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Investigation
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Job description
Our Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) team is committed to disrupting and dismantling the organised crime groups facilitating immigration abuse, utilising its financial investigations capability to remove the proceeds of crime and strip criminals of their assets.
The teams are comprised of specially trained Immigration Officers supported by a small number of Police Officers who work with corporate partners including National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), National Crime Agency (NCA) and others, in pursuit of shared objectives.
The profile of criminality is changing rapidly with an ever-increasing reliance on digital technology. As part of our investigation capability, CFI have trained Digital Forensics (DF) staff to support investigations from a digital and data perspective.
This is an exciting opportunity to join our CFI team as a Digital Forensic specialist and help to develop our understanding of immigration crime.
You will work closely with partners such as Border Force, NCA, Police and other government departments.
The role will be working in one of two Digital Forensic Labs with responsibility for analysing data from digital devices using “off the shelf” tools and reporting software, enhancing photographic/video and audio media files using bespoke software and providing professional products to case teams to assist in complex investigations.
This is a new and challenging role at the heart of the Cyber and Digital Capabilities Unit, which was formed in 2018. This provides the candidates with the ideal opportunity to build and progress the scope of the unit from its infancy.
All Criminal & Financial Investigation staff are required to disclose any adverse judicial decisions or internal disciplinary matters under CPIA.
Applicants need to bear this in mind when considering their eligibility for this post.
Person specification
Responsibilities:
- Analysing and reporting data from mobile devices and peripheral items such as pen drives, memory cards and Satnav's, in accordance with national guidelines, utilising proprietary and bespoke software.
- Analysing data from laptop/computers using proprietary and bespoke triage software.
- Processing the recovered data into a form suitable for investigations to examine for evidential content.
- Examining the processed data in accordance with best practice and produce resulting information in a form that can be readily understood and evaluated.
- Sharing knowledge of different technology and data types and keep all key stakeholders up to date with new and emerging digital data exploitation opportunities.
- Providing technical support for Officers attending the unit to view data extracted from digital devices.
- Producing clear, concise reports relating to information recovered from digital devices, providing specialist interpretation.
- Assisting officers as appropriate in the execution of search warrants and provide specialist advice and guidance on the correct methods of seizing and removing digital devices and other internet enabled equipment.
- Bringing any inefficient processes to the attention of the Digital Forensic Unit Manager and assist with the development of any solutions.
- Using the Digital Forensics case management system to record processes, contact with officers and examinations conducted.
- Working closely with the other departments to ensure effective knowledge sharing across CFI, and assist Digital Media Investigators in the creation of Digital Media Investigation strategies.
- Conducting other associated tasks that are considered appropriate given the rapid changes in technology and the amendment of practices to take these into account.
Essential criteria
The Successful Candidate must have the following proven skills:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills. Particularly the ability to produce written work to a high standard
- Competent in using IT (particularly MS Excel and Word), including creating and being able to understand spreadsheets.
- Focused, flexible and able to apply attention to detail to all aspects of the role.
- Ability to adapt to frequently changing priorities within a fast-paced environment.
- Remain focused on tasks.
- Experience in analysing data from laptops/ computers/mobile devices.
- Ability to produce clear, concise reports relating to information recovered from digital devices, providing specialist interpretation.
Desirable criteria
- Relevant training in the tools currently in use in the CFI Digital Forensic Labs (Cellebrite CCPA, MSAB XAMN, Chorus Analyse, AmpedFive).
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
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 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/qualifications/skills
- A statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 750 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 advertisement.
For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Statement
Strengths are the things that you do regularly, do well and that motivate you. To find out more about strength based questions click here
The sift will be held on the statement of suitability (personal statement).
The CV will not be scored.
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.
You will also be required to prepare a short presentation on technical skills (no slides or handouts required) to present at interview, further details around what the presentation will entail will be provided before the interview.
Sift and Interview dates
Sift is expected to take place week commencing 11th September 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 2nd October 2023.
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
- Skype for Business/Microsoft Teams
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.
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.
When completing your application you will have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s). Please ensure you select all locations you are interested in.
Candidates who are successful at Interview will be placed in order of merit per location and provisional job offers will be made in strict merit order per location preference. Provisional offers are made, as they are on condition that you successfully pass all pre-employment checks.
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.
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.
Annual Hours Working Allowance
Annualised Hours Working (AHW) is an attendance system where staff work an agreed number of hours for the year rather than weekly conditioned hours.
You will be required to work flexibly on any day of the week, including weekends, nights, Public Holidays and the Privilege Day, and the hours may vary each week. Attendance may also be subject to change at short notice.
The rate payable under the AHW scheme is driven by business requirements and may vary depending on location. Your initial rate will be confirmed when you have started in post and will be paid as a percentage of your basic salary. If a member of staff has agreed an annualised hours arrangement, this does not become a permanent or guaranteed right. Annualised hours working is subject to changes in operational needs and managers can adjust, cease or suspend it, for operational or performance reasons. Annualised hours agreements are reviewed at least annually.
The annualised hours year runs from 1 April to 31 March. If an individual begins working on an annualised hours basis part way through the year, they will receive a part-year agreement and the Annualised Hours Allowance will be pro-rated for the remainder of the year to reflect that agreement.
If you transfer to a non-AHW post the requirement to work in accordance with the terms of the AHW policy will also end, and you will move to standard Home Office Terms and Conditions.
The initial rate payable is approximately 25%.
Age: These are shift working roles and so you must be 18 years or over.
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.
Hybrid working is not an option:
The flexible working arrangement of Hybrid working (working partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home) is not available for this role 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
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
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