About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

To note the base location for this role is at Trafalgar House, 1 Bedford Park, Croydon CR0 2AQ and not Southern House in Croydon. Extensive travel around the region will be required by the successful applicants. 

Overview of the job    

The job holder will act as a remote CHIS handler, supporting the establishment based handlers and will provide support to Directed Surveillance and other technical collection operations by reviewing visual and/or audio footage. The job holder is responsible for assisting and advising establishment handlers in the handling of Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) within their relevant Prison Establishments.

The job holder will work within the National Intelligence Unit, SOCT. This is a regionally based role.

This is a non-operational role which can be carried out by an operational or non- operational member of staff.

The job holder will have no line management responsibility.

Summary    

The job holder provides support to establishments by providing a remote CHIS handler capability for prisons. In addition, they will provide support to Directed Surveillance/technical collection operations.

This includes drafting and submitting paperwork and logs appropriately in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, its associated Codes of Practice and HMPPS policy.

The job holder will liaise with and assist establishment controllers and handlers to ensure that applications, reviews and renewals demonstrate and contain the justification and lawful basis underpinning such activity.

The job holder will be required to liaise with the HMPPS Central Authorities Bureau and brief the relevant HMPPS Controller on such activity to ensure that authorities are in place where appropriate. This liaison will most often take place in conjunction with the regional Proactive Intelligence lead or manager.

The job holder will recognise the sensitivities around undertaking HMPPS and law enforcement covert activity in a prison environment and be able to liaise with LEA/Police partners particularly in relation to the use of CHIS and surveillance within Prisons.

The job holder will also be responsible for proactive CHIS recruitment campaigns across their region and will be required to provide a 24/7 on call function for urgent RIPA related issues.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties    

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Proactively recruit, develop, handle and task Covert Human Intelligence Sources to address the tactical and strategic intelligence requirement of prisons in their region.
• Act as a remote handler responsible for the day to day activity of the CHIS. Regular CHIS contact will include providing security and welfare advice, providing tasking to and receiving information from the source. Ensure the CHIS terms and conditions of use are adhered to.
• Review products collected via technical collection operations in accordance with RIPA, Codes of Practice and HMPPS policy.
• Act as tactical adviser and advising staff on how to maintain a professional relationship with the source.
• Advise and assist establishment staff to ensure that risk assessments and risk management plans for RIPA authorities are comprehensive, relevant and up to date.
• Ensure that all CHIS meetings/contacts are properly authorised and that appropriate authorisations for use and conduct are in place.
• Ensure the timely and accurate reporting of all information supplied by the CHIS or acquired through technical collection operations.
• Advise establishment staff to ensure that the welfare of the source is properly considered and reported on.
• Advise and ensure that sanitisation of intelligence from CHIS and technical collection operations is managed appropriately with appropriate evaluation codes and handling conditions attached, this will involve frequent discussions with establishment security governors and handlers to agree the operational response flowing from RIPA related intelligence strands.
• Immediately report (to the Controller/Regional RIPA Unit Manager) any concerns that the source is acting outwith their remit, assisting establishments in compiling potential breach reports.
• Continually monitor the potential for exposure and in particular, any liability issues that may accrue for HMPPS.
• Maintain liaison with the other key stakeholders in supporting collaborative working on covert work within prisons, establishing mutually beneficial working relationships with LEA, CT and Crime based Prison Dedicated Source Units.
• Attend intelligence tasking meetings to identify new/emerging intelligence requirements and tasking opportunities.
• Contribute to CHIS status drift registers to identify CHIS recruitment opportunities and ensure that the initial Risk Assessment Process is applied consistently and appropriately.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,506, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes £8,879 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 is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.