Shortage of qualified staff puts strain on environmental health team
West Lothian’s environmental health team faces “a significant strain” on its ability to deliver services, it has been warned.
National shortages of qualified staff means vacancies are hard to fill and the 29 strong team could lose more in the next few years.
As many as ten staff could leave in the next decade through retirement – and with only one university in the country which offers the four-year degree necessary to work in environmental health finding replacements is challenging.
Craig Smith, the service manager, told a meeting of the council’s Performance Committee: “None of us are getting younger. We are struggling in terms of demographics. There is a concern that the shortage of staff throughout the country will get worse in the near future due to the number of departures due to age.
“The biggest challenge that we face are demands for skills. We currently have vacancies in the service which are challenging to fill due to national shortages in qualified staff.”
SNP councillor Maria MacAulay asked “Are we at any point are we going to be at a loss of staff?”
Mr Smith said: “Projections are age based. We recognise we could lose another ten staff over the next ten years. Nationally there are 100 vacancies in environmental health and we reckon that could increase to 250 in the next few years, that’s out of a national staff of 850.”
The team dealt with almost 6000 cases last year. Mr Smith said: “On average we’ll carry out 1900 inspections and intervention and respond to around 5900 requests every year. The service has enforcement responsibility in environmental health and trading standards for 4800 commercial premises in West Lothian.”
Pest Control requests make up 1500 to 2000 requests from the public in any given year but the team remit covers a broad spectrum which includes trading standards and keeping the public and businesses safe.
The work covers safety and composition; workplace safety; pollution control, including air quality and noise issues; housing conditions; animal health, welfare and control; pest control; consumer protection and compliance with fair trading legislation.