Job Description

We have a fantastic opportunity for you to join our client, Northern Ireland Civil Service, based in Strabane as a full-time Senior Animal Health and Welfare Inspector. This is a long-term temporary opportunity.
Our client is Northern Ireland's Leading Public Sector Employer.
Pay Rate: 17.43
Start Date: As soon as possible
Hours: 37 hours net - Monday to Friday.
Appointees may be required to participate in weekly on-call rotas during weekdays, weekends, and evenings. Some work outside normal working hours, including evening and weekends may be required.
Job Duties:

• The Senior Animal Health and Welfare Inspector manages and supervises the team of Animal Health and Welfare Inspectors (AHWIs) . This involves staff management, monitoring workloads, monitoring progress against targets, and completing management checks.
• They are a 'trouble shooter' within the Divisional Veterinary Office and provide advice to colleagues in Customer Service Branch (CSB), herd/flock keepers, and industry representatives. They are responsible for solving queries escalated through the Group Staff structure, DAERA Direct or from the Veterinary cadre within the Divisional Veterinary Office. Problem solving requires the application of technical knowledge and skills, and knowledge of DAERA Veterinary Service Animal Health Group (VSAHG) priorities.
• They work closely with the Inspector Group 4 Technical Adviser and Divisional Veterinary Officer to deliver the work priorities therefore contributing towards delivery of VSAHG objectives, as set out in Work Programmes- Technical and Health & Safety supervision of staff, Brucellosis isolation check visits, Epizootic disease suspect visits, Local Epizootic Preparedness Training e.g. staff access to Contingency Planning for Epizootic Disease(CPED) intranet site, relevant Staff Instructions & local Epizootic store, and training in onsite decontamination etc., Collating bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) breakdown investigation forms, Management of bTB breakdown isolation checks, Management of NCP work (surveillance programme testing flocks of chickens and turkeys for specified strains of salmonella which cause food borne illness), Farm animal welfare inspections, Local enforcement, Animal identity and/or movement history queries (mainly cattle), Approval of applications for new cattle herd numbers and sheep/goat flock numbers.
• They will also undertake local inspections in relation to e.g. animal identification , animal welfare, animal diseases, collectors and final users of animal by products and operators of animal by product incinerators. They will discuss the implications of fallen stock and dumped carcasses with herd/flock keepers and landowners.
• They will have responsibility to carry out and manage the Farm Animal Welfare (FAW) inspection system by responding to prompts for inspections , complete inspections or manage and monitor the completion of FAW inspections.
• They will have to follow up on initial visits where breaches are identified, and will manage the case to achieve compliance , liaising with the Patch Veterinary Officer regarding any unnecessary suffering. These breaches often result in a financial penalty to the farm business or in extreme cases may result in prosecution. Often these breaches are appealed, and it is important that decisions can be justified at a later stage.
• They will be required to display a degree of creativity in addressing the roles and functions of the task. Occasionally immediate action will be required on site without direction, and they will be required to determine resolutions while ensuring legislative and procedural stipulations are maintained.
• They will be able to interpret legislation relating to routine queries that arise. When advising AHWIs or stakeholders of the course of action to take they must be able to justify their decision in line with relevant legislation.

Essential Experience & Qualifications required:
1. 2 GCSEs /GCE "O" levels at Grade C or above in Maths and English or equivalent
AND
2. A Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Agriculture
OR A Level
3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture OR A Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Agriculture OR Equivalent* * Examples of equivalent qualifications:

• National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at Level 3 in Livestock or Crop Production or Poultry
• National Diploma in Agriculture
• College Diploma in Agriculture
• Advanced Diploma in Agriculture
• relevant NVQ Level 3 qualification AND 3. At least one years' relevant post qualification experience working in the agriculture industry.

AND
4. A full, current driving licence enabling the licence holder to drive in Northern Ireland and access to a form of transport which will permit them to meet the requirements of the post in full.
Please apply via link or call TRC for more information

Skills Required