Award for Quality Service

Herefordshire Council’s Environmental Health & Trading Standards Division (EHTS) is celebrating success at achieving an internationally recognised Quality Award.

A two year review of all aspects of the Division including Environmental Protection, Food Safety, Health & Safety, Trading Standards, Licensing, Consumer Advice, Animal Health, Pest Control, Dog Regulation, Water and Air Quality was undertaken before an extensive audit was carried out by World Certification Services in December 2003.

The audit also included all administration activities plus training, purchasing and recruitment.

Documents, procedures and processes are now standardised and a quality manual has been produced.

The audit process involved three auditors working over two days and was very thorough, leaving no stone unturned.

The Certificate will be presented to EHTS by World Certification Services on Thursday 19 February at the Council’s headquarters, Brockington, Hereford.

Alan Stokes, Quality Assurance Manager, said: “This is a celebration that every officer in EHTS deserves to enjoy.

“Everyone has contributed to this success and I am very pleased with the audit’s findings.

“The system now offers officers and the public the satisfaction that services are delivered to the same standard and in the same way across the board. Equality in a quality service.”

Gaining the award will not make EHTS complacent as the system has to be continuously monitored and reviewed.

Andrew Tector, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, said: “This is a really good start and has involved a lot of people thinking about what they do and how they do it.

“Standardising our processes and procedures has removed a lot of the subjectivity that is associated with our services, and allows us to continue in our endeavours to improve what we offer to the public.

“Regular customer satisfaction surveys will show if we’re being successful.”

The award will be presented to Celia Davies, Legal Clerk and Morag Clayton, Food Safety Officer as representatives of EHTS, both of whom contributed greatly to the quality assurance process.

All officers in the EHTS Division will be invited to the presentation.