Community Enforcement Officer (x2) Ref: 05-26

Salary: Grade 8, £32,278 - £38,519 per annum
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Place of Work: Council Offices (with travel across Breckland)
Basis: 2 posts, 12 months fixed term

We are seeking two proactive and resilient Community Enforcement Officers to join our multidisciplinary enforcement team. This is a varied and rewarding role where you will help maintain safe, clean and well-managed neighbourhoods by tackling issues across planning enforcement, housing standards, environmental crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

You will play a key role in protecting residents, supporting local businesses and ensuring compliance with legislation through fair, proportionate and evidence-based enforcement.

Key Responsibilities

Investigation & Enforcement

• Conduct investigations into planning breaches, housing standards, environmental offences (e.g. fly-tipping, littering) and ASB
• Undertake site visits, inspections and evidence gathering (statements, photos, CCTV)
• Interview witnesses and alleged offenders in line with PACE
• Issue Fixed Penalty Notices, statutory notices and warning letters where appropriate

Case Management

• Assess complaints and determine appropriate enforcement action or referrals
• Maintain accurate case files suitable for legal proceedings
• Prepare reports and witness statements, and attend court or tribunals when required

Partnership Working

• Collaborate with internal teams including Planning, Housing, Environmental Health and Legal Services
• Work with external partners such as police, housing associations and community groups
• Participate in joint enforcement operations targeting local issues

Public Engagement

• Provide advice and guidance to residents, landlords and businesses
• Represent the Council at community meetings and engagement events
• Promote awareness of legal responsibilities and council standards

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Carry out duties in line with legislation, council policies and professional standards
• Use PPE, lone working systems and risk assessments appropriately
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in enforcement, investigations or community safety
• Confident dealing with challenging situations and resolving conflict
• Skilled in evidence gathering, case management and report writing
• Able to interpret legislation and make sound, proportionate decisions
• Organised, self-motivated and able to manage a varied caseload
• A strong communicator with a professional and impartial approach

Essential Requirements

• Experience in investigative or enforcement-related work
• Strong communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prepare professional reports and case files
• Understanding of enforcement processes and relevant legislation
• Good standard of education (GCSEs or equivalent)
• Willingness to undertake relevant training

Desirable

• Experience in local government or regulatory services
• Knowledge of planning, housing, environmental crime or ASB enforcement
• Training in PACE or relevant legislation
• Experience working with diverse or vulnerable communities
• Familiarity with enforcement technology (e.g. body-worn cameras, case systems)

What We Offer

• A dynamic and varied role with real community impact
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A supportive team environment with collaborative working
• Flexible working arrangements, including occasional evenings/weekends

Additional Information

This role involves regular outdoor work and may require dealing with challenging situations. Flexibility and resilience are essential.

If you're ready for a varied role where no two days are the same and your work has a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 6 May 2026

What's it like to work for us?

We are passionate about our people and pride ourselves on being a great place to work, we genuinely care and know that a happy workforce is a productive and motivated one! If you're still not sure, here are some stats from our 2025 staff survey to convince you..

• 96% said they feel trusted and empowered
• 88% of staff recommend Breckland as a great place to work
• 86% said they have had opportunities to learn and grow in the last 12 months
• 91% think Breckland provide positive action on health and wellbeing
• 86% said they feel supported

If you STILL need convincing, here's what some of our staff say...

• "Breckland is a fantastic employer, lots of opportunities and support"
• "Having only just started, it is a great place to work, everyone says hello, is smiley and chatty. I like the groups that are on, like carers shed and neurodiversity"
• "We are encouraged to take regular breaks and there are mental health first aiders and a wide range of good promotional aspects of healthy living and wellbeing."
• "In times of need the council offers excellent support."
• "BDC really does seem to care about the wellbeing and happiness of their staff."

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, and ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care, we listen, and we support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and we are innovative in our approach, coming up with ways to meet the needs of the local communities that we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and we work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area, and by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places where people and businesses choose to be, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here and those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

We offer excellent conditions of service, including:

• Free parking at our newly refurbished office. 
• Excellent training opportunities.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing after three years' continuous Local Authority service by one day per year up to the maximum of 28 days, plus bank holidays.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (generous employers pension contributions).
• Family friendly policies.
• Cyclesheme and assisted car purchase.

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Job summary

Description of duties

Primary Objectives 

Job Purpose

• To provide a flexible, multi-disciplinary enforcement and investigation service across planning enforcement, housing standards, environmental crime, and anti-social behaviour (ASB).
• The postholder will carry out preliminary investigations, gather evidence and work closely with service specific Enforcement Officers to issue statutory notices, and take proportionate enforcement action to support compliance with legislation and local policies.
• The role supports the council's objectives of maintaining safe, clean, well-managed neighbourhoods, protecting residents and businesses, and upholding regulatory standards across the built and public environment.

Key Responsibilities

Investigation & Enforcement

• Undertake preliminary investigations into reports relating to:
• suspected breaches of planning control
• housing standards concerns and private-rented sector issues
• fly-tipping, waste offences, littering, abandoned vehicles, and other environmental crimes
• anti-social behaviour linked to noise, nuisance, public spaces, or community safety
• Conduct site visits, inspections and fact-finding enquiries, ensuring accurate and timely recording of evidence.
• Interview witnesses, complainants and alleged offenders in accordance with PACE and council procedures.
• Collect evidence including photographs, statements, CCTV footage, mapping data and physical samples where appropriate.
• Issue fixed penalty notices (FPNs), statutory notices (e.g., Section 215 notices, community protection notices), warning letters, and improvement notices as authorised.

