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Job description

Trainee Official Auxiliaries (TOA) (Trainee Meat Inspectors) will be expected to successfully progress through a programme of learning and assessment with the objective to achieve within 12 months the following qualifications: (i) Level 2 Certificate for Proficiency in Poultry Meat Inspection; and (ii) Level 4 Diploma for Proficiency in Meat Inspection. During work place learning and assessment, the Trainee will work and learn alongside established Meat Inspectors (Official Auxiliaries). The primary role of the Official Auxiliary (OA) is to assist the Official Veterinarian with a wide range of inspection and verification tasks required to ensure and secure compliance with the food hygiene legislation governing the production and further handling of meat for human consumption. While the bulk of the work involves on-line inspection of meat, there are also compliance checks on general conditions of production, storage and dispatch of meat, both fresh and manufactured. The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) is the Competent Authority with regard to the food hygiene legislation and VSAHG delivers the inspection, audit, verification and enforcement on the Agency’s behalf.

Responsibilities

• The OA is also individually authorised under legislation to sample meat for the presence of residues and to carry out animal identification checks, to assist the Official Veterinarian to establish the eligibility of animals for human consumption
• OAs are also involved in disease and animal welfare surveillance duties. They may also be required to supervise food premises to facilitate veterinary certification for export trade.
• These duties are delivered for DAERA areas of competence.
• Duties are performed in meat establishments approved by the Food Standards Agency and will entail accessing all meat factory production areas including, for example, raised work stands accessed by steps.
• From time to time, OAs may be asked to undertake other duties, for DAERA or FSA, commensurate with their grade at other locations and in other environments, for example in food business other than meat establishments or out on farms.
• TOAs will be expected to learn, perform and be assessed in all the tasks of an established Meat Inspector.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must by the closing date for applications: 1. Have attained 5 GCSEs at Grade C or above to include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. (Science subject is defined as Biology, Chemistry or Physics)
• AND 2. Have experience in working with/handling livestock or food science /industry experience. (Livestock is defined as being agricultural animals, the main species being cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry.)

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that after an eligibility sift, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the following shortlisting criteria will be used:
• Have six months experience of working in the Meat Industry by the closing date of applications.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 8th November 2024 at 12 noon. Applications from females, young people (people under age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC305939)