Job Details
Job title: Street Scene Protection Officer – Maternity Cover – 12 months
Salary/Grade: Grade 3
Service: Operations
Reports to: Assistant Manager – Street Scene Protection
Manages/Supervises: N/A
Job purpose
- Build Community Cohesion by fostering trust, shared purpose and positive relationships within the community, developing a shared understanding and listening to concerns and responding appropriately.
- To enhance the Street Scene in the Braintree District by carrying out the Council’s enforcement responsibilities in respect of relevant anti-social behaviour and environmental legislation, regulations (Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991) in respect of anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, litter, waste, graffiti, dog fouling and in accordance with relevant guidance, procedures and policies.
- To carry out all aspects of enforcement including proactive and reactive investigations, collecting evidence, taking statements, issuing fixed penalty notices, writing reports, carrying out PACE interviews, issuing cautions, drafting and issuing notices, and obtaining warrants to enter premises, seize vehicles etc.
- To work as part of a team to deal effectively with anti-social behaviour/environmental related crime in Braintree District through prevention, detection and deterrents.
Principal Accountabilities
Community Cohesion
- To engage with local stakeholders, businesses, retailers, traders, residents and visitors and make them feel safe.
- Conduct regular high visibility reassurance patrols within Braintree District
- Attend local community meetings where required
- Provide regular updates, encourage a two-way dialog with community
- Work with partner agencies to support vulnerable groups
- Share good news stories with wider community.
Street Scene
- Investigate incidents and complaints of anti-social behaviour, environmental crime and statutory nuisance. Decide upon most appropriate course of action including enforcement following appropriate guidelines and policies. Keep victims up to date on progress. Maintain clear case management records.
- Write and serve warning letters, warnings, notices and prosecution reports as appropriate to best course of action, in accordance with the Department’s enforcement policy. To gather and present evidence in court where necessary.
- Undertake monitoring across Braintree District for littering offences in accordance with the department’s safe systems of work. Complete and issue Fixed Penalty Notices (fines) on the spot or issue age suitable warnings as appropriate
- Undertake interviews of offenders under caution using recording equipment or in writing following correct legal procedures, devising questions and examining evidence. Write up witness statements and write infringement reports, where necessary, on breaches of environmental legislation.
- Inspect Braintree Town, prioritise and investigate complaints, incidences of fly-tipping and levels of littering. Initiate appropriate action, including the serving of statutory notices and fixed penalties under the appropriate legislation.
- Investigate and determine responsibilities for litter on public and private land and to enforce the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014 regarding litter including the issue of fixed penalty notices.
- To resolve community complaints and enquires relating to potential environmental infringements and anti-social behaviour with recourse to enforcement action as appropriate.
- Work closely with the other operations departments.
- To work in partnership with the community, businesses, town and parish councils and other agencies with the purpose of reducing anti-social behaviour, environmental crime and the fear of crime.
Dog Control
- Undertake patrols within Braintree Town in order to (i) detect and apprehend stray dogs and (ii) determine compliance with dog fouling legislation.
- Respond to complaints of stray dogs and dog fouling incidents within agreed timescales.
- Collect stray dogs, assess their general health, arrange veterinary care where necessary and detain in appropriate kennelling facilities.
- Enforce the legislation relating to dog control/fouling/nuisance etc. as it applies to the district.
- Give advice and information to members of the public on legal and social aspects of responsible dog ownership, including the giving of talks/lectures and the participation in campaigns/exhibitions.
- Implement the Council's responsibilities in respect of dangerous dogs.
- Assist in the discharge of the Council's duties in respect of dog control.
- To participate on a rota system in the Council’s weekend service for the care of stray dogs.
General
- Liaise as appropriate with other outside bodies and Council departments.
- Carry out daily maintenance checks of any vehicle provided for your use, report defects and carry out regular cleansing of the vehicle.
- Carry out duties assigned to the post in accordance with all relevant legislation in particular, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated regulations.
- To use and maintain relevant databases in respect of the duties of the post and to have particular regard to the Data Protection Act.
- To attend in-service or external training as required.
- Work flexibly within the team to respond to service demands including the provision of cover for the Council’s pest control service.
- Maintain statistical and computerised records relating to activities.
- Update records and identify matters which warrant further investigation.
- Maintain an awareness of developments in relevant legislation and practices and advise on new initiatives.
- Participate in education/promotion/publicity of relevant sectional matters.
- To ensure the Health and Safety of Employees at work through the implementation and monitoring of the Council’s/Departmental Health and Safety Policies/Plans in accordance with all statutory requirements.
Corporate Accountabilities
- To take responsibility for maintaining own health and attendance.
- To support, contribute and comply with quality and governance procedures as directed by management.
