About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we would love to hear from you.

The post holder will work as part of the Department of Health & Social Care Anti-Fraud Unit (DHSC AFU) under the direction of the Investigation Manager with the key objective of dealing with fraud, bribery and corruption.

DHSC AFU is responsible for investigating frauds aimed at the DHSC, its arm’s length bodies and companies it owns as well as supporting the DHSC AFU in its role as sponsor of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority.

Job description

As a Senior Fraud Investigator with the DHSC AFU, the post holder will have previous extensive experience of investigating fraud and fraud investigation practices, will hold a current recognised accreditation as a Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) or equivalent, for example Professionalism in Security (PINS), Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP), etc., and will display a clear and demonstrable commitment to continuing personal development.

Alternatively, they will have previous extensive experience of investigating money laundering offences and hold a current recognised accreditation as either a Financial Investigator (FI) or Financial Intelligence Officer (FIO) for the exercise of powers available under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA).  

The work includes but is not restricted to functioning as a fraud investigator and/or financial investigator within the DHSC AFU, maintaining the highest professional standards.

Person specification

Role responsibilities:

• Manage, maintain, develop and control discrete strands of anti-fraud work.
• Act as a strategic focal point for anti-fraud investigation issues.
• Ensure that investigation work is prioritised, appropriate powers are exercised and that appropriate methods of investigation are undertaken in a professional manner.
• Ensure that professionalism, confidentiality and integrity are maintained leading to appropriate sanctions, redress and financial recovery through the criminal courts or via civil processes, as appropriate.
• Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders and other agencies to develop the role and its profile and to maintain their professional development through the recognised process.
• Raising awareness of the need to fraud proof policies across DHSC, the NHS and arms-length bodies funded by the DHSC and encouraging engagement with the DHSC AFU.
• Deputising for the Investigation Manager in their absence.

Key skills and experience required for the role:

To be effective in this role, it is essential that you demonstrate the following:

1. Hold a recognised counter fraud accreditation, i.e., Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist or equivalent. Examples of recognised equivalents are Professionalism in Security (PINS), Professionalising Investigations Programme (PIP), amongst others.

2. Fraud investigation experience, skills, knowledge and / or qualifications.

3. The skills and behaviours necessary to deliver your accountabilities effectively, efficiently and in line with the civil service Code of Conduct, this includes robust and effective decision making, attention to detail whilst delivering at pace, effective prioritisation when facing competing demands, etc., underpinned by the 4 crucial behaviour standards, i.e., integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. 

4. An ability to confidently brief to senior leadership.

5. Experience working as a fraud investigator/financial investigator to counter fraud, bribery and/or corruption.

It is also desirable that you demonstrate any or all the following:

1. An Accredited Financial Investigator for POCA purposes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,855 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: expected W/C 29/1/24

Interview date: expected W/C 12/2/24

Interview location: In person, the interview will take place at 10 South Colonnade, London, E14 4PU. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores.

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours, CV and Statement of Suitability. 

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

Please use your Statement of Suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. Personal details are to be absent from the statement. 

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Candidates will be required to complete a Numerical and Verbal Reasoning Tests as part of the online application, this will follow immediately after the initial short application form is submitted. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the full application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) to give yourself enough time to complete your full application. The closing date for the tests and for submitting your full application is 23:55 on 28th January 2024.

If you fail to complete the online test and submit your full application before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

An initial sift based on the Lead Behaviour of 'Making Effective Decisions' may be held if a large number of applications are received. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical and Experience. 

Candidates will be asked a presentation which will assess a Technical skill. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores. The presentation will last approximately 10 minutes. 

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available.

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance. 

Any move to DHSC 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 Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 dhscrecruitment.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 successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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. 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.