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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office is the lead HM Government Department for immigration and passports, crime, police, fire, and counter terrorism. These significant issues are at the heart of the agenda of HM Government and intellectually stimulating, often controversial and regularly at the top of the news. The challenges and opportunities the Department faces are significant and rapidly changing in the global environment in which we operate. Strong analytical advice is needed to navigate these challenges, and the Home Office has a reputation for making analysis at the centre of policy making and operational decisions.
Two key analytical units within Home Office Analysis and Insight (HOAI) provide social research support across irregular migration policies: the Protection and Enforcement Analysis and Insight Unit (PEAI) and Immigration System Statistics and Refugees Analysis and Insight Unit (ISSRAI). Both units strive to provide robust evidence to inform the development of new policies and operational procedures and operational processes on irregular migration, including policies relating to the flagship New Plan for Immigration (New Plan for Immigration: legal migration and border control strategy – New Plan for Immigration: legal migration and border control strategy – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), assessing the compliant environment, and wider policies relating to resettlement of refugees. The challenges in this policy area require innovative analytical solutions, which leads us to working across the vibrant HOAI community of over 600 analysts, with partners across government and with international partners to provide consistent and coherent analysis and insight to the Migration and Border system and the public.
This is an exciting time to be working in social research relating to immigration and in particular irregular immigration to be driving new cross-Government policy development. We have seen increased demand for analysis to support this area and therefore are looking to increase our capacity and capability across several professions for research, modelling, monitoring and evaluation roles within the Unit.
Job description
Please refer to Annex A: SRO Information Pack for information on working at the Home Office as a social researcher and full eligibility criteria.
We are pleased to offer four opportunities for GSR Senior Research Officers looking to make their mark as analysts driving influential policy development.
Each of these roles will be leading a portfolio of research and evaluation, on the areas of:
– Evaluation on the New Plan for Immigration and Illegal Migration Act;
– Evidencing more widely our understanding of upstream irregular migration;
– Evaluation of Asylum and Refugee Resettlement initiatives;
– Research and Evaluation relating to Upstream migration.
This will involve designing and leading discrete research projects involving in-house quantitative and qualitative analysis, in addition to commissioning to external contractors, and engaging with leading academics. You will present findings to senior policy and operational stakeholders and embed your research into operational decision making at working level. These roles will offer specific experience in delivering evaluation on policies in this space, identified as a key departmental priority delivering on outcome delivery plan 4.
As a GSR social researcher within the Units, you will join over 30 other social researchers building the departmental evidence base.
You will work in the wider multi-disciplinary analytical unit, where you will work closely with and alongside operational researchers, statisticians, and economists to develop a rich evidence picture.
The UK approach to managing irregular migration, including systems for asylum casework and immigration enforcement are key areas of interest for both the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister. These posts form part of a friendly, dedicated, and supportive unit, bringing together multi-disciplinary teams to tackle analytical challenges which recognise the complexity and human challenge of the areas we support. Your work will enable us to continue to provide robust advice to policy, shaping operational approaches to promote swift, fair, and humane approaches to immigration case-working and support.
We have office locations in Central London, Croydon and Sheffield, with the option of hybrid working (up to 60% of time spent working from home). We support and champion diverse perspectives and experience, encouraging life-long learning and providing reasonable adjustments to ensure the widest range of talent can access opportunities in our teams and contribute their skills to shape critical decisions that affect the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
These roles are based in Croydon, London and Sheffield. We may use a location merit list. In your application, please state your preferred first two choices of location and where possible this will be taken into account.
Person specification
As an experienced social researcher (with experience gained within government, from academia, or within other research organisations) you will be skilled in designing and delivering research and evaluation, carrying out primary data collection, undertaking secondary data analysis and commissioning external expertise to deliver insights to drive policy formation.
You will be adept at deploying innovative methods, able to provide expert advice on research approaches and able to balance short term evidence requests whilst delivering your own long term research programme.
You will be a strong team player, willing to work flexibly across changing priorities while maintaining delivery of your core projects, experienced in delivering as part of a team and able to recognise when different analytical skill sets can be brought to bear on a problem.
Your ability to understand and interpret stakeholder requirements and communicate results and implications of your analysis will support you in providing clear and comprehensible evidence to Ministers and senior operational and policy leads.
You understand and live the Civil Service Values of Honesty, Integrity, Objectivity, and Impartiality in delivering high value evidence and analysis.
Your responsibilities could include:
Managing, leading and delivering on quantitative and qualitative research projects that enable the Department to make timely, evidence-based decisions.
Designing evaluations and research projects; undertaking primary research and conducting secondary analysis of data.
Analysing and synthesising a range of evidence to present compelling summaries and narratives of knowledge regarding various social policy areas.
Managing relationships effectively with immediate policy and operational colleagues to ensure maximum buy-in and use of analytical work being delivered.
