Apprenticeship training course

Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

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Information about Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6)

Promoting a safe and healthy environment for the public and businesses, through education and enforcement.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The complex political and corporate environment in which the organisation operates and own role in this
  • The legislative framework and technical application of relevant Acts, regulations, guidance and codes of practice eg. the Environment Act, Environmental Protection Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, Public Health Acts, Building Act, Food Hygiene Regulations, Housing Acts, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, data protection legislation, anti-social behaviour legislation etc
  • The role of the environmental health service in leading on and contributing to the wider public health agenda and the health, safety and wellbeing of local communities
  • The procedures and practices involved with carrying out evidence and risk-based inspections, audits and investigations
  • The full range of statutory and non-statutory interventions to control, mitigate and reduce risk
  • The procedures and practices involved in taking a range of enforcement actions
  • The procedures and practices involved with granting permits, licences and authorisations
  • How to liaise and communicate appropriately with a variety of sources including clients, partner agencies, the public and the media
  • The relevance and interpretation of complex/scientific reports, technical guidance, analytical data, research and other forms of evidence
  • The concepts of hazard analysis and risk assessment and their practical application in environmental health
  • Concepts relating to the natural world, its key biological and ecological systems and how this may affect and be affected by humans; sustainability of resources and their impact on climate and health
  • The human world and communities; human made structures, industry and services
  • How social, cultural, emotional and psychological factors influence environmental health and the health of the public
  • Concepts of health and disease and how these are measured and assessed
  • Environmental stressors and how they impact on different environments and communities
  • The impact of lifestyle choices on the health of individuals and communities
  • The principles of environmental microbiology
  • Theories of epidemiology of a range of communicable and non-communicable diseases and their practical application in environmental health
  • Anatomy and physiology and how human function can be affected by biological, toxicological and mechanical effects
  • The concepts and principles of leadership and application to own practice
  • A range of quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods and how to appraise and select the optimum method
  • The limits of own scope of practice and when to seek advice from others
  • Principles of safeguarding and how to apply them to self and others
  • The principles of collecting evidence for monitoring, investigations and enforcement purposes including seizure and detention powers, formal sampling procedures and exhibit referencing
  • Techniques to investigate and resolve complaints

  Skills

  • Provide specialist, professional and technical environmental health advice and guidance to a range of stakeholders such as residents, businesses, property owners, government agencies and partners
  • Plan, undertake and lead inspections, audits and other forms of investigations across the breadth of environmental health matters
  • Evaluate applications and grant relevant licences and permits eg. environmental permits, HMOs, caravan sites, skin piercing, tattooists etc
  • Negotiate with and influence a range of stakeholders in relation to a range of environmental health matters
  • Identify, evaluate and communicate environmental health risks and risk management solutions to a range of stakeholders
  • Ensure all activities are undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and codes of practice
  • Infer and apply a range of legislation related to environmental health, eg. the Environment Act, Environmental Protection Act, the Health and Safety at Work Act, Food Safety Act, Housing Act, Public Health Act, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, data protection legislation, anti-social behaviour legislation etc
  • Employ a range of research, analytical and problem-solving techniques to resolve environmental health issues through creative and critical thinking, devising practical solutions and applying problem solving strategies
  • Critically evaluate and analyse evidence and information
  • Formulate judgements and decisions based on the evidence available and applied knowledge eg. on acceptable levels of pollution emissions, water data, acceptable levels of noise etc
  • Manage objective measurement and analysis of scientific information to determine the appropriate course of action eg. noise measurement, air emissions etc
  • Appraise, implement and communicate relevant interventions eg. enforcement actions
  • Produce accurate records and reports and where appropriate, recommend interventions, including the collection and handling of evidence with a view towards legal proceedings
  • Assess and deal effectively with difficult and confrontational situations
  • Participate in health promotional activities in high priority environmental health areas eg. shisha, smoking, obesity, food safety etc
  • Implement effective decision making, exercising discretion, initiative and independence within the scope of own role
  • Communicate and influence effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders including spoken and written communication skills, presentation skills, giving advice and guidance / mediating / negotiating and persuading, handling private and sensitive information (eg. data protection)
  • Use a range of standard IT packages to undertake for example, word processing activities, produce reports and input / analyse data
  • Work as part of a multi-disciplinary and/or multi-organisational team and collaborate to achieve successful outcomes
  • Lead activities relating to environmental health matters
  • Carry out sampling and collect evidence for monitoring, investigations and/or enforcement purposes in accordance with legislation and current guidance
  • Examine and assess compliance with conditions
  • Plan, organise and prioritise workload to meet deadlines

  Behaviours

  • Be positive, creative and innovative within complex environments in professional practice
  • Be adaptive to a changing operational and political environment
  • Be collaborative with a diverse range of stakeholders
  • Be self-motivated and committed to leading own professional development
  • Be assertive in appropriate situations to communicate and influence effectively
  • Show discretion in professional practice
  • Be resilient and self-aware
  • Operate with dignity and respect, maintaining impartiality/fairness/equality
  • Champion own organisation’s values and goals
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Health and science
• Qualification level: 6; Equal to degree
• Course duration: 48 months
• Maximum funding: £22,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Environmental health officer
  • Environmental health practitioner
  • Environmental health professional
  • Safety auditor
  • Food inspector
  • Housing officer
  • Public protection officer

View more information about Environmental health practitioner (integrated degree) (level 6) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.