About the job

Job summary

We currently have two exciting opportunities for Secretariat Support roles.

Role 1: Support to the Biometrics and Forensics Ethics Group (BFEG)

The BFEG is an advisory, non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office.

The group provided Ministers with independent ethical advice on the operation of the UK National DNA Database (NDNAD).

In 2017 the Home Office extended the remit to cover all forensic identification techniques and the name was changed to the BFEG.

The remit of the BFEG was further extended in 2019 to provide independent ethical review of the use of large data sets by the Home Office. 

Members are leading experts in skills and expertise areas including law, computer science, philosophy, ethics, law enforcement and forensic science. BFEG will only advise, and it does not have the power to enforce recommendations made. 

BFEG committee members are appointed by Ministers through the public appointments process. 

Members are volunteers who are not paid for their services. 

BFEG currently comprises 14 members and a Chair with expertise across a range of distinct disciplines.

As part of the secretariat to the BFEG, you will help support the development of the Committee’s advice, liaising with scientific experts in relevant fields. You will support the BFEG secretary to ensure the effective delivery of committee meetings and outputs. 

Role 2: Support to the Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee (AESAC)

The AESAC was set up in December 2021 (initially as an interim Committee to provide independent advice on methods to improve age assessments in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children).

The interim Committee report was published on 10 January and can be found here Biological methods to assess unaccompanied asylum-seeking children’s age - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The full Committee was established from January 2023. AESAC’s main function is to provide the Home Office’s Chief Scientific Adviser with independent advice on the estimation of chronological age in the living. (Currently focused on providing independent advice on methods to improve age assessments in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children).

This helps to support us in important safeguarding duties relating to those seeking asylum in the UK. 

The AESAC is currently formed of 8 independent members including the Co-Chairs.  The Committee’s work includes consideration of: 

•    The scientific and associated ethical advice and guidance on existing and emerging scientific approaches that could be utilised for the purpose of age assessment in the living.
•    The recommendations for best practice guidance on any existing and proposed scientific method(s).
•    Issues raised by key stakeholders relating to the implementation of scientific methods to assess chronological age in the living.

As part of the secretariat to the AESAC, you will help support the development of the Committee’s advice, liaising with scientific experts in relevant fields. You will support the AESAC secretary to ensure the effective delivery of committee meetings and outputs. 

Further details of the post holder’s responsibilities are set out below.

More details about AESAC are available here: Age Estimation Science Advisory Committee - GOV.UK, including the interim AESAC’s report on scientific methodologies for assessing the age of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

Job description

Each reporting to the Grade 7 Secretary to AESAC / BFEG, the post holders will be responsible for the provision of high-quality support to AESAC / BFEG.

Key responsibilities include:

•    Support Project managing the administration, meetings and work required for delivery of sponsor commissioned work and self-commissioned work for AESAC / BFEG.
•    Applying effective judgement to identify issues that may require the ability to balance the complexities arising from being the interface between the AESAC / BFEG and the Department. 
•    Ensuring notes to meetings and minutes to committee meetings are done in an accurate and timely manner. Advising of recordings to participants for support to note taking processes.
•    Working in conjunction with the rest of the Team to highlight and address any delivery, resourcing or development issues that might impact on the work and priorities for AESAC / BFEG.
•    Supporting the AESAC / BFEG Members to undertake an evidence review and provide options to Ministers.
•    Undertaking the necessary research, interdepartmental as well as external engagement requested to support the work of AESAC / BFEG. 
•    Supporting the compilation of AESAC / BFEG reports and representing the interests of the AESAC / BFEG as required.
•    Working with the AESAC / BFEG Members to highlight areas where further research may be needed, and to support addressing highlighted areas of concern including ethics and safety.
•    Applying a project planning approach to work to clear timelines for delivery and support risk mitigation measures, including providing regular updates on the work of the sub-committee to supervise progress. 
•    Working more broadly with Science Secretariat colleagues including sharing good practice identified in the delivery of committee support. 

The post holders will join the Home Office Science Secretariat team. 

Home Office Science Secretariat, Pathology, Regulation and Services Unit delivers continuous improvement and strategic support to the Home Office Science leadership team. It provides professional secretariat functions to our independent Scientific Advisory Committees and niche professional corporate services across Home Office Science. 

Important Information

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).

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Ability to support a high-profile committee and support the delivery of outputs including briefing the Committee Chair, and senior internal officials.
• The ability to be flexible and provide accurate and timely administration support not only for AESAC / BFEG but the wider STARS Secretariat as and when needed.
• Support the development of effective relationships with Committee members and a range of stakeholders across the Home Office, Other Government Departments (OGDs) and more widely.
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly written and verbal communication. This includes the timely and accurate delivery of minutes, meeting notes and action summaries as required.
• The ability to deliver at pace and under pressure. This includes the ability to support potential resolutions to issues impacting delivery timeframes.
• Process scientific information and support the presentation of this in a suitable format for Ministers or equivalent senior officials and non-scientist colleagues, with considered options and recommendations.
• Discretion and the ability to act with great sensitivity and integrity. Understand and appreciate the sensitive nature of some of the issues under discussion and apply all aspects of Data protection and GDPR in accordance with all our work. A willingness to seek advice from the team if unsure.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of supporting high profile committees.
• Experience of supporting the drafting of material for consideration by Ministers or equivalent senior officials.
• While a scientific background would be useful, this is a generalist role.

Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA)

Successful candidates may be eligible for an annual RRA of £1,600. This allowance is subject to review and Head of Profession approval, and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.

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 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 CV detailing job history/skills 
•    A statement of suitability (maximum 1000 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.

The sift will be held on the statement of suitability. The CV will not be scored.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be behaviour based questions on all the behaviours listed in the advert.

Sift and Interview dates

Sift is expected to take place from 25th January 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 12th February 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 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.

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.  

The Home Office is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

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.

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

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.

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.