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Job summary

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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) makes an important contribution to securing healthy and sustainable marine and freshwater environments. Cefas vision is to make a real difference for society, as recognised leaders in marine and aquatic science. Cefas helps to shape and implement policy through internationally renowned science and collaborative relationships that span UK and International governments, non-governmental organisations, research centres and industry.

The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) at Cefas is the regulatory body responsible for the official control of serious diseases affecting aquatic animals in England and Wales and for maintaining the nation’s high aquatic animal health status.

This is a statutory inspector role within the FHI, operating on behalf of Defra and Welsh Government. The role is responsible for delivering and enforcing the Aquatic Animal Health Regulations and associated legislation to protect aquatic animals from serious diseases, support national biosecurity and facilitate a healthy and sustainable aquaculture sector. This is achieved through a programme of inspections, disease surveillance, sampling and enforcement activities delivered in the field by Fish Health Inspectors.

Considerable regular travel across England and Wales is an essential feature of this position with some nights away from home through the week and occasionally at weekends as well as working on an on-call rota. You will be required to regularly operate as a lone worker. A lease car scheme is in place for Fish Health Inspectors.

Welcome to Cefas (youtube.com)

Cefas Careers- Fish Health Inspector

Job description

Your main duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Working to a formal quality management system, delivering a programme of inspections of fish and shellfish farms, and other aquaculture production businesses (APB’s) to assess compliance with legislative requirements, including inspection of records, assessment of biosecurity measures and collection of data. The provision of advice to APB’s to facilitate good regulatory compliance and effective biosecurity measures, and the implementation of enforcement actions on APB’s as required.
• The examination of fish and shellfish stocks for serious diseases; investigating abnormal mortality events in aquatic animals; conducting post-mortem examinations of fish and shellfish; the collection of samples for diagnostic testing; the control of disease outbreaks through the application of statutory controls on sites.
• The application of controls on non-native aquatic animals on farms, and in trade as well as work conducted on behalf of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate on veterinary residues surveillance and medicines mixing licence inspections.
• Undertaking checks on imported live aquatic animals at ports, airports and at destination and health checks on exports of live aquatic animals.
• The provision of support to the Enforcement Lead in investigations and enforcement activities.
• The provision of advice and guidance to APB operators; liaison with other government agencies; representational activities with stakeholder groups.
• Occasional opportunity for international work and representation of FHI and Cefas to industry, government and other Agencies
• Participation on rota for on-call cover (evenings and weekends) Inspectorate office duty and ad hoc fieldwork rota.
• You will be required to regularly operate as a lone worker.

While this position is a site-based role, it requires considerable regular travel across England and Wales. This will include some nights away from home through the week and occasionally at weekends, as well as working on an on-call rota. This is an essential requirement for the position. Time spent working away from the home location will primarily be to field-based operational sites, although travel to other organisational locations, supplier, customer, and partner premises may be required. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

A lease car scheme is in place for Fish Health Inspectors.

In addition, Cefas reserves the right to ask staff to take on additional duties and responsibilities which are commensurate with their grade. Management will have a discussion with staff to explain the changes that are to be made. A new job description will be issued if required.

Person specification

Person Specification and Essential Criteria section

The following are essential criteria required for this role and you must be able to demonstrate your skills and experience in the following areas:

• A good knowledge of UK aquaculture and diseases affecting fish, molluscs and crustaceans, together with experience working in aquaculture or another science-based regulatory, inspection or animal health role involving disease prevention, biosecurity, compliance, enforcement or environmental protection.
• Highly motivated, with good organisational skills, attention to detail along with a desire to carry out work to a high standard in a regulatory capacity.
• Ability to assess compliance against legislative requirements, interpret technical and scientific evidence and apply proportionate enforcement when necessary.
• A strong understanding of biosecurity principles and their practical application in aquaculture settings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong interpersonal skills and experience in dealing with people under challenging circumstances.
• Ability to use specialist IT systems and databases to record information on inspections, samples and regulatory actions; confidence in working with mobile digital platforms.
• Willingness and ability to undertake extensive fieldwork, including inspections of aquaculture facilities, often involving lone working and regular travel.

