Senior Environmental Health Practitioner (Housing Improvement)

Thanet District Council is looking for a motivated Senior Environmental Health Practitioner to join its Private Sector Housing service.

The postholder will be responsible for managing the council’s Housing Improvement team, which responds to all types of housing condition complaints and unlawful eviction and harassment allegations. The team also actively pursues any opportunity for proactive housing and health interventions whenever possible.

The postholder will effectively lead and motivate the team, and provide a customer focussed response to dealing with poor housing conditions. The council is very much committed to joint working and taking a holistic approach to achieving better outcomes for our residents. Ultimately, we are driven to ensure that all of Thanet’s private sector residents are able to benefit from safe and healthy housing.

The Housing Improvement team works collaboratively with our Housing Licensing and Empty Homes teams. The council has operated two very successful selective licensing designations and is now exploring a proposal to implement two further such designations. The Housing Improvement team will play a key role in any discretionary designation.

This exciting team leader position will be attractive to anyone with relevant experience who wants a challenging and varied role where initiative and robust interventions are very much encouraged. The postholder will have a significant influence on the future direction of the team and be empowered to make service improvement changes. If you want to grasp an opportunity to make a difference, this could be the role for you.

Essential Requirements

• You will have in-depth knowledge and relevant experience in private sector housing.
• You will be able to effectively manage and mentor a team to foster a positive culture that focuses on delivering improved outcomes for residents.
• You will have extensive experience in using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) and be able to competently use the enforcement options available to you under the Housing Act 2004.
• You will be expected to understand and be able to use alternative legislative provisions that can improve housing conditions and management in the private sector.
• You will hold a BSc or MSc in Environmental Health (or equivalent degree), and be EHRB registered and/or on the CIEH Professional Register as a Chartered or Registered EHP.
• All applicants must hold an HHSRS competency certificate from a recognised training provider.
• Due to the nature of the role the successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as part of their pre-employment checks
• This post requires you to have a full driving licence and your own vehicle, as travelling around the district, sometimes to remote sites, is a requirement of the post.

For an informal discussion about this role, please contact Richard Hopkins, Private Sector Housing Manager, on 01843 577402 or richard.hopkins@thanet.gov.uk.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 28 October 2024.