About the job

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) are an independent constabulary reporting to the Secretary of State. Their primary role is armed policing of defence and other critical national infrastructure including nuclear sites. With civilian support staff they are nearly 3,000 strong. MDP HQ is in RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire with key sites across the UK.

The Professional Standards Department (PSD) is directly responsible for the management of Public Complaints and Misconduct Allegations made against serving members of MDP.

The civilian investigator will carry out the duties of an investigator, including investigating criminal, Gross Misconduct, and complaint cases to include research, evidence and intelligence gathering.

In addition to use specialist knowledge of the Police Reform Act and IOPC and PIRC Statutory Guidance to carry out investigations specific to PSD.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

• Identify and complete relevant enquiries within case investigation to support investigations into public complaints or misconduct.
• Identify witnesses and other relevant individuals to ascertain what evidence or information they can provide.
• Identify opportunities for gathering and preservation of evidence. Forensic, electronic or written.
• Seize and analyse evidence Provide analysis of that evidence allowing senior managers to make determinations on case direction.
• Analyse collected evidence and Intelligence provided in all forms to support investigations.
• Provide instructions to others in the best way of preserving evidence to support investigations.
• Gather and collate evidence and intelligence for the production of a case file for submission to Crown Prosecution Service and or Head of Investigations allowing determination of case progress.
• To act as officer in case (OIC) and lead on decision making within the case.
• Complete investigation reports detailing fully investigative actions and findings.
• To conduct criminal, conduct and public complaint investigations as directed by the Relevant Authority.
• To complete severity assessments during an investigation to decide whether there is an indication that there may be criminal offences or breaches of standards of professional behaviour and to consult with the Appropriate Authority.
• To make determinations where conduct notices have been served as to whether there is a case to answer on the balance of probability.
• To make determinations where conduct notices have notbeen served as to whether an allegation is upheld or not upheld.
• To make referrals to the IOPC as per the statutory guidance when the criteria is met during investigations.
• Carry out the role of specific point of contact (spoc) for the IOPC in respect of Independent complaint and conduct Investigations.
• To consult and negotiate with legal Counsel in respect of cases appearing before public gross misconduct hearings.
• Present cases / give evidence at staff and officer disciplinary proceedings having ensured that the evidence presented has been accurately and effectively researched, investigated and presented.

Person specification

Essential

1. Previous investigative experience
2. Good communication and interpersonal skills
3. Ability to manage and prioritise a high volume workload
4. Must be able to motivate others and undertake with minimum of supervision.
5. The post holder must be able to communicate with people at all levels and a high level of confidentiality is required

Desirable

1. A National Investigators Examination, PIP 2 qualified, or equivalent.

Other requirements:

• Post holder will be vetted to SC and MV. Post holder must have resided in the UK for a minimum of 5 years prior to their application. 
• Must maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and integrity at all times regarding all information gained whilst in post.
• Will be required to work 37 hours per week offering flexibility during hearings which may mean longer hours
• Be fully conversant and competent with Microsoft Office based systems and have good oral and written communication skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy will assess your Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At application Candidates will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability with a maximum word limit of 750  words

Once we reach the closing date, the team will then conduct a 'paper' sift using a panel of two - a member of the PSD team and an independent member for fairness and equality. If successful at this stage, you will then be invited to a selection interview where you will be asked on your experience and qualification. 

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.  

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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

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.