Port Health Officer

Port Health Officer

Dover District Council has an exciting agenda to deliver first class public services, putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. From building new, affordable homes to exciting regeneration schemes. A career with Dover District Council offers you the opportunity to excel. 

As an employer, Dover District Council is proud to provide a supportive, friendly, diverse and flexible working environment in which our employees can thrive. We have a team of enthusiastic employees, delivery services they are passionate about.

Dover Port Health Authority (DPHA) is the statutory Port Heath Authority for imported food, infectious diseases and public health controls at the Port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel.  We protect and secure the border through the critical delivery of national biosecurity, food safety, infectious disease, and public health controls. 

And you could play a key role in helping us to continue to shape this expanded operation!   

The Role & Responsibilities: 

We are looking for shift-based Port Health Officers, ideally with port health experience, who will work alongside veterinarians and partner organisations to deliver control checks, ensuring that the service is effective and efficient.

Reporting to a Port Health Team Leader, your key responsibilities will be implementing the border controls and taking accountability for the decision making on the outcome of them.  You will undertake enforcement work by identifying and adopting the most appropriate response based on the current Enforcement Policy.

In addition, you will instruct, oversee, train and monitor technical and support staff in the execution of all relevant DPHA duties. This includes bio-security and import controls including sampling to ensure regulatory action is consistent and appropriate.  You will oversee database and administrative checks including the operation of Information Management Systems (e.g. PHILIS and IPAFFS).

Whilst carrying out your role you will be moving and handling equipment, evidence and products in inclement weather in a potentially hazardous environment.

This role will work a 2-week rolling shift pattern which includes Saturday mornings and bank holidays.  One week you will be based at Dover District Council offices followed by a week out in the field at the Port of Dover.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for candidates with experience of working in Environmental Health or Port Health with a demonstrable level of technical knowledge, including awareness of PACE codes of practice.

You should have a BSc or MSc degree in Environmental Health or suitable qualification, as detailed in the Food Law Code of Practice (England) approved by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), with the relevant certificate of registration.

Along with strong IT skills, experience of IPAFFS and PHILIS would be an advantage. 

What Can We Offer?

We can provide a friendly and supportive environment for you to excel in. We also offer several employee benefits, such as:

• Shift allowance
• Benenden Healthcare Membership and Employee Assistance Program
• Opt-in local government pension scheme with the opportunity for staff to make advanced, voluntary contributions (AVCs) to top up their pension
• Generous annual leave provision
• Discount scheme including reduced membership rates at the local leisure centre
• On-site parking
• Cycle2Work scheme
• Generous Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme

Due to the nature of this role, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a Basic DBS check as part of their pre-employment clearances.

What Next?

If you would like further information on the role and shift pattern, please email porthealthrecruitment@dover.gov.uk

Interviews to be held in October.