Working collaboratively with analysts from other professions (e.g. economists, operational researchers) on both specific projects and wider analytical programmes.
Managing wider stakeholder relationships, for example, with academia, to enable the Home Office to stay up-to-date with the most recent research and evidence.
Working with senior managers to design and implement appropriate quality assurance processes, ensuring accurate analytical outputs to meet policy needs.
Communicating succinctly the results of analysis – to both analysts and non-analysts.
Providing advice, with support of senior analysts, to Ministers and senior officials on the outcomes of research and analysis.
Managing staff to continually improve their performance and analytical outputs by valuing achievement; providing feedback, coaching; building confidence and setting the direction.
Providing timely, pragmatic advice on a range of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Managing your own time and workload effectively, learning lessons and continually striving to improve your performance.
Essential criteria
To be eligible to apply you must meet the Government Social Research Service (GSR) educational requirements. See below and Annex A for full details of qualifications you must hold.
You must also have strong applied experience and skills in designing and delivering research projects, analysing quantitative and qualitative data, reviewing literature, plus presenting research findings.
Experience managing analytical projects from inception to conclusion.
Working as part of a team to deliver work with impact and at pace.
Communicating technical concepts to a wide range of technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
Experience balancing a varied workload and working flexibly as needed.
Desirable criteria
Experience of evaluation, and particularly impact evaluation approaches.
Experience of using advanced analytical software (SPSS, Python, R, NVivo).
Experience of working flexibly across analytical teams, with a variety of stakeholders and across locations.
Experience of line management or coaching/ mentoring people for development purposes
An interest or experience in migration and attending issues.
Recruitment and retention allowance (RRA)
Successful candidates will be eligible for an annual RRA of £2,000. This allowance is subject to review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Qualifications
Alternatively, you may hold a 2.1 in any subject and have relevant experience as a practising social researcher.
With these qualifications there are two possible routes through for which you will be eligible Route 1 or Route 2. Please read the detailed information at Annex A and ensure this is included in your application.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- GSR: Technical Skills
- GSR: Using and Promoting Social Research
Benefits
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension
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.
These roles are open to both those who are already badged GSR social researchers working in government, and those who are not already GSR badged researchers external to government.
Existing GSR badged applicants should email irregularmigrationanalysis@homeoffice.gov.uk on applying for the role with campaign reference, your name, noting that you are applying for the role of Senior Research Officer, and your current government department where you work as a Government Social Researcher.
For applicants who dont hold GSR badging, you will be able to become GSR badged through successful completion of the GSR Knowledge Test. Details on this element of the assessment will be sent to applicants who pass the sift stage.
All applicants will be assumed to be non-badged unless they have emailed the above email address with details of their existing GSR badging.
Application
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:
- A CV outlining job history/skills/qualifications – please refer to Annex A for Route 1 and Route 2 details
- A Statement of Suitability (personal statement) (750 words max)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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. Please also state either Route 1 or Route 2 via which you are applying (refer to Annex A: SRO Information pack) and, if an existing member, the profession to which you belong.
Sifting applications
The CV will be used to assess eligibility for the role however will not be scored. Applicants meeting the educational requirements will progress to the sift which will be based on the Statement of Suitability (personal statement).
Knowledge Test
If you are not a member of GSR, you will be required to undertake a Knowledge Test – see Annex A including familiarisation material. A link to the test will be provided to those applicants who meet the eligibility criteria and pass the sift stage.
Please note: If you have previously passed the Knowledge Test within the last 12 months of 5th September 2023, you may choose not to sit the test again. Please contact HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk and provide evidence of your result. At this stage your application will still be anonymised and you should therefore also provide a sentence that is in your application and can be used to identify your application and remove you from the invitations to take the Knowledge Test.
Interview
Candidates who pass the Knowledge Test will be invited to an online interview. The interview will cover:
- Short 5 minute presentation and follow up questions, details of which will be disclosed prior to interview.
- Questions to explore your knowledge and application of analytical skills and techniques in line with the GSR technical framework. This could include a scenario based question.
- Questions covering the listed Civil Service Behaviours
Information on GSR technical skills can be found in the Government Social Research (GSR) Social Research Technical Skills Framework
Sift and interview dates
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change:
Review of qualifications and sift is planned from week commencing 9th October 2023.
The Knowledge Test for those passing the sift stage is scheduled to take place from week commencing 16th October 2023. (Please note that sift results will not be released until completion of the Knowledge Test stage.)
Interviews are scheduled to take place from week commencing 13th November 2023.
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
- 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.
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.
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.
When completing your application, you will have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s). Please ensure you select all locations you are interested in. Candidates who are successful at Interview will be placed in order of merit per location and provisional job offers will be made in strict merit order per location preference. Provisional offers are made, as they are on condition that you successfully pass all pre-employment checks.
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.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
