Plant Health and Seeds Inspector – South & West Apprenticeship
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 20th May 2024
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Apprenticeship
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About the job
Job summary
Overview
You might not be familiar with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), but you probably know about Defra – the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. APHA is part of the Defra Group, and our role is to uphold and enhance high standards of animal and plant health in England and Wales.
Our primary focus is on managing 'pests and diseases' affecting animals and plants, with a specific emphasis on biosecurity. We are dedicated to ensuring the safety of the UK in terms of animal health and welfare, as well as plant and seed health. This involves activities such as excluding, containing, or eradicating plant pests, regulating other plant pests to guarantee high-quality planting material, and supporting the horticultural industry by overseeing and certifying the trade in plants and seeds.
As a Plant Health Seed Inspector, your role is crucial in this effort. You will play a vital part in our operations within the horticultural and rural community.
You'll be on the front line, actively safeguarding the health and quality of our natural environment.
We have exciting opportunities to join our Plant Health Inspection Teams as an apprentice, where we'll support you into becoming an infield P&BH professional.
The successful completion of the apprenticeship will result in a full time, permanent Executive Officer post.
Apprenticeship
The Plant and Bee Health Apprenticeship programme offers an opportunity for you to gain practical experience in Plant Biosecurity Regulation on behalf of the UK government.
It will be delivered by an external Training Provider through virtual tuition and e-learning.
Throughout the programme you will receive 6 hours weekly of your contracted hours to focus on your apprenticeship training.
The apprenticeship is paid for by APHA and you will continue to be paid the salary advertised. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you'll automatically progress into a permanent Executive Officer post on full pay.
Job description
During your apprenticeship, you'll gain knowledge and skills through formal training and our in-house technical sessions, including:
- Physical inspection of plants, seeds, planting material and produce, agricultural crops and machinery, looking for quarantine plant pests and diseases and collecting samples where appropriate. This may include taking action to control potential outbreaks
- Performing statutory duties, enforce marketing standards, ensure compliance with regulations
- Building client relationships and manage customer expectations, in line with policies, targets and legislation. Being prepared to undertake difficult conversations with customers, stakeholders and/or delivery partners
- Completing administrative duties accurately and in accordance with standard operating procedures, agency guidelines and within established timescales
Person specification
You will have these essential criteria:
- Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail
- Good IT skills including experience of using MS Word, Outlook, Teams and Excel and willingness to learn new systems
- Good written and verbal communication, with the ability to communicate concisely and coherently to a variety of audiences
- Ability to respond positively and willingness to adapt to change
Successful candidates will be required to:
- Work collaboratively in a high-pressure, time sensitive environment with delivery partners
- Work safely by adhering to all APHA health and safety policies
- Receive training to enable you to take action on areas of non compliance and enforcement
- Work independently and manage a busy workload to deliver deadlines and priorities
We will offer you:
- Full training and support to become an inspector and perform your duties to develop your skills and knowledge further, gaining support in your development from your wider regional team and national experts
- Ongoing career development, which may include insight, technical and professional development. This may be at diagnostic laboratories, other ports or agencies, as well as in-house and with access to Civil Service wide learning and development opportunities
- Opportunities to be involved in wider projects, contributing to our culture of continuous improvement
Licences
If you do not possess a full licence at the time of your application, any offer of employment will be conditional upon you obtaining this no later than 3 months after initial start date).
Qualifications
If you hold a higher level qualification (e.g. degree) you will be eligible for this apprenticeship as long as this qualification is not in regulation or compliance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
Pension and Financial Benefits
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package and there are various options including Alpha and Partnership pension schemes in which Defra can invest in providing a contribution to the cost of your pension.
Life Assurance: if you become too ill or die before retirement valuable benefits will be provided to you and your family.
Time off
25 days annual leave (rising up to 30 days over 5 years) for new entrants to the Civil Service and retaining existing arrangements for current Civil Servants.
Special Leave
Additional paid leave for other situations including family-related leave is available for employees volunteering and taking part in public duties, trade union activities, special/trained forces and for health & safety representatives.
Rewards
We have a Staff Recognition Scheme with our in-year awards rewarding exemplary work.
Learning and Development
Access to five days learning and development each year to support professional development through Civil Service Learning. Corporate induction and three days special leave for volunteering.
Performance Management
Individual performance plans, learning and development matched to your agreed career objectives and progression plans.
Examination Leave
Paid leave for exams and revision for approved studies.
Staff Wellbeing
Access to Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7, providing advice and guidance on both personal and employment issues such as personal wellbeing, career development, legal matters such as landlord / tenant disputes. Access to the Employee Assistance Programme, Occupational Health Service and the Civil Service Sports Council.
Headspace
Free access to Headspace which is a mindfulness, meditation and sleep app.
Work/ Life Balance:
Travel & Transport Benefits
A range of travel and transport benefits. Access to the cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme that enables you to buy a bike up to the value of £6k.
Shopping and Leisure Benefits
A variety of discounts at online stores and leisure experiences available via Mylifestyle.
Interest Free Loans
For season tickets and/or bicycles and safety equipment as well as tenancy deposit scheme.
Other Benefits:
Sick Pay
We have various measures in place to assist with your physical and emotional health. Our focus is on early intervention and proactivity in addressing health issues. However, should you not be well enough to attend work, occupational sick pay, increasing by length of service, is available.
Enhanced Parental Leave
We offer generous maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave.
Making it work for you
You will be part of a wider Plant & Bee Health team of over 600 Inspectors across the country, which will provide you with support and the opportunity to develop through out your Civil Service Career.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the selection process you will be asked to provide: a CV detailing your relevant experience and qualifications and a 500 word Personal Statement showing how you meet the criteria as outlined in the Personal Specification and Essential Skills
Further details about what to include are stated on the application form.
Sift
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths under the Success Profile Framework.
The behaviour Communicating and Influencing may be assessed through a presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates successful at sift.
When giving your Behaviour answers you should focus on very specific examples and frame your answer using the STAR method.
3 strengths questions will be tested at interview.
All interviews will be conducted virtually via MS Teams.
Location
Please be aware that these roles will be based in :
Midlands Region west: Birmingham - Office located at Worcester, Worcester/Evesham
South Central: Winchester - Office located at Itchen Abbas
South West: Bridgwater, Exeter - Office located at Starcross
South Wales and Avon: Trowbridge
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from one of the above locations and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidate Pack
Please see the candidate pack attached to this advert.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
National - £24,723 which is 90%. On successful completion of the apprenticeship salaries will increase to National £27,470 which is 100%
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non- disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Full time only
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Who can start an apprenticeship
To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:
16 or over
living in England
not in full-time education
You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Medical
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : PHSI Jobs
- Email : phsijobs@apha.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
