Our client, a large public sector organisation, based in Belfast are looking to recruit Portal Industrials to join their team.

Start Date: ASAP

Duration of Placement: 6 Months with possibility of extension

Hourly Pay: £14.33

Location: Belfast

Hours of Work:

37 hours per week. This will be worked as part of a shift arrangement which will include regular weekend and night duty.  It is expected that the four-week shift pattern will provide coverage for 3 shifts of 8.24 hours duration every 24 hours i.e. early, late and overnight shift as follows. This includes a one hour in work rest/meal break. Staff cover 6 nights during the night shift week. (Shift Disturbance Allowance reflected in Hourly Pay)

An example of working times is as follows:

Early Shift: 06:00 – 14:24

Late Shift: 14:00 – 22:24

Night Shift: 22.00 – 06.24

Shift patterns may be subject to change, determined by business needs.

Main Duties:

• Taking a lead role in handling, restraining, moving, loading and unloading animals with due regard to the health and safety of staff and operators and also ensuring that animal welfare is not compromised. The species involved will include, but not be limited to, livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats), equines (horses, donkeys etc.), poultry (including day-old chicks),) pet animals (dogs, cats , ferrets), live fish and other animals (deer, lamas and alpacas, rodents).
• Ensuring that all animal handling and holding facilities are cleansed and disinfected between batches of animals to ensure that high levels of bio-security are maintained.
• Move and present animals within inspection facilities to enable vets and inspectors to complete inspections consisting of physical and identity checks
•  Providing assistance to operators/transports loading and unloading animals
• Husbandry responsibilities for detained animals re feeding, bedding, etc.
• Coordination of vehicle movements on site.
• Informing vets and inspectors of problems identified in consignments of animals:- Animal sick or injured- Additional animals on load

  – Damage to vehicle which could cause suffering the animals

• Using scanners to check the electronic identification of animals. This could be a micro-chip under the skin of horses or dogs or as part of an official ear tag e.g. sheep
• Printing data of lists of official identifications from scanner to give to inspectors
• Ensuring any spillage of effluent from transport vehicles is removed and the area within the DAERA compound is cleansed and disinfected
• Removing seals from containers and open doors for inspection
• Unloading product from containers for inspection by vets and portal inspectors
• Reloading product after inspections and sampling is completed
• Ensuring that inspections rooms are cleansed and disinfected between batches of products
• Using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Assisting with the inspection of potatoes and other plant products and reading/recording identifying marks on bags
• Assisting in checks  of imported timber
• Assisting portal inspectors when inspecting the cleanliness of imported machinery
• Driving a Departmental vehicle routinely as part of Portal duties. In the case of a suspect or an Epizootic outbreak you may be required to drive to any part of Northern Ireland.
•     Using vehicles and equipment:-  Complete a daily visual check of the Departmental vehicle- Clean outside of vehicles using high pressure washer

  – Clean and tidy inside of vehicle

  – Complete regular stock take of items required to ensure availability adequate stock levels at all times

  – Check fuel levels and refuel vehicle when necessary

  – Update vehicle log book

  – Report maintenance required or accidents as per instructions

  – Apply all health and safety policies and enforce safe working practices. Maintain personal protective                    equipment and request replacements when required.

• Co-operating with personal development and training programs, by attending mandatory health and safety courses, induction and development courses.

It should be noted that this is a physically demanding role which necessitates working outside in a range of weather conditions.

The post holders will have to be familiar of the associated risks of potential hazards relating to portal duties including deep water and moving traffic.

The role will have clearly defined procedures and safe operating procedures. These step-by-step instructions will specifically cover how to complete tasks regarding technical and health and safety aspects of the role. The guidance instructions will always be available and will form the basis for training and refresher training

Essential Criteria/Experience:

Be able to demonstrate one years’ experience within the last 5 years of handling livestock

Be able to demonstrate one years’ experience within the last 5 years of handling equines.

Have a full valid driving licence allowing driving in NI.

*Livestock is defined as being agricultural animals, the main species being cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry.

Additional Requirements

Travel

    Appointee must have access to a form of transport to enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the post

Medical

Night workers Assessment must be in place