1. Qualifications/Experience
I am educated to degree level in Environmental and Public Health and have a variety of administrative
experience in service delivery roles in both private and public sectors. I am currently carrying out a year
placementatSouth Gloucestershire Council,which I am enjoying.
My qualifications are 10 GCSEs,3 A-levels, and a degree in Public and Environmental Health. I am a student
member ofthe Charted Institute of Environmental Health and expect to become a full member when Ihave a
permanentjob.
My working experience in Environmental Health comes from having worked in all areas ofenvironmental health -
Housing,Food,Environmental Protection,Health and Safety and Public Health – during my placementwith
South Gloucestershire Council.In this time I gained a good understanding ofthe requirements in all areas ,and I
have gained good knowledge of the legal controls and codes ofpractice in respectof investigative practices
through preparing myobservations and reports for legal enforcementcase work which could have been used in
Court.
During my time in housing Igained a good understanding ofthe Housing Health and Safety Rating System,
which I had first come across during mydegree,and I believe that I have the experience necessaryto obtain my
Certificate of Professional Competency.
I have been involved in complexinvestigations during myplacementincluding one involving the location of
ongoing bonfires producing black smoke.This was time consuming and very challenging butit has given me a
good understanding ofthe difficulties involved in drawn-outcases.
I have pursued continual professional developmentthroughoutmyplacementand I have gathered all the
information thatI need to complete Portfolio of Professional Practice,which I am currently writing up. When I
have completed myportfolio I expect to be able to obtain my Certificate of Registration ofthe Environmental
Health Registration Board.I will then complywith the competencyrequirements for Authorised Officers as
detailed in the Food Law Code of Practice (England).I am coming to the end of my placementand the next stage
of my professional developmentwill be to become fully qualified as an Environmental Health Practitioner and
manage myown case load.This will allow me to reinforce my ability to prioritise,meettargets,and gain further
understanding and experience ofEnvironmental Health.
Aptitudes/Skills/Personal Qualities
I have experience in dealing with a wide range of customers informallyface to face and formally through
correspondence, in both my placementwith South Gloucestershire Council and when working atthe firm of
solicitors,and Irecognize the need to involve all stakeholders when seeking resolutions to issues.I enjoy working
and dealing with people and always seek to understand the views and feelings ofothers.
My time with the council has reinforced my ability to work flexibly and co-operate with other team members as a
coordinated approach to an investigation and enforcementdecision is vital,and I often needed to seek advice
from colleagues before proceeding. ConverselyI have conducted inspections alone when Ihad to enter the
premises and establish myauthority with the owner,decide how to do the inspection,and reactto whatI found
on the spotwithoutsupport.During my degree studies Ihad limited supervision from tutors so I learnt to use my
personal initiative and manyof the assignments required me to decide whatI was to do and how I was to do it.
Also through my jobs as a solicitor’s receptionistand working with the environmental health team Ihave gained a
good ability to be discrete and confidential as I have had to deal with many situations where discretion,
confidentiality,and understanding was critical.In the solicitors Ihad to deal with confidential legal
correspondence and information.Several times while working with the Environmental Health team I have had to
telephone the alleged 'offender'to inform them of the complaintagainstthem withoutrevealing the identity of the
complainant,and withoutinflaming the situation.
Through studying for my degree I have gained the ability to produce accurate and error free work, as I had to
make sure my assignments and exam question answers where accurate with no errors,working under time
pressure.In the working environmentofthe Environmental Health team I have experienced case work and
investigations in legal enforcementwhere myobservations and reports could have been used in Court and so
had to be accurate and true.
Throughoutmy degree studies Ihad to stay organised and be able to prioritize assignments and revision in order
to submitassignments within deadlines and to be ready for exams.In the Environmental Health team I have dealt
with correspondence and case work thathad to be processed within setturnaround times.
In respectof IT skills Ihave experience of using all Microsoft Office applications all ofwhich I use extensively in
the Environmental Health team in recording and analysing observations and results,and writing reports.When I

2. worked at the solicitors I used a specialized legal database,which was changed to a new system while I was
there that I had to become familiar with very quickly. This has helped me with my understanding ofmany
applications. During mytime with South Glos,I have had to familiarise myselfwith their internal data base (flare)
and use it to record case information.
Physical
I have worked as a Receptionist/Secretaryat a firm of solicitors where Igained experience in managing conflicts
when dealing with customers face to face and on the telephone,ensuring thatI properly understood their needs
and concerns so that I could solve the issue or refer them to the appropriate solicitor,and calming distressed
customers ifnecessary.During mytime in the Environmental Health team at South Gloucester I have gained
experience in dealing with the public and working through difficulties and complaints to resolve situations.
Other
I have a strong beliefin the principles of equal opportunity, equality, and diversity, which I have endeavoured to
put into practice in both my professional and personal lives.
I studied risk managementand health and safety during my degree course and I see them as fundamental to the
environmental health profession.It has been particularlyinteresting,during myplacement,to apply the principle
during visits to working premises such as restaurantkitchens.
I am able to work outside ofnormal office hours when necessary.
I have a full car driving licence and use of a car.