- To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
- To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council’s Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.
- Any other duties as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies. All staff may on occasions be called upon to support the Council to deal with emergency situations affecting the community we serve. In the event of an emergency or a rehearsal for such an event, you may be required to attend at times and at locations outside of the normal hours and duties of the post and to adopt duties directed by the Chief Executive or their nominated representative for the duration of the emergency.
- Any other associated duties detailed by Head of Service or their representative.
- To advise Line manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
(Tested at application and interview stage)
Experience & Qualifications
- Experience of undertaking enforcement action and procedures at all stages from informal warning to prosecution.
- Good working knowledge of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014, Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005, Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
- Working knowledge of PACE, CPIA and RIPA procedures.
- Experience of undertaking PACE interviews.
- Experience of court proceedings particularly giving evidence in court.
- Experience in handling stray and dangerous dogs.
Skills and Knowledge
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good IT skills including use of Microsoft office
- Customer service skills
- Ability to prioritise a busy workload and work to deadlines
- Full clean driving licence.
Competencies
(Tested at the interview stage)
Communicating Effectively
Demonstrate the effective use of the range of communication methods available: written, spoken, electronic, and use these methods in appropriate ways suitable to the context and situation:
- present spoken communication in a polite, friendly and respectful manner seeking to ensure mutual understanding
- listen well and seek clarification and understanding, avoiding jumping to conclusions or making assumptions
- present information and ideas in a clear and understandable way which avoids jargon
- seek to understand the communication needs of colleagues and customers, being mindful of equality issues and the diverse needs of the range of people we work with
- choose the most appropriate method of communication for the situation, seeking to avoid using one fixed style or approach
Performing efficiently and effectively
Promote good performance, developing clear, structured and efficient ways of managing workload and delivering results. Staff should challenge themselves and others to perform well, and to adhere to the Council’s performance management systems:
- ensure that all work carried out by you is in line with business and service plans and supports the overall aims and ambition of the Council
- plan your workload effectively, reporting achievements and problems to appropriate managers and project leaders
- see tasks and objectives through to completion
- approach challenges with drive and enthusiasm
- strive for continuous improvement in your work and manage your learning and development to enable you to perform to the best of your ability
Using and managing resources efficiently and effectively
Demonstrate the effective and efficient use of the full range of resources used in and by the Council including time, finances, staffing, equipment, information, materials, buildings, etc:
- take responsibility for managing your time, seeking efficient ways to carry out your work, maximising your output and minimising wastage
- use and acquire materials effectively and efficiently minimising wastage, recycling where possible, and striving for cost effectiveness
- seek out ways to improve the use of resources
Engaging with the customer
Understand the needs and requirements of your customers, to provide excellent customer service, and to involve customers in the improvement of services:
- provide a helpful and friendly service to customers both internally and externally
- take responsibility for following up on enquiries and solving customer issues
- make efforts to fully understand the customer’s needs and avoid assuming that “we know best”
- ensure that you have a full understanding of the needs and requirements of the customer
- seek feedback from internal and external customers on the effectiveness and efficiency of the service you provide
Working well together
Actively foster good working relationships with colleagues and customers in order to collectively achieve the Council’s direction and ambition:
- co-operate and work well with colleagues at all levels of the organisation seeking collective responsibility for the achievement of goals
- demonstrate consideration, and respect for other’s feelings and opinions and avoid judging and making assumptions
- maintain positive working relationships with external contacts in order to maintain the reputation of the Council
- seek to actively solve problems and avoid passing the issue on to others or leaving the problem unresolved
- demonstrate self-awareness of your style of working and develop flexibility and adaptability in order to work well with others
Other conditions
- This post doesn't require a DBS check
- This post is not politically restricted
- This post is not entitled to a casual car allowance
- This post is not entitled to a lease car
Job Profile Updated
September 2026
Values and behaviours
Our values and behaviours are an integral part of who we are; they are the guiding principles that should inform how we work together, support each other and make decisions.
Our organisation thrives on the dedication and passion of its people and it’s important that we embody these values and behaviours and they become a part of our organisational DNA.
Our vision
We will be ambitious, support each other and work together in new ways to achieve outstanding results
Our core values
We value everyone
- We respect, recognise and support our people, residents and businesses
- We listen to each other, understand and treat everyone fairly
- We care about our people and appreciate the unique qualities in us all
We work together
- We respect, recognise and support our people, residents and businesses
- We work as one team, recognising everyone's contribution
- We build strong relationships and partnerships to deliver better outcomes
We are flexible
- We embrace change and new ways of working
- We are adaptable, open to new ideas and focus on solutions
- We aim to constantly improve, and we are not afraid to challenge the status quo
