Enforcement Apprentice

Overview

Passionate about driving change? Do you want to make an unprecedented difference to Buckinghamshire, ensuring it is thriving, attractive and welcoming to all?

Look no further.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Waste Enforcement Team. While studying a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship you’ll be involved in driving behavioural change in Buckinghamshire through educational work, the promotion of responsible waste disposal, issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to offenders caught Fly-Tipping, and supporting prosecutions following PACE interviews and court hearings.

About us

Our apprenticeships are designed to give you the hands-on experience needed in a real job that brings out the best in you, with real responsibilities, real challenges, real projects and scope to grow your career.

The Communities directorate is at the heart of the organisation and the Enforcement Team have a key role to play in this space. This really is an exciting time to join us, as we grow and develop our service.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

About the role

In this role you’ll contribute to our management of waste crime, whilst studying to achieve the Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship throughout the duration of your time with us. We’ll give you time during your working week for study and assessments- which means no evening or weekend study is required!

You will work towards being able to undertake the range of duties listed below:

• Help to deliver enforcement and communications activities as part of a wider ‘team’, seeking a prevention strategy to reduce both fly tipping and the dropping of litter in Buckinghamshire.
• Support fly-tipping investigations on behalf of the Council, in accordance with relevant legislation and guidance. This will require learning how to secure and preserve evidence in line with the PACE Codes of Practice, prepare legal case files, and issue fixed penalty notices.
• Learn how to prepare technical evidence and witness statements.
• Deal with people from all backgrounds in a calm but assertive manner and possess the ability to be both professional and diplomatic.

Mobile:

A ‘mobile’ role gives you the flexibility to schedule your own diary, so you can meet with colleagues and clients in a variety of locations. You’ll access digital folders and resources on your laptop and be able to use the network wherever you are based. Working from home will be common, as well as meeting your team in the office where necessary.

About you

Skills required:

• Excellent planning and organisational skills, to manage a range of activities and achieve given targets, objectives and deadlines
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Good standard of written work with accurate spelling and grammar, demonstrating an ability to write concise reports
• Understanding of general administrative procedures
• Microsoft Office skills (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook)
• Good IT skills and the ability to use databases
• Confident using the telephone
• Able to use initiative and work independently
• Good attention to detail

Personal Qualities:

• Comfortable working as part of a team and playing an active role
• Able to get on well with a range of people
• Real ambition to develop your skills and experience
• Enthusiastic, dynamic and forward thinking
• Willingness to learn and to undertake a range of different tasks as required

Eligibility Criteria:

For Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship - Qualified to Level 2 or above in Literacy and Numeracy (GCSE grades A* - C/9-4 or equivalent), or Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship Qualification.

Please note: You will not be eligible for this post if you have a degree in the same subject as this apprenticeship, or other qualifications in the same subject at an equivalent level.

Other information

• Location: Walton Street Offices (Mobile Grade)
• Advert closing date: 13/03/2024
• Possible Starting date: April 2024
• Duration of Apprenticeship: 18 months

Our apprenticeship roles are on a fixed-term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship. Level 3 is usually for about 18 months.

Salary

• Your initial apprentice salary will be £10,186.62 p.a for your first year (increases to £12,347 p.a from 1st April) and will go up to National Minimum Wage if you are 19+ when you start the 2nd year of your apprenticeship. All your training will be funded by us. As well as the salary, our apprentices are eligible to:
• Paid holiday package
• Join our generous Pension scheme
• Get 50% off Arriva bus travel
• Receive a range of restaurant, shop & gym discounts through our Employee Benefits scheme
• Apply for a TOTEM Card (formerly called the NUS Extra card)

Reality Check:

This is a full-time position working a 37 hour week Monday to Friday.

Our apprenticeship roles are on a fixed term contract for the duration of the apprenticeship. Level 2 is usually for about 15 months; Level 3 is usually for about 18 months.

The ability to converse with ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (Code of Practice: English language requirements for public sector workers 2016)

Some travel will be necessary, and expenses will be provided for this.

Future Prospects

This role is a great starting place for someone interested in a career in enforcement, giving you understanding and experience of law enforcement, which could lead to a job as an Assistant Enforcement Officer within this service.

Contact: To apply, please contact Gary Slee – Enforcement Manager by email: Gary.Slee@Buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Communities directorate works across the county to deliver a number of the key customer-facing services that our residents, businesses and visitors rely on every day.

This directorate includes a wide range of services, including:

• collecting and disposing of waste and recycling
• maintaining our roads and Rights of Way network and parking
• ensuring the delivery of school transport, and supporting sustainable travel including public bus services and School Crossing Patrollers
• managing Country Parks
• leisure facilities, museums, theatres and libraries, as well as developing our Cultural Strategy
• licensing, cemeteries and crematoria

The customer is central to how we develop and deliver all of these services, which help promote our rich and vibrant culture and special environment.

We are looking for enthusiastic, ambitious and committed individuals to join our team and help us to continue to make Buckinghamshire a great place to live, work and visit. This is an exciting time for us as we bring together the services previously run by five separate councils before Buckinghamshire Council was created. Whilst making major changes to contracts affecting residents across Bucks, we continue to focus on delivering great customer service. You will join us on our journey of continuous improvement - whether that’s through developing strategies and ways of working or delivering services on the ground, every person in Communities is a valued member of the team.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme to those who are eligible and have passed their probation period. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/