Job description
Details Reference number 319957 Salary £34,350 - £36,755 Job grade Higher Executive Officer Contract type Permanent Business area HO - Homeland Security Type of role Operational Delivery Working pattern Full-time, Job share, Part-time Number of jobs available 8 Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Liverpool: The Capital About the job Job summary About Homeland Security The Homeland Security Group (HSG) unites capabilities and expertise to deliver better outcomes from the UK’s response to the most serious domestic threats – Terrorism, Cyber, State Threats and Economic Crime. The group will strengthen coordination and collective focus across a range of growing and overlapping threats, whilst remaining consistent with existing strategies. Working with partners, HSG will foster more transparent and sustainable collaboration between national security, law enforcement and other relevant communities to enhance capabilities and leverage our response to threats. As part of the Home Office, the role of the Homeland Security Group is to: Support the Home Secretary to develop and implement strategies to keep our people and interests safe and secure Build HMG capabilities to reduce national security risk Reduce the volume of, and harm from, economic crime, particularly for the most vulnerable Work in partnership with public and private sectors in the UK and overseas to deliver better outcomes Ensure legitimate economic growth and prosperity Job description A Case Management Team (CMT) is being set up to operationalise the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) which has recently been introduced via the National Security Act 2023. FIRS is designed to strengthen the resilience of the UK political system against covert foreign influence and, secondly, to provide greater assurance around the activities of designated foreign powers or entities in the UK. Under the primary tier of the Scheme, all persons undertaking political influence activity at the direction of a foreign power must register that activity and under an enhanced tier, people undertaking registerable activities at the direction of a specified country or entity must do the same. The CMT is currently expected to consist of 1 G6 head of team, 1-2 G7 deputy heads, 2-4 SEO senior caseworkers, 8-12 HEO caseworkers and 2-4 casework support officers. Caseworkers will be responsible for managing registrations submitted under the scheme , making assessments as to the validity of registrations, making assessment as to whether certain individuals are required to register, and as to whether individuals should be exempt from the public register. They will carry out an investigation and enforcement function, conducting research and analysis to determine whether individuals are required to register in order to inform decisions around issuing of information notices. The postholder may be required to work remotely within the first few months, with occasional travel into London, pending the space in Capital Building becoming available in July 2024. Start date The roles being advertised for the Case Management Team are not expected to be in post until around spring/summer of 2024. The exact start date will depend on two factors: The first is the readiness of the office space in which the team will be based. We have agreed that the team will be based in a space which is currently being renovated in Capital Building, Liverpool. This is due to be ready by July 2024. The second factor is the IT platform which the team will operate as part of their role. This is due to be developed over the coming months. We may look to onboard some of the posts sooner, in order to carry out preparatory work required for the operationalisation of the Scheme, such as training and testing of the IT platform. Exact plans are expected to crystalise during the recruitment process and expected start dates will be discussed further with applicants at interview stage. Person specification The role responsibilities will include: Processing registrations submitted by members of the public in line with the National Security Act 2023 and casework processes. Using various sources, including information provided by other departments and open source information to verify the information submitted by registrants prior to making a decision. Working with legal advisors to ensure that cases are being processed in a way which is compliant with the National Security Act; Conducting investigations when issues of non-compliance arise. Responding to queries from other government departments (both general and on specific cases). Using various sources, including information provided by other departments and open source information to support assessments on issuing information notices. Supporting litigation cases. Line management responsibilities of EO casework support officer (please note that not all caseworkers will have line management responsibilities). Overseeing and countersigning the work of the EO casework support officer/making decisions as to whether this may need to be escalated to the senior caseworker for review/sign off; and Responding to queries from members of the public on their duties under FIRS. Please note