Compliance and Enforcement Officer

Animal and Plant Health Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 29th October 2024

 

Details

Reference number

367677

Salary

£33,590 - £36,000
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

APHA – Operational Delivery

Type of role

Operational Delivery

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Caernarfon, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Llandrindod Wells

Job summary

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions. 

Do you have experience of working in a regulatory/ enforcement environment? 

Are you highly organised with excellent communication skills? 

Can you build strong, influential relationships with a broad range of stakeholders? 

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

As a Compliance & Enforcement Officer you will be required to coordinate APHA regulatory activity by developing APHA capability and local authority partnership working to deal effectively with animal health and welfare offences.

A successful post holder will play a vital role in leading the work on compliance and enforcement issues, ensuring that the Agency operates within the legal framework, alongside providing expert advice to colleagues and enforcement partners involved in cases. The successful individual will also be involved with increasing the awareness on the impact non-compliant behaviour has on the delivery of Animal Health and Welfare policies and take a proactive role in identifying areas of concern.

Duties will include, but not be limited to:

  • To be the expert point of contact for external enforcement partners, in particular Local Authority Animal Health Officers, and to provide support and assistance especially with significant cases of non-compliance or those that require a cross border or multi-agency approach.
  • Lead in co-ordinating investigations into potential offences against animal health and welfare legislation in accordance with all relevant investigative protocol and legislative requirements. These will be instigated as required and when resource allows, and the circumstances of each investigation may vary. They will include large investigations into potential fraudulent activity and non-compliant activity on a national scale or may be limited to bringing an individual or company back into compliance.
  • Identifying areas of concern in relation to non-compliance and to ensure that APHA has the capacity and capability to liaise with policy customers and advise on the legislative and practical aspects of delivery of enforcement/investigative actions.
  • To plan and manage tactical solutions to potential high-risk areas of non-compliance in consultation with other team members, colleagues within the Agency as well as other Agencies and key external stakeholders.
  • Applying legislation to practical situations to determine the regulatory action required.  

Please see attached Roles and Responsibilities document for more information about the role.

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following skills and experience: 

  • Experience of working in regulatory/ enforcement environment.
  • Knowledge of PACE, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA) and RIPA.
  • Understanding and working knowledge of animal health and welfare legislation and analytical capabilities.
  • Ability to communicate and engage with a wide range of people and operating in a multi-agency environment.
  • Report writing and presentation skills to brief senior management on complex issues in a clear and concise manner.
  • Strong team working skills with effective prioritisation and planning.
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Proficient in the use of a variety of IT tools.

Learning and Development 

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.  

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.  

Licences

Full UK driving licence

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Working Together
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
Alongside your salary of £33,590, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes £9,731 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Further benefits offered also include: 

  • A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.   
  • An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.   
  • Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.   
  • Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. 
  • Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.  

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail. 

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750 word Personal Statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.  

Sift 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement.  Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. 

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your experience, behaviours, and strengths. 

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. 

For the purposes of the selection process, the Lead Behaviour will be 'Working Together'. 

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.  

Merit Lists 

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. 

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

  • Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
  • Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Accessibility 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Criminal Record Check 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Internal Fraud Database Check 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.  

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : The Recruitment Hub - Manisha Patel
  • Email : recruitment.sdd@apha.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact:
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.

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