Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), play an important role within society and have responsibility for the protection of public health and the maintenance of a healthy environment.
Environmental health is a career that makes a real difference. You'll deal with today's problems and, just as important, you'll prevent tomorrow's potential problems from ever happening. Environmental health officers aren't stuck behind a desk. They are out and about, meeting people, listening, offering support and advice, negotiating and taking action. They make the changes that lead to improvement, now and in the future.
Environmental health officers are committed to improving public health. There are four important aspects to this work:
- improving food safety and nutrition
- improving housing conditions
- improving the environment
- improving workplace health and safety
Just as important, though, is the emphasis placed on developing skills in general management, communication, negotiating, analysis and evaluation. EHOs learn how we intervene, how we educate and how to go about ensuring legal compliance and there's an interesting mix of laboratory work, case studies, visits and group projects.
How to become an Environmental Health Officer (EHO)
Environmental health is a challenging and rewarding profession. EHOs work within local councils but there is more opportunity becoming available for EHOs in the private sector. Becoming qualified as an EHO involves both academic study and practical training. Environmental health is a graduate profession and all would-be EHOs have to pass a CIEH accredited degree course at either an undergraduate or postgraduate level.
In order to become an EHO there are two things that you need:
Student placements at Caerphilly County Borough Council
Our student work placement scheme has been set up to support students pursuing a qualification in environmental health. It is specifically designed to assist these students to complete their portfolios through work based learning, putting them firmly on the route to professional qualification.
The council normally offers two placements per year.
What's on offer?
Student Environmental Health Officers will be provided with a paid 12 month fixed term work placement on a grade 3 salary scale.
During the placement, students gain practical training in all areas of environmental health to support completion of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Experiential Learning Portfolio (ELP).
Who can apply?
Applications will be accepted from students currently undertaking or enrolled onto one of the following courses at UWIC:
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Health (three years full-time)
- BSc (Hons) Environmental Health (Sandwich) (four years full-time)
When and how do I apply?
Students enrolled on the relevant courses will be recruited directly from UWIC. Recruitment normally takes place during June each year.
Details of any vacancies will be sent to the course leader for circulation to students and will also be posted on the jobs section of this website.
Andrew Curnin
Environmental Health Programme Leader
UWIC
Email adcurnin@uwic.ac.uk
Tel: 029 2041 6854