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About the job
Job summary
The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Governments plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.
The Home Office covers three systems: Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public.
These are challenging areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work.
If you work with us, you’ll be making a real difference.
Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) enables the Home Office to keep citizens safe and the country secure, as well as at the front line of making the Home Office a modern and capable Department at a time of unprecedented global change.
We design, build and operate services that are critical in helping the department achieve its mission. You could be designing and building solutions to help people prove their identity or apply for visas, or working on the critical IT systems that support policing and counter terrorism, and help protect UK borders. Our success in this role depends on our ability to exploit the latest technologies to create leading-edge, world class solutions whilst ensuring they are secure and resilient.
This is an exciting time to work for the Home Office as we develop some of the most challenging and transformative technology projects the department has ever seen. Youll have a chance to shape the future and support our goal to provide exceptional services for everyone.
Our work is guided by these fundamental principles:
- Put user needs first
Delivery and outcomes over process
Make the most of openness: open standards
Open source, open data and open markets.
We value everyone’s skills and provide a creative and supportive environment to help you do your best work.
Job description
The Associate Developer will be paired with an engineering colleague to learn on the job whilst designing, running and improving software components. You can expect to benefit from training, coaching and mentoring to help you develop in this role.
You will be learning to work to our technical standards writing clean and secure code. Your work will be relatively procedural and guided by your team.
Your main day to day responsibilities will be:
- completing basic development/test tasks on your own initiative, and more advanced tasks under the supervision of others
- proposing solutions that fit within the overall models and patterns set by more senior developers
- identifying and resolving issues with one of our systems, using established methods
- supporting the definition and delivery of new services
- learning more advanced software development and delivery skills to advance as an engineer
All our engineers will be expected to embody an open and positive approach, supporting the Home Office in:
- progressing the DDaT Profession, understanding all roles and helping to build our community
- working and assessing to appropriate standards: for instance, accessibility, the GDS service standard and our own community practices
- improving our skills and approaches as well as keeping up to speed with the technology landscape
Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA):
Candidates with exceptional skills and experience may receive a Recruitment and Retention Allowance up to £4,000. This allowance is subject to annual review in line with Departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home in line with the Home Office Hybrid Working policy. A hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow for this role. Applicants can discuss what this means with the vacancy holder if they have specific questions on what this entails.
Due to the nature of the role, this post is available on a full-time basis only and with the possibility of flexible working/compressed hours.
Person specification
Essential Skills
Youll have a demonstrable passion for software development, with the following skills or proven experience in:
Youll have a demonstrable passion for software development, with the following skills or experience in:
- development using Java, or .NET using Visual Basic
- development or maintenance of web frontends using JavaScript, CSS and HTML
- Git or similar version control tools
- SQL or Oracle PL/SQL
- Database management tools such as SQL Developer.
The skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:
Strategy and Architecture
- Technical Strategy and Planning
- Data Management (DATM) – Level 4
Development and Implementation
- Systems Development
- Software Design (SWDN) – Level 3
- Programming/Software Development (PROG) – Level 3
- Testing (TEST) – Level 3
- Installation and Integration
- Systems Integration and Build (SINT) – Level 3
Delivery and Operation
- Service Operation
- Application Support (ASUP) – Level 4
Desirable Skills
Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in:
- Experience in using Docker
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Strategy and Architecture – Technical Strategy and Planning
- Development and Implementation – Systems Development & Installation and Integration
- Delivery and Operation – Service Operation
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 and Personal Statement (Max Word Limit: 500).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note your Personal Statement should be aligned to explain why you are a good fit for the advertised role aligned to the essential criteria listed in the role description.
Your CV should include all relevant experience that relates to our essential criteria listed in the advert and role description. Do not just list languages / platforms – do provide context.
The sift will be based on the Personal Statement & the CV.
Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that youll be judged on merit alone and not your background, circumstances, race or gender.
(Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses may result in your application being rejected)
Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
(Do NOT include any links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work).
Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will based on experience & technical skills
Sift and Interview dates
Sift will take place week commencing 21st August 2023.
Interviews will take place week commencing 11th September 2023. (subject to the panels operational priorities)
Please note, interviews will be held remotely, via MS Teams. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview and these dates may be subject to change.
Further information
Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.
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 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.
– Higher Security Clearance. This post requires the successful candidate to hold security clearance at minimum SC level. Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
– Visa Sponsorship Statement. Please take note that the Home Office DDaT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
This post is eligible for a DDaT Recruitment Retention Allowance this allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in line with the departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
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
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
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lauren Lucas
- Email : OptimusACRecruitment@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.
