Call: 01347 823 589

Grants Veterinary Services PLC

Grants Veterinary Services PLC
Longbridge House
Stillington Road
Easingwold
North Yorkshire YO61 3ET

Telephone: 01347 823 589
Facsimile:   01347 824 616

Company Registration No:
1235120

Partners he Food Standards Agency Defra : Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Meat Hygiene Service Investors in People The International Standard For Quality Management

Job Specification Official Veterinarian

Job Title

Official Veterinarian

Management responsibility

The technical management of the inspection team and PIA team in plant.

Overall Responsibility

Operate as the Team Leader in plant by line managing and providing technical advice to the plant inspection team to ensure the efficient and consistent delivery of Official Controls as defined within the Manual for Official Controls (MOC). Build and manage effective relationships with the plant FBO and other stakeholders.

Key Tasks


1. Leadership and management of plant inspection team

  • Technical management of the plant MHIs and MTs
  • Responsible for the performance of the plant inspection team by, providing appropriate advice, coaching and support, and ensuring technical compliance
  • Assessment of ongoing technical and leadership and management competencies of MHIs, PMIs and MTs, ensuring that they are appropriately supported to undertake all tasks associated with their role in liaison with the SMHI.
  • Assessment of ongoing competencies of PIAs and providing coaching and support as appropriate.
  • Cascade technical information as required and discuss the practical implications with the plant inspection team. .
  • Ensure that TMHI, PIA, NOV and Veterinary Students practical training is carried out appropriately at the plant.

2. Stakeholder management

  • Establish and maintain productive working relationships with plant FBOs and other stake holders (Other Government Departments, Local Authorities, etc).

3. Ante Mortem (AM) Inspection, Animal Welfare & Animal Identification

  • Detection of diseases or conditions that may adversely affect human health or animal health,
  • Monitor the welfare status and conduct clinical examination of suspect animals where appropriate.
  • Assess the suitability and competence of persons applying for a slaughterer's license and contribute to the training of such individuals.
  • Verify FBO's checks of eligibility to ensure that ineligible animals do not enter the human food chain.

4. Post Mortem (PM) Inspection, Specified Risk Material (SRM) & Animal by Products (ABP)

  • Ensure that PM inspection is carried out in accordance with the regulations, and diagnose by additional examination where necessary.
  • Agree the FBO's RMOP for BSE testing regime and its verification.
  • Verify FBO's controls of animal by-products.

5. Health and Identification Marking

  • Apply or oversee application of health marking in accordance with the legislation.
  • Verify the FBO's application of the identification mark.
  • Ensure the security of the health marking equipment in conjunction with the SMHI.

6. MHS Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

  • Ensure FSA services at the plant are delivered in line with SLA targets. such as Residue surveillance, TSE in sheep and goats, Campylobacter survey, etc.

7. Food Chain Information & Collection and Communication of Inspection Results

  • Analyse food chain information and take action as appropriate.
  • Record and evaluate inspection results, and communicate inspection findings as appropriate.

8. Auditing & Enforcement

  • Verify that the FBO complies with legislation through their own food safety management procedures and target inspection and enforcement tasks accordingly.
  • To monitor and verify that the food business operator is complying with all legislative requirements and in particular:
  • Management of cleaning operations
  • Staff hygiene training and instruction
  • HACCP training for relevant staff
  • Temperature control
  • Water Control
  • Pest Control
  • Handling, storage and dispatch of ABP and SRM
  • By Products records and documents
  • SRM records and documents
  • Implementation of a food safety management system based on HACCP principles
  • Ensure that legislation and procedures in relation to various schemes e.g. OTM Processing, etc are strictly observed.
  • Follow risk based procedures to take fair and proportionate enforcement actions and liaise with other enforcement bodies as required when dealing with FBO shortcomings in respect to Animal Welfare, Food hygiene and TSE/SRM legislation and procedures.
  • Act as an expert witness in legal cases as required.

9. General

  • Maintain all standards laid down in the in the Customer Service Statement.
  • Maintain confidentiality of internal MHS communications and commercially sensitive information.
  • Identify personal training needs to undertake continuing educational activities including appropriate uptake of MHS training and CPD in accordance with Corporate People Development Plan.
  • Any other duties as requested by line management.
  • Follow up and implement agreed recommendations following EC, FSA and internal FSA hygiene and inspection audits.
  • Demonstrating high levels of personal commitment, motivation and standards of work and achieving these qualities throughout the meat hygiene and inspection team. Showing positive and effective leadership.

Ensure all actions necessary are taken to attend plants punctually.


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Grants Veterinary Services PLC 2008