Case Management

• Assess complaints and determine appropriate enforcement pathways or referrals to specialist teams (e.g., planning enforcement officers, environmental health officers, private sector housing).
• Maintain clear, accurate case files suitable for legal proceedings.
• Prepare briefing notes, enforcement reports, and witness statements for legal action.
• Attend court, tribunals, or joint agency case conferences as required.

Partnership Working

• Work collaboratively with internal teams (Planning, Housing, Environmental Health, Community Safety, Waste Services, Legal Services).
• Liaise with external agencies including police, fire service, housing associations, landlords, charities, and community groups.
• Participate in joint operations targeting hotspots for waste crime, nuisance behaviour, rogue landlords, or unauthorised development.

Public Engagement & Education

• Provide clear advice to businesses, residents and landlords on compliance with relevant regulations.
• Attend community meetings and represent the council in relation to enforcement matters.
• Promote awareness of council policies, environmental standards, and legal responsibilities.

Health, Safety & Professional Standards

• Ensure all enforcement activity is undertaken in accordance with council policies, statutory requirements, and codes of practice.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE), lone-working systems, and risk assessments appropriately.

Maintain professional knowledge of relevant legislation such as the:

• Town and Country Planning Act 1990
• Housing Act 2004
• Environmental Protection Act 1990
• Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)
• GDPR and data-handling requirements

Ensure compliance to all policies, procedures, standard operating practices, with recommendations for action and continuous improvement.

Primary Line/Performance Management Objectives of the Role

• Deliver timely, proportionate and legally robust investigations across planning, housing, environmental crime and ASB.
• Ensure all enforcement decisions are evidence-based, proportionate and compliant with statutory requirements.
• Secure improved compliance and positive community outcomes through proportionate enforcement.
• Work collaboratively to deliver coordinated enforcement activity.
• Maintain professional, clear and empathetic communication with residents, businesses and stakeholders.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and technical competence.
• Undertake enforcement duties safely and in compliance with Council policies.

Primary Leadership Objectives of the Role

• Demonstrate leadership in maintaining high professional and evidential standards across enforcement activity.
• Take ownership of operational priorities and contribute to coordinated enforcement delivery.
• Contribute to the development and capability of the wider enforcement team.
• Represent the Council professionally and influence positive compliance outcomes.
• Demonstrate initiative in improving enforcement processes and service delivery.

This job description is not exhaustive.

The job description outlines the current position and will be subject to review in the light of development within the service, in consultation with the post holder as detailed in your Contract of Employment.

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of investigative work, Housing enforcement, Planning enforcement, Environmental enforcement or community safety.
• Experience communicating with the public in challenging situations.
• Experience preparing reports or case files to a professional standard.
• Strong communication, resilience, conflict-resolution, influence, de-escalation and negotiation skills rooted in delivering demonstrable collaborative outcomes
• Ability to assess evidence, make proportionate decisions and apply legislation.
• Strong written skills for preparing notices, statements, and case reports.
• Ability to interpret basic planning drawings, maps, and property layouts.
• Confident in issuing fixed penalties and statutory notices.
• Calm, assertive, and professional approach when dealing with conflict or non-compliance.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload.
• Awareness of regulatory frameworks for waste offences, ASB, housing safety, and planning breaches.
• Understanding of evidence gathering, enforcement powers, and legal processes.
• Knowledge of equality, safeguarding, and GDPR principles.

Desirable

• Experience working in local government or a similar regulatory environment.
• Previous experience in environmental crime, planning, ASB, or housing-related enforcement.
• Experience working with vulnerable residents or diverse communities.
• Skilled in using mobile enforcement technology (body-worn cameras, case-management systems, handheld devices).
• Ability to support community engagement and behaviour-change campaigns.
• Detailed knowledge of specific legislation such as EPA 1990, ASB Act 2014, Housing Act 2004, and Town & Country Planning Act 1990.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education (GCSEs or equivalent).
• Training or certification in enforcement, investigation, or regulatory compliance (or willingness to work toward).

Desirable

• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. BTEC / Level 3 in enforcement or regulatory services).
• Training in PACE, environmental enforcement, or ASB legislation.
• Housing or planning enforcement training.

Essential Behaviours

• Professional, impartial, and resilient.
• Commitment to high standards of customer service.
• Willingness to work outdoors, sometimes in difficult conditions.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings or weekends where required.
• Strong team player with a collaborative approach.

Collaborative:.

• I look for ways to work in partnership with colleagues across services, Members and external partners.
• I listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge.

Ambitious:

• I always ask myself how could we do this better?
• I am proud ambassador for the Council, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do encouraging others to do the same.

Results Driven:

• I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping focus on results and solutions.
• I am flexible ensuing I provide the best possible service, whenever and wherever is best for the customer

Empowering:

• I embrace new technology and look for new ways for our service to become digital not forgetting to be accessible for all.
• I take responsibility if things don't go well and learn from it for my own and for the organisations development.

Supportive:

• I treat others as I would want to be treated myself ensuring I am welcoming, friendly and approachable.
• I treat everyone with kindness, dignity and respect, valuing their thoughts, background and experience.

Health & Safety (exposure to risk)

The post is exposed to occasional unavoidable risks including:

• Dealing face to face with difficult situations that may be confrontational.
• Emotionally Demanding Situations
• Exposure to inclement weather and environment

Closing date - 09:00 Monday 4 May 2026

Apply Online

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies. These are listed as essential requirements on the person specification.

DBS Requirement

Please be aware that if you are selected for this role there will be a requirement to undertake a DBS check as part of pre-employment checks.