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The Home Office is here to make the UK safer. It has a fundamental role in protecting the country from harm, ensuring the security and economic prosperity of the UK. Every member of the Home Office plays a part in making that happen. Our work is varied and rewarding, attracting people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

Asylum & Human Rights Operations is one of the key business areas within the Home Office. We are undergoing an exciting period of change. Alongside the other areas of the Home Office, the department is embarking upon a transformational programme. Operational Excellence is at the forefront of what we do.

Our strategic aims contribute to the Home Office strategic objectives: preventing terrorism and extremism; cutting crime and protecting the vulnerable; and reducing immigration and preventing abuse.

Asylum & Human Rights Operations play a vital role in supporting the economy and cultural life of the UK.

The National Asylum Intake Unit sits within Asylum & Human Rights Operations and has several locations across the UK including Croydon, Dover, Manston (near Ramsgate), and Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre (near Bedford).

The National Asylum Intake Unit is made up of over 800 officers and registers around 80% of asylum claims nationally, the remainder being registered through Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.

The National Asylum Intake Unit is responsible for locking the identity and registering asylum claims from:

• Small boat arrivals
• Lorry drops and other clandestine arrivals
• In-country claimants

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at the Home Office. We are committed to 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 excited to offer these Chief Immigration Officer (CIO) roles based in one of the following locations/teams.

Co-ordination Hub - Manston

The Co-ordination Hub is a new team established to provide a clear region wide (Kent) command and control framework that seeks to deliver an end-to-end process and system. They are responsible for real time reporting and monitoring of operational events, operational planning, tasking, and coordination, including deployment planning and logistical support. They also are responsible for critical incident management and business continuity plans.

There is an expectation that post-holders may need to be available to work from our Dover site depending on intake demands.

Kent Intake Unit – Dover & Folkestone

The Kent Intake Unit has traditionally been based in Dover but we will shortly be expanding the team to include posts at Frontier House. The Kent Intake Unit primarily deals with new arrivals detected either near the port of Dover, in the surrounding area in Kent, and small boat arrivals. The unit operates 24/7, 365 days of the year. Those arriving at the Kent Intake Unit will already be detained, so the Kent Intake Unit includes a holding room facility. The Kent Intake Unit has a particular focus around processing unaccompanied children, so the work of the unit involves the identification of those children and working closely with Kent Children’s Services to ensure they are processed and placed into appropriate care as quickly as possible.

Manston Initial Processing and Triage Centre – Manston (near Ramsgate)

Manston is a new Home Office location with a particular focus on small boat arrivals. It is based near Ramsgate and is an initial triaging and processing centre for those arriving via this method. The team operates 24/7, 365 days of the year. Those arriving at the Manston Initial Processing and Triage Centre will already be detained, so the site contains a number of holding room facilities. The operation is focussed around adults and families.

The Midlands Intake Unit – Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre (near Bedford)

The Midlands Intake Unit (MIU) seek to conduct identity checks and register asylum applications from clandestine entrants to the UK who have been encountered by the police and small boat arrivals detected along the southeast coast. Those claimants held within Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre are processed by MIU in line with policy and guidance. Candidates will need to feel confident working in an Immigration Removal Centre environment.

In addition, MIU are responsible for conducting remote screening interviews and registering asylum claims from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and vulnerable people. Remote screening surgeries also take place in Solihull, Leeds, and Cardiff.

Hotel Dispersal Team – Any Advertised Location

The National Asylum Intake Unit holds responsibility for several hotels in the South East, providing accommodation for asylum claimants whilst they are awaiting screening interviews. The Hotel Dispersal Team are responsible for ensuring these individuals are screened and dispersed at pace, to ensure that front line detention guidelines are met.

Annualised Hours Working (AHW)

The National Asylum Intake Unit operate a shift working pattern, where Annualised Hours Working (AHW) is paid in accordance with the operational needs of the business. This allowance is paid in addition to the monthly salary to compensate for out of office hours working and flexibility.

A review of AHW takes place annually and there is an anticipation that the shift working pattern will include early starts, evening working, nights, weekends and public holidays. Shift lengths can vary and be up to 12 hours and shift requirements can differ between teams. Rosters are published in advance, but shifts can change or extend according to business need.

Although this campaign covers a number of roles across different teams/locations with their own business needs, the current allowance range is 25.68% to 50.91% (and can change subject to an annual review).

The main daily duties of each role may differ dependent on the team but the key responsibilities for all NAIU Chief Immigration Officer roles include but are not limited to:

• Lead by example, providing inspiration, direction and support, ensuring the delivery of high-performance levels by engaged team members
• Drive improved customer service and efficiency outcomes by planning, implementing, and evaluating changes, involving your own team and wider stakeholders and colleagues
• Show innovation and creativity to lead activities that support efficiencies and improvements
• Create an environment that empowers others to do the right thing for customers, being responsible for delivering an excellent service to achieve quality outcomes
• Operate as part of a team focused on agreed goals and priorities to achieve collective commitments, effectively managing resources in an ever-changing organisational structure to drive efficiencies and keep costs down
• Build individual and team capability by personally coaching and mentoring colleagues at all grades on a variety of procedural and leadership skills, promoting and making full use of professional learning products available
• Be accountable for managing workloads, attendance and conducting regular one to one, face to face performance reviews, confidently addressing risks to performance achievement and driving forward continuous improvement
• Through your behaviour and ways of working develop an environment of inclusivity and trust where everyone feels their contribution matters and they can reach their full potential
• Ensure all Health and Safety and security matters are dealt with promptly and sensitively, in line with Home Office policies and procedures

You must also be prepared to attend a Personal Safety Training course, to the level requirement for the role, and be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Full training and mentoring will be provided for these roles and may involve residential training courses.

Please note as part of this role, successful candidates will be required to wear a uniform (which will be provided) during every shift. Staff must ensure that their uniform is worn correctly, in line with uniform standards, is kept clean and is well presented. To support this requirement, adequate uniform supplies will be available and issued. Uniformed staff represent their organisation at all times and should ensure that their dress and personal appearance reflects this responsibility.

Essential Criteria

Successful candidates must be professional, and customer focused and be able to demonstrate:

• Leadership experience, demonstrating sound interpersonal, communication (both written and verbal) skills, treating others with respect, compassion and valuing inclusion and diversity
• An ability to make effective and difficult decisions, often under pressure, applying legislation and policy guidance correctly to ensure compliance
• You can lead change, gaining commitment from colleagues by encouraging discussion, innovation and ideas to support one vision
• You are able to work flexibly to meet changing priorities, whilst ensuring compliance with policies and procedures
• Immigration experience; for example, through a role within the Civil Service, study/qualifications, charity work, law, etc
• You have a good level of computer literacy, including Microsoft applications
• You are prepared to complete Personal Safety Training (PST) to the required level for the role (as to be determined by the business)
• Full manual UK driving licence without exception

Candidates will be required to show proof of their licence at interview. If adequate proof is not provided at interview the application will be withdrawn.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

• 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%

Job contact :

Name :
Home Office Resourcing Centre
Email :
[email protected]

Recruitment team :

Email :
[email protected]