Animal Health Officer - Heathrow Apply
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Location
About the job
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 want a role safeguarding standards of animal and plant health and welfare?
Are you passionate about protecting animal and plant health to benefit people, the economy, and the environment?
Are you caring, conscientious and an excellent team worker?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
Job description
As a Border Control Inspector (Animal Health Officer (AHO)) you will work as part of a technical delivery team carrying out a range of operational services to safeguard animal health, welfare, public health, protect the economy and enhance food security through your duties. Your duties will include physical inspections of live animal consignments, documentary inspections to contribute to the control and eradication of disease.
As a BCP AHO, your time will be spent carrying out checks on live animals imported into GB from the European Union and Third Countries. Your role will be to prevent the introduction of notifiable diseases and invasive species into the UK, and to ensure the welfare of animals during transport is not compromised.
The AHO Border Control Post role involves a wide range of work including, but not limited to, the following:
- Carrying out import controls on animals as required by UK legislation including documentary, identity, and physical checks
- Carrying out inspections of animals, records, equipment, and vehicles to audit compliance, taking appropriate regulatory action where appropriate
- Engaging with importers, transporters, and agents to facilitate import checks and clearances
- Manage follow-on actions when non-compliance is identified to safeguard animal welfare and UK biosecurity including supporting investigation of possible illegal activity
- Inspecting documentation including animal identification, animal movement, breeding, medicine and other written or electronic records for audit and disease control and surveillance purposes
- Supporting veterinary and other colleagues in disease control and surveillance activities
- Liaising closely with various regulatory bodies such as His Majestys Revenue and Customs, UK Border Agency, Port Health, Animal Health authorities & Border Control Point operations management
- Playing an active part in contingency planning so the agency is able to respond to outbreaks of exotic notifiable disease and other emergencies
- During outbreaks of notifiable disease, participate as directed to contribute to the control and the eradication of the disease
Duty and out of hours rotas
You will be required to work shifts and respond to operational needs of the control point. Current flight times mean the majority of work is between 07:30 and 22:00, however shifts may be amended due to out of hours arrivals and there will be a requirement to work some weekends.
A shift disturbance allowance of 12.5% is paid on top of the salary.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates with the following essential experience.
- Experience of working with animals, which may include horses, small animals (e.g. cats, dogs fish, birds) and farmed animals (e.g. cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry). Experience may be from education, paid and/or voluntary work
- Have high standards of written and spoken English and can communicate effectively about animal health topics with all stakeholders including customers, service users and colleagues
- Have knowledge of basic Health and Safety, and an understanding of safe working with animals
- Can work alone or as part of team, to take responsibility and remain positive and focused when faced with setbacks
- Can work within an auditable system of procedures and processes, maintaining quality with excellent record keeping
Security clearance
This post is based at a site where the national security of the borders needs to be maintained.
For this reason all post holders based at this site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post which requires CTC or above clearance to ensure they meet the residency criteria.
Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency as this is a requirement for these checks, if you cannot meet this criteria CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post.
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
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Knowledge of welfare of animals in transit
- Adhering to Processes and Quality Standards
Benefits
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, a 500 word personal statement, and a 250 word behaviour statement for the behaviour Managing a Quality Service.
For the personal statement, considering the Job Description and Person Specification, please demonstrate how you are most suited to this role.
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 lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. 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 behaviours, technical skills, and strengths.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Interviews to be held via video link.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process, 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 Defras 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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
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 youre 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 on your behalf. 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 applicants 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.
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
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 here to visit Civil Service Commission.
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