Apply Now
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Investigation
Operational Delivery
Policing
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
Job description
Immigration Enforcement (IE) tackles the criminality behind organised immigration crime. Our Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) teams play a fundamental role in tackling immigration crime, as part of a multi-layered UK law enforcement approach. Through working closely with partners in the National Crime Agency, territorial policing and many other agencies and departments, our CFI Teams take vigorous action against those criminals that seek to benefit from illegal migration.
Working with CFI teams is challenging and fast paced, requiring quick decision making in demanding situations. Our Criminal & Financial Investigators undertake a wide range of activities which support the detection, apprehension, and removal of immigration offenders. Our people need to operate in sometimes difficult and pressurised environments and are required to make well balanced decisions. All staff are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and teamwork with adherence to our vision statement: “Tackling immigration crime by empowering our people, inspiring confidence and protecting communities.”
Where we uncover evidence of criminality linked to immigration abuse, we investigate these offences under the Immigration Act 1971 and related legislation such as the Identity Documents Act 2010. Such offences might include facilitation, human trafficking, and the use of false or fraudulently obtained documents.
In England and Wales we use powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) in much the same way as the police do, while in Scotland and Northern Ireland we currently rely on the Immigration Acts.
Youll manage a team of Immigration Officers focusing on serious and organised immigration crime investigations to achieve maximum disruption of organised crime group (OCG)s operating in the UK and overseas. Using the latest techniques, youll disrupt and apprehend high-threat criminal immigration focused activities, build cases, and bring criminals to justice. The primary aim of this team is to take forward investigations into the organised groups who are facilitating the illegal movement of migrants.
The post requires a commitment to working flexibly, including weekend working, shift working and will involve some travel throughout the UK as well as working away from home, including overnight stays where necessary.
Person specification
The successful candidate will join an established team, and undertake all duties relevant to the Chief Immigration Officer grade including:
- Leading and directing investigative syndicates through effective decision making and use of recognised action management principles.
- Acting as the lead investigator in the most serious and complex cases or otherwise acting as the senior investigating officer.
- Managing and monitoring of investigations to ensure progress towards disruption targets.
- Providing quality assurance of investigations.
- Assisting with operational activity and taking responsibility for investigations and operations.
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships with other law enforcement partners and stakeholders.
- Attending court when required to give evidence.
- Ensuring compliance with Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE), Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA) and Home Office policy, procedures and professional standards.
- Managing a team of Immigration Officer Criminal Investigators.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo and pass a health assessment, which is usually repeated every three years (although this can sometimes be yearly for specific health reasons).
If not already trained successful candidates will also need to be arrest trained to PST level 3 and pass an annual PST refresher to enable them to undertake operational activity (this may be residential depending on location).
There will be a requirement to attend court to give evidence. All Criminal and Financial Investigation staff are required to disclose any adverse judicial decisions or internal disciplinary matters under CPIA. Applicants need to bear this in mind when considering their eligibility for this post.
Essential Criteria
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Previous experience of leading complex crime investigations, including a comprehensive understanding (through practical application) of relevant legislation, and ability to lead a team of investigators of varying experience.
- A professional accreditation of PIP2 level (see qualifications below) is mandatory.
- Experience of taking complex investigations to court, of working collaboratively with CPS and Counsel and have demonstrated fortitude in this pressurised environment.
- An all-round awareness of the specialist functions associated with complex crime investigation such as use of POCA, surveillance, exploitation of digital devices, operational planning and public protection.
- A good understanding of immigration legislation and the ability to consider non-prosecution disruption methods.
- Ability to work collaboratively across law enforcement and government; maximising the opportunity to work in partnership with others to enhance the reach and reputation of Immigration Enforcement.
- Excellent leadership skills and be focused on the development of others.
Applicants should note that it is a requirement of the post that arrest and criminal investigation accreditation is achieved and maintained.
Licences
Qualifications
The post holder must be an experienced investigator with a proven background in leading serious and complex investigations. A professional accreditation of PIP2 is mandatory.
Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP) is a four level accreditation programme under the auspices of the National Police Chiefs Council and the College of Policing. Those officers accredited at PIP Level 2 will have successfully passed the National Investigators Examination and undertaken the Initial Crime Investigators Development Programme (ICIDP) course plus Tier 2 Interviewing and demonstrated operational competence through completion of a work-based portfolio which will have undergone assessment and verification in force prior to being substantively awarded the title of detective. Officers who were in a detective role prior to 2005 may have obtained legacy accreditation based upon having completed the ten-week CID course and exhibited operational competence in role. Evidence of both routes should be available from either Force or certification. Evidence of recent valid accreditation from the date of application must be produced. Evidence is acceptable in either certification or by advising a point of contact in force/previous role with whom we can confirm accreditation. This will be requested during the sift process.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- A CV detailing job history and qualifications
- A Statement of Suitability (personal statement) (maximum 750 words)
- Provide evidence of the lead behaviour – Making Effective Decisions (maximum 250 words)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note the Statement of Suitability should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description.
For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links Statement
For guidance on how to construct your behaviour examples, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links Behaviours
Please note: An initial check prior to sift will be made on candidates holding PIP2 accreditation. Candidates who are confirmed as not being accredited will automatically have their application rejected.
The sift will be held on the lead behaviour – Making Effective Decisions and the Statement of Suitability (personal statement). The CV will not be scored.
The Statement of Suitability (personal statement) will be scored first for all candidates. Those who achieve the minimum pass score for the Statement of Suitability (personal statement), will progress to a full sift where their lead behaviour Making Effective Decisions will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements.
Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the Statement of Suitability (personal statement) will not have their lead behaviour scored and will therefore only receive a sift score for the Statement of Suitability.
However, if a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Statement of Suitability (personal statement) only.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of Strength-based questions and Behaviour-based questions on all listed behaviours.
Strengths are the things that you do regularly, do well and that motivate you. To find out more about strength based questions click here
Sift and Interview dates
Sift is expected to take place from 20th December 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 22nd January 2024.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
- A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
- Good internet connection
- Skype for Business/Microsoft Teams
Please note: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
Further information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
NOTE FOR CANDIDATES: Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying of examples/answers from internet sources. If any is detected the application will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.
Please note: If you are currently an agency member of staff working within the Home Office, a contractor or contingent worker you can only apply for roles that are advertised externally, i.e., outside the civil service. If you are eligible to apply for a role, you are required to select yourself as an external applicant and not internal when submitting your application on Civil Service jobs. This will prevent any delays in pre-employment checks should you become successful in being made an offer of employment after the Interview stage.
Reserve List
A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role or similar role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Are these Reserved Posts for UK Nationals only?
UK nationals who hold dual nationality are able to apply for this reserved post. If a UK passport is not being presented, then candidates will need to provide alternative evidence of UK nationality in line with the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Annual Hours Working Allowance
We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and you would be required to work flexibly and operate over a 24/7 shift rota, this can include: Night shifts; Early morning starts (sometimes before 6am); Late night finishes (sometimes after midnight); Weekend and Public Holidays; Shifts can vary in length and can be up to 12 hours; Shifts that change or extend according to business need.
These posts include shift allowances which varies by flexibility, shifts, location; however, the current allowance is 30.09%. You would be deployed to a range of different duties, shifts and locations and should expect to have a variance in the AHW dependent on the varying duties and shifts. The actual % of AHW paid will be for each region/port to decide, as these will be different depending in which location you may work.
Age
These are shift working roles and so you must be 18 years or over.
Appearance
As part of this role you will be required to wear a uniform (which will be provided). Staff must ensure that their uniform is worn correctly, in line with these uniform standards, is kept clean and is well presented. To support this requirement, adequate uniform supplies will be available and issued. Uniformed staff represent their organisation at all times and should ensure that their dress and personal appearance reflects this responsibility.
Personal Safety Training (PST)
These roles can be physically demanding and if successful you will be required to complete and pass specialist training including Personal Safety Training (PST) which develops skills in personal safety, arrest and restraint techniques. This demands physical activity and physical contact with delegates on the course. A formal offer will be conditional upon you being physically fit to undertake and pass the training.
Hybrid working is not an option
The flexible working arrangement of Hybrid working (working partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home) is not available for this role due to the requirements of the role. Successful candidates will be required to attend the office/other work location as specified in the advert at all times to carry out this role.
Part-time
If you are considering applying for part time hours, please contact HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk to discuss your request as not all working patterns may be accommodated.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the Assistance Required section in the Additional Requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the Contact point for applicants section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Medical
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