Licences

Candidates must demonstrate having a full driving licence valid for driving in the UK as stated in the person specification and essential criteria section. If successful for this vacancy, candidates will be expected to provide evidence ahead of starting in post.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,783, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science contributes £10,076 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Generous annual leave entitlement – Cefas offers 25 days' annual leave on entry (rising to 30 days over first 5yrs) for full-time new entrants to the Civil Service Employees receive 8 public holidays a year, plus an additional day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role.
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension scheme – more information can be found on the CSP website http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/
• Skills and Personal Effectiveness Allowances (SPEA) to recognise the development of capability and enhanced responsibility that it is possible to build up over time spent working at a particular grade (minimum of two years). These are non-consolidated.
• Biannual Personal Performance Payments (non-consolidated) linked to individual performance.
• Spot Performance Payments (non-consolidated) linked to outstanding work delivered, outstanding results achieved or outstanding contribution.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Application Process

As part of the application process, you are asked to provide a CV that details your employment history, the positions and responsibilities you held, and the key knowledge and skills you used, a maximum 750-word personal statement on how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification and essential criteria section, and a maximum 250-word response to the advertised question below concerning the advertised lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing.

The question for candidates to respond to on their application form is:

What techniques do you use to build rapport and influence others effectively?

At the application stage, Candidates will receive scores from 1-7 on the following:

1. The lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing
2. CV/ experience which will assess the information provided in both the CV and within the personal statement responding to the requirements as advertised in the essential criteria within the essential criteria and person specification section
3. Personal statement which will assess the information provided in the personal statement responding to the requirements as advertised in the essential criteria within the essential criteria and person specification section

• For guidance on Civil Service Success Profiles, this video tells you what you’ll need to provide throughout the assessment process with supporting guidance on each step. Link – Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• For guidance on how to construct your CV, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link - CV

• For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Statement

• For guidance on how to construct your lead behaviour statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Link – Behaviours

We would recommend the STAR model to structure your answers. We find this allows you to best demonstrate your skills and experience, we can get to know you and can support you to show your skills and experience to answer questions linked to the advertised success profiles.

What STAR stands for

• Situation - the situation you had to deal with

• Task - the task you were given to do

• Action - the action you took

• Result - what happened as a result of your action and what you learned from the experience

How to use STAR

You can use the STAR method to structure the examples you give to questions. You can use it to highlight particular skills and qualities you have that the employer is looking for.

When using STAR, remember:

• you can use examples from work, home or volunteering

• keep examples short and to the point

• if shortlisted be prepared to answer follow-up questions about the examples you give at the interview stage

Sift

The sift panel will use the information in your CV and personal statement to assess your experience and how you meet the essential criteria as stated in the person specification and essential criteria section. The sift panel will also assess the maximum 250-word response to the advertised question below concerning the advertised lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing.

The question for candidates to respond to on their application form is:

What techniques do you use to build rapport and influence others effectively?

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview schedule and details will be confirmed on release of the sift results.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the three advertised behaviours and experience. It is also important to inform prospective candidates that the interview questions will be provided to all shortlisted candidates in advance of the planned date and time of interview.

The three advertised behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing - Lead behaviour
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Please be aware that interviews will take place in person at the Cefas Weymouth Laboratory.

If scores are equal following interview, an assessment of the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing will be used by the panel.

A date has not yet been confirmed for the interviews to take place.

Location

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based at Weymouth. 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.

Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the laboratory or office locations listed in this advert in order to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business needs.

Office Attendance

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 an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Please note that for this vacancy, the successful candidates will be expected to undertake considerable regular travel across England and Wales as this is an essential feature of this position. This will include some nights away from home through the week and occasionally at weekends as well as working on an on-call rota. You will be required to regularly operate as a lone worker. A lease car scheme is in place for Fish Health Inspectors.

The successful candidates are required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an oversees location at any time.

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

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.

Reserve List

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

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra and Cefas does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled worker sponsor licence 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 may be 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 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. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Salary

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

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.

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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 : Amanda Miles or Alec Wilson
• Email : resourcing@cefas.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: here