Tomos Jenkins, EHO and Director of Bassline Acoustics, shares his thoughts on his development as an environmental health professional:

One of the key lessons I’ve learned – and often share when training environmental health officers – is that not knowing everything isn’t a weakness. In fact, it’s a reality, whether you’re just starting out or are 10+ years into your career. This can feel daunting at any point in your journey, whether taking on a new challenge in a different arm of environmental health or being thrust into new responsibilities as teams shrink. I entered environmental health during a time of austerity, when teams quickly merged, and I found myself taking the lead on public health pest control and triage services, getting involved in disabled facilities grants and encountering planning consultations for the first time.

Environmental health work is less about memorising every standard or aspect of case law and more about developing notable soft skills: auditing, reading people and being able to make fair, evidence-based judgements. These skills enable us to navigate complex situations effectively, even when we don’t have all the answers.

Early in my career, I’d often tell landlords, “Let me verify that in the standard to ensure I provide accurate advice.” At the time, I was completely unsure, but this approach gave me space to study, understand and retain knowledge. Over time, these moments compounded into a solid technical foundation.

The hard skills – like quoting BS 5839-6 2019: Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises or remembering case law such as Coventry v Lawrence [2014] UKSC 13 – come with experience. What’s crucial is focusing on fairness, professionalism and a willingness to learn. By embracing uncertainty and committing to personal and professional growth, we not only build expertise but also strengthen trust and confidence in our work, which is important given the current landscape.

Fast forward to today, I now run a consultancy and still encounter feelings of uncertainty. However, I draw upon these fundamentals when delivering training such as ‘HHSRS Practitioner’ or the newly revamped ‘Planning Consultations: A Survival Guide for Professionals’, each available here: HHSRS and Planning, or when advising clients on nuisance and acoustics.

This mindset shift is one of the most valuable insights I’ve gained in environmental health, and I hope it resonates with others in the field. I hope to see you at one of these courses in the future so I can share more and help you grow.