Job Description
Job Title: / Building Control OfficerTeam/Service: / Building Control
Business Unit: / Spatial Planning
Commissioning Area / Place
Responsible To: (day to day issues) / Senior Building Control Officer
Accountable To: (line manager) / Building Control Manager
Salary Grade: (Spinal column points only) / Grade I (SCP 34-37)
1. Key Purpose of Job
1.1. To ensure that building work within the Borough is carried out in accordance with the Building Regulations, Public Health Acts, Building Acts, those Acts, Regulations and Orders, which relate to buildings and in accordance with the Council’s Building Control Policy. To promote the business and quality control aspects of the Building Control service.
2. Anticipated Outcomes of Post
2.1. The provision of a high quality locally provided Building Control Service for our customers and the residents of Torbay.
3. List Key Duties and accountabilities of the post
3.1. As an Authorised officer, implementing, administering and enforcing the full range of Building Control legislation and in particular those duties listed below:-
Processing deposited plans for compliance with the Building Regulations and allied legislation, preparing schedules of matters requiring attention and arranging amendments to be made as necessary.
Undertaking statutory and other site inspections in connection with plans and building notices deposited with the Council under the Building Regulations and under the powers set out in Section 32 of the Building Act 1984 and keeping all necessary records of all such visits.
Investigating any alleged dangerous buildings or structures and implementing where necessary any emergency measures laid down in Section 78 of the Building Act 1984.
Undertaking inspections, serving Notices, preparing schedules of requirements, under Sections 80 and 81 of the Building Act 1984 relating to the demolition of buildings and structures.
3.2. To promote Building Control as a high quality service. To advise on new business opportunities and on ways of publicising and raising the profile and quality of the service.
3.3. Undertake consultations with other Council Departments and statutory undertakers in connection with the Building Control function.
3.4. Providing Building Regulation advice or advice on any related legislation to elected members, other Department, general public and other interested parties.
3.5. Investigating any alleged breaches of the Building Regulations.
3.6. Ensuring senior Managers are kept aware of all developments requiring their decision and reporting whenever necessary as required.
3.7. Attending Council Committees, sub-Committees and Working Parties, Study Groups, Meetings or further training as and when required.
3.8. Keeping informed of all developments, technical, legal or otherwise which affect the post holders’ work.
3.9. Maintaining adequate records for effective performance of duties.
3.10. Promoting the Council’s policy of Customer Care through the provision of a fair, efficient service, clearly explained to our customers and demonstrating a positive attitude in all aspects of the work.
3.11. Undertaking such other duties of a similar nature and responsibility level as may be required from time to time by the Building Control Manager.
4. Give examples of the typical types of problems and decisions the post will be required to make
4.1Recommending either Approval or Rejection of Building Regulation applications for regulatory compliance to the Building Control Manager.
4.2 Mis-interpretation of regulations by contractors and applicants on a daily basis require an immediate decision by the post holder in respect of both technical and legal compliance. The Building Control Officer has to use experience, knowledge and verbal communication skills to assess a situation.
4.3 Responding to reported dangerous structures caused by fires and structural failure necessitates a high degree of analysis & problem solving to consider the appropriate course of action and an effective solution. As an example a large masonry retaining wall is in a state of imminent collapse, typically the problem to be solved is whether and how to remove or contain the danger, and at whose cost i.e. the owner or via budgetary implications on the council and which roads/highways etc are to be closed and for how long etc.
5. Budgetary / Financial Responsibilities of the post
5.1. None
6. Supervision / Line Management Responsibilities of the post ( Please show / provide organisation structure as an appendices, showing official reporting lines
6.1. Day to day supervision and guidance to the Assistant Building Control Officer.
7. Working Environment & Conditions of the post
7.1. Work normally performed in a heated, lit and ventilated indoor environment, may be exposed to occasional noise or outside conditions (30%)
7.2. Work includes significant elements of inside and outside work involving some exposure to moderate noise, heat, cold, disagreeable or difficult surroundings/ conditions (70%)
8. Physical Demands of the post
8.1. Normal physical effort including sitting, walking and standing, normal office duties (75%)
8.2. Work requiring normal physical effort with periods of sustained effort, or normal physical effort occasionally in awkward postures; or prolonged effort in a constrained position involving considerable manual dexterity (25%).
9. Specific Resources used by the post
9.1. Personal Equipment - Digital Camera, Mobile Phone, ipad, Dictaphone, Torches, Personal Protective Equipment etc. (Continuous)
9.2. Shared Technical Equipment - Damp meter, Glass testing and identification meters, Levelling and Surveying Equipment, Endoscope etc.
10. Key Contacts and Relationships
10.1. External
à Users of the Service (Agents, Developers, Applicants and interested parties )
à Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
à South West Water and the Environment Agency.
10.2. Internal
à Fellow Building Control staff.
à Development and Conservation staff.
à Council Members.
à Managers and other employees of directorates within the Council.
11. Other Duties
To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
a) All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
b) The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.c) The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
d) The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
e) This post is based at [Electric House Town Hall Torquay] but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
f) You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose “unspent” convictions.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Note for CandidateAll Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009
Person Specification
Job Title: / Building Control Officer / Business Unit: / Spatial Planning / Team/Service: / Building Control
Essential Skills and Effectiveness: / Desirable Skills and Effectiveness:
1. The ability to work unsupervised.
2. The ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
3. Have clear and precise communication skills with the ability to listen to, and influence others.
4. Take responsibility for own actions and act as a coach or mentor to others.
5. The ability to encourage and develop a team approach.
6. An understanding of IT Systems and their application and use in Building Control. / 1. Demonstrate effective presentation skills.
2. Be creative in generating a range of alternative options and solutions to problems.
3. The ability to develop and sustain partnerships.
4. The ability to complete Access and Fire Safety Risk Assessments.
Essential Knowledge: / Desirable Knowledge:
7. Have a sound knowledge of the Building Regulations, Building Act and associated codes of practice, standards and legislation. / 5. Knowledge of structural design and analysis
6. Knowledge of fire engineering principles and practice.
7. Use of SAP 2012 software.
8. An understanding of current electrical safety standards.
9. An understanding of LABC products and services relating to marketing and the promotion of the service
Essential Experience/Achievements: / Desirable Experience/Achievements:
8. Proven experience of working as a Building Control practioner / 10. Experience dealing with dangerous structures.
11. Engagement in local, regional and national service development issues.
Essential Qualifications/Professional Memberships: / Desirable Qualifications/Professional Memberships:
9. To have, or be working towards a recognised Level 4 construction related qualification. / 11. Full membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors or Chartered Association of Building Engineers.
12. Part L competent person authorised SAP assessor.
Essential – Other requirements of the job role
· Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling)· Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay in order to carry out duties
· Ability to accommodate unsociable hours
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Job Description and Person Specification template – Nov 2009