About the job

Job summary

Immigration Enforcement (IE) 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

Immigration Enforcement tackles the criminality behind organised immigration crime. Our Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) teams play a fundamental role in addressing 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 in the CFI teams is challenging and fast paced, requiring quick decision making in demanding situations. CFI undertakes 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. You would be 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.

The teams are comprised of specially trained immigration officers who work with corporate partners including Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), National Crime Agency (NCA) and others, in pursuit of shared objectives.

The role provides an excellent opportunity for the successful candidate to work in a high profile and fast paced area of the business. The successful candidate will gain a full understanding of CFI and also work closely with teams across the Home Office. It is an ideal development opportunity to work in a support role and would suit someone who is interested in gaining a wider understanding of CFI’s work and how it fits within the wider Immigration Enforcement.

There is no shift working requirement, and therefore no AHW allowance available for this post.

We are looking for a candidate who wants real stretch and development in their everyday role.

Person specification

The successful candidate will provide business and operational support through the provision of a range of office-based functions, in direct support of the investigators in the team as well as the Management Team within that region.

Core administrative functions include (but are not limited to):

• Property Store and Digital Data Manager, ensuring the integrity of physical and digital exhibits/material and other property through the CLUE system. Conducting regular reviews to ensure compliance with Business Assurance Standards and data quality.
• Assuming the Manager role in respect of SharePoint and MS Teams, taking on responsibility and ownership of team sites and workspaces. Managing user access and data stored within these digital locations.
• Purchasing and procurement including submission of requests to purchase and the use of Government procurement card.
• Fleet vehicle manager for the team cars, including collation of monthly mileage data, car servicing, MOT, accident reports and general maintenance. Licence checks of official drivers.
• Provision of Management Information from databases, spreadsheets and other locally held documentation including the maintenance of staff organograms and asset registers.
• Coordination of uniform/work wear/PPE supply and returns.
• Organisation of and minute taking for management/tasking meetings, including the provision of supporting documentation for attendees.
• Lead for the local Business Continuity Plan, archiving of case files with KIMU, staff passes and visitor notifications, IT systems access requests and general IT now requests, accommodation issues, bulk travel bookings, event coordination.
• Provision of operational support by way of undertaking intelligence checks on HO systems as well as (once suitably trained) wider checks through access to other databases.
• Acting as Training Liaison Officer, maintaining a record of all development activities for the team and arranging attendance at personal safety training and health check refreshers.
• Assuming the role of the Airwave Custodian, maintaining the secure storage of the devices, conducting monthly checks and where necessary arranging for repairs.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidate will have the following proven skills:

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Use initiative and work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Ability to research and pay close attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act and issues surrounding confidentiality of information.
• Strong organisational skills in order to review, plan and organise workload in line with priorities and deadlines.

Desirable Criteria

• Good IT skills with knowledge of all Microsoft 365 applications including SharePoint, One Drive and MS Teams would be highly desirable.

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.

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 statement of suitability (personal statement) (750 words maximum)
• provide evidence of the lead behaviour - Making Effective Decisions (250 words maximum)

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

The sift will be held on the lead behaviour - Making Effective Decisions and the statement of suitability (personal statement). 

The statement of suitability will be scored first for all candidates. Those who achieve the minimum pass score for the statement of suitability, will progress to a full sift where the lead behaviour 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 will not have their behaviour scored and will therefore only receive a sift score for the statement of suitability.

However, if a large number of applications are received, the 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 27th February 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 18th March 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
• 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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

Part-time working

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.

Flexible working Arrangement is not an option

This role is not suitable for a combination of office and home-based working 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.

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 security 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.