Head of Food Safety

A new opportunity has arisen for an F Band manager to become part of the Health and Safety team, in Operations Directorate, based at HQ on a permanent basis. 

The post holder will report directly to the G Band Head of Health and Safety and will have no direct line management responsibility.  

The Head of Food Safety post is identified as a permanent non-operational post. Due to current SPS and Scottish Government (SG) guidance, the post holder will be expected to adopt hybrid working practices, which will be required to work remotely, traveling to all sites across the SPS when required, for audit, support or contingency and planned Environmental Health Officers visits. 

Working as a key member of the Health and Fire Safety team in Operations Directorate. The Head of Food Safety will be responsible for ensuring the strategic leadership, governance, and assurance of food safety standards across all Scottish Prison Service (SPS) establishments/SPSC. This role will involve the updating and reviewing of the SPS food safety manual with relevant HACCP system requirements and provisions, in line with legislative requirements.   Ensure compliance with UK Food Safety Legislation in prison catering operations and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of prisoners and staff. 

Proactively work with stakeholders to ensure we are offering the most nutritious, value for money food options, in line with the government buying standards.  Work towards standardised recipe development that meets nutritional needs, religious, specialist and health care needs / diets, for the two seasonal changes.

Ensure all sites are using the allergen software product to meet Nataha’s Law requirements. 

Pro-actively responds to EHO visits and improvement notices and shares best practice across the SPS estate and wider stakeholders and be able to demonstrate flexibility to adapt. 

Work with PPDS and Estates in any new kitchen design or new build to support the catering facility layout and equipment, including business cases for replacement equipment. 

During loss of services/contingency meal provisions the Head of Food Safety will support any establishment either virtually or on site, depending on the impact of the loss of service/contingency. 

The Head of Food Safety will be responsible for HACCAP annual audits across the estate. The post holder must be willing to work towards HACCAP Level 4, if not already within the first 12 months of taking up the post. The post holder will also be expected to hold the Health and Safety NEBOSH (level) General Certificate and NEBOSH Fire Certificate or be willing to work towards. 

Civil Service Values

All Civil Servants, and therefore anyone employed by the Scottish Prison Service, must be able to fully comply with the requirements of the Civil Service Code. Everyone is expected to carry out their role with dedication and uphold the core values of the Civil Service: Honesty, Integrity, Objectivity and Impartiality.

• Integrity: putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests.
• Honesty: being truthful and open.
• Objectivity: basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence.
• Impartiality: acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well Governments of different political persuasions.

The Civil Service Commission

Our recruitment is conducted in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and external competitions are regulated by the Civil Service Commission. While the legal requirement to follow these Principles applies specifically to external appointments, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) recognises these standards as best practice. Accordingly, SPS fully adopts these principles as the foundation for all recruitment activity, including internal recruitment and selection processes.

External competitions: if you believe that the requirement for selection for appointment on merit based on fair and open competition has not been met, you have the right to raise a complaint. Further information on the Commission’s complaints procedure is available at: https://www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Internal competitions: if you believe that the requirement for selection for appointment on merit based on fair and open competition has not been met, you can raise a complaint to your HR Business Partner.