About the job

Job summary

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on the Immigration Enforcement careers page.

Job description

Detention Services (DS) is part of Immigration Enforcement (IE) and supports compliance across the immigration system through the detention and removal of individuals who no longer have the right to remain in the UK, and for whom other enforcement approaches have been unsuccessful. DS is responsible for running the immigration detention estate, which comprises of several Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs). We have a responsibility to ensure that all people in detention are held securely, safely and are treated with dignity and respect.

Central Support Services (CSS) sits within DS and has a dynamic remit to support the operations of the detention and escorting estate. Part of that remit is to certify individuals who work in the Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), Short Term Hold Facilities (STHF) and Overseas Escorts. This team is the Detention Services Certification Team (DSCT).

Certification for Detention Custody Officers (DCO’s) can only be issued once an individual has passed a comprehensive initial training course and cleared extensive pre-employment requirements. The role of the EO is a support function for day-to-day management of the team, assisting with problem-solving operational issues as they arise and provide important corporate support with policy, guidance, and data protection.

We are excited to welcome applicants who are confident, can work flexibly, handle contending priorities and are able to work at pace whilst demonstrating attention to detail. The ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with internal and external partners is also crucial. DSCT are a professional and friendly team who value collaborative teamwork and respect the sensitivities that surround our department. 

Due to the nature of the role, there will be a minimum requirement for applicants who wish to work part time to work 0.6 FTE or 22.2 hours per week. Applicants should take this into consideration when applying for the role.

We have two different roles available within this campaign. Every effort will be made for applicants to secure their preferred role, but the final decision lies with the recruiting manager and will be based on their assessment of who may be best suited for each one. Candidates must be prepared to take on either role should they be successful.

Person specification

Key roles/responsibilities:

Workflow & Assurance Officer

• Line management of a small pool of Case Officers.
• Oversight of the team’s shared case working in-box.
• Act as ‘Duty Officer’ (on rota)- allocating new work and dealing with day-to-day queries.
• Assist with the general day to day management of the team.
• Monitoring trends in workflow (ebbs and flows) and proactively contributing towards dealing with changing operational demands.
• Carry out regular case quality assurance checks and provide constructive feedback for Case Officers.
• Participate in weekly team meetings, delivering regular updates/ spotlights on policy topics and general housekeeping reminders.
• To act as cover for the wider team during periods of leave.
• Work with partners across the estate to ensure timely updates are received for staff refresher training.
• Carry out a range of risk & assurance processes for the wider team as required.
• Assist the delivery of change management by supporting the implementation of new processes & procedures in response to a growing and dynamic work remit.

Policy & Guidance Support Officer

Providing administrative and project support to the Policy & Guidance Manager by;

• Reviewing and updating certification policies and processes, including formalising all aspects of the certification workstream.
• Assisting in the development of and advocating for appropriate record keeping relating to DCO training, security clearance and certification files.
• Providing administrative support on an ad-hoc basis to the DS Data Protection Officer (DPO).
• Assist with rolling reviews of the Certification- Detention Service Order (DSO) policy document, to ensure its content is relevant, up to date and in line with wider organisational policy.
• Regular oversight of in-house training manuals and guidance documents relating to the certification process.
• Support the development and implementation of new IT solutions that facilitate the whole certification process.
• Participate in weekly team meetings, delivering regular updates/ spotlights on policy topics.
• Assist the delivery of change management by supporting the implementation of new processes & procedures in response to a growing and dynamic work remit.

Please note, existing Detention Services staff are welcome to apply for the Policy & Guidance Support Officer role and can remain working in their current location or choose to relocate to the location listed above.

Assisting the wider team when required with workflow & assurance tasks;

• Support the team with day-to-day tasks and problem-solving certification policy issues as they arise.
• Act as ‘Duty Officer’ (on rota)- allocating new work and dealing with day-to-day queries.
• Oversight of the team’s shared case working in-box.

Both roles may be required to:

• Deliver certification responsibility awareness sessions across the detention estate. Sessions are delivered both virtually and face to face (this will come with a reasonable expectation for the successful candidates to travel across the estate on occasion. This may include overnight stays.

Essential Criteria

Successful candidates must:

• Have good organisational skills and capability to work to tight timeframes with sometimes conflicting demands.

• Be a confident communicator who is comfortable building links and engaging with a range of partners, both internally and externally.

• Demonstrate an ability to work under pressure with a flexible and positive approach whilst paying attention to detail.

• Have effective IT skills with the ability to quickly learn to use new/different IT platforms.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to tailor your delivery to suit your audience.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience or knowledge of immigration detention.

• Previous experience or knowledge in dealing with a range of external partners.

• Strong leadership and management skills.

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 vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete: 

• A statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 500 words) 

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. 

For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Statement

The sift will be held on the statement of suitability (personal statement). 

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. 

Strengths are the things that you do regularly, do well and that motivate you. To find out more about strength based questions click here

For guidance on how to construct your behaviour examples, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links –Behaviours

Sift and Interview dates 

Sift is expected to take place from 5th March 2024 onwards. 

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 25th March 2024.
 
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change. 

Interviews will be carried out via MS Teams. 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

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.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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 and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants

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.

Flexible working

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).

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 candidate’s 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

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.