Rochdale
• Rate, start date, duration and working pattern to be confirmed with candidates
• The chance to join an established regulatory team and make an immediate contribution to a live inspection programme

If you are an experienced Food Safety Officer looking for an interim role in Rochdale, this position offers varied regulatory work and a direct role in protecting public health.

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