Description of functions
Data management:
- Data processing
- This includes information management, analysis, assimilation and dissemination. E.g. entering information onto a database (e.g. forms, customer information, land registration, GIS).
- Database development/maintenance
- Setting up databases to meet specific requirements. Adapting databases to meet new business need.
- E-business
- Setting up and maintaining an e-route into the business for payments, form applications etc. Providing support for the route’s customers.
Payments/charges:
- Payments and grants
- The act of paying: Inform applicant and make payments/grants to individuals/organisations. Ensure appropriate systems in place to verify applicant if required.
- Fees and charges
- Interpret legislation, calculate fees, inform of charge and collect fees/charges from individuals/organisations. Ensure appropriate complaint systems in place.
- Scheme approvals
- The process of approval, award and then verification. Includes interpret legislation where appropriate, process applications, with established rules and criteria for applicability in order to award funds. Linked to appropriate systems to inspect scheme.
- Land acquisition
- Purchasing land as a function of the business. Not as part of housing staff or equipment etc.
Regulation:
- Inspection/compliance/surveillance
- Execute visit, record time spent on visit. Onsite activities involve: risk assessment, inspection, sampling, advise to farmer or premise owner, visually recording site, vaccinations etc. Despatch samples and complete on-farm reports.
- Standard setting
- Collect data on pollution/environmental indicators, using legislative requirements establish standards and appropriate methods of measurement.
- Investigation/enforcement
- Identify risk sites/receive list of sites to investigate. Establish investigation timetable, execute inspection, write up and inform appropriate authorities. Gather evidence from fraud cases, brief legal advisors, provide evidence in court.
- Licensing/certification/registration/tracking
- Process application with established guidelines for approval, issue certificate and inform register.
Operations:
- Field operations
- Broader than regulation requirements: could include wildlife management, field visits for measurements, testing flood equipment etc.
- Testing services
- Plan visit and optimise schedule, process results, work with laboratory, risk analysis of potentially infected sites
- Emergency operations/contingencies
- Organisational skills which would be important in the case of an emergency/staff members who can be deployed to support a Defra response. Any extra capacity which is maintained in case of an emergency.
Research:
- Pure scientific research (and publication)
- Blue skies research into areas of government interest. Research projects specifically commissioned by the department. Publication in respected journals, contributions to international networks of scientists.
- Scientific risk assessment
- Measurement of current conditions and calculation – using scientific models – of levels of risk. Advice based on this offered to appropriate authorities.
- Applied research
- Economic/social research either for the body itself or on behalf of its customers.
Advice and publicity:
- Policy advice (casework, specific issues)
- Advice to customers on specific issues, individual case work, consultancy etc
- Information and facilitation
- Provision of guidelines/users-handbooks on issues of customer interest. Co-ordinate with other service providers to produce information.
- Campaigns/publicity/promotions/awareness
- Campaigns to specific customer groups/wider society on issues of particular concern to the organisation/Defra. Development of campaign communications strategy which uses a variety of media. Methodology for evaluating the campaign’s success.
- Direct customer handling channels
- Resolve any enquiries, process complaints made by customers, provide advice on schemes, application procedures etc. E.g. call centres, letter processing, web contact routes.
Corporate Systems:
- HR (recruitment, payroll, training)
- Development of a HR strategy defining roles, responsibilities and numbers of staff. Development of a policy on compensation and incentive programme/performance and appraisal system/corporate learning and development/ redundancy etc. Administer the HR strategy: review employee’s performance, recruit additional staff.
- Finance and procurement
- Finance: to ensure the integrity of financial records, to identify costs, to develop processes, systems and reports which meet the organisation’s needs. Accounts and Billing: ensure invoices are issues, payments made, with an adequate record of financial transactions. Procurement: procuring a product or service, liasing to ensure low costs, consolidate delivery costs
- IT
- To manage the IT operations; existing and new IT systems managed to ensure their functionality is fit for purpose etc.
Page last modified: 10 August 2007
Page published: August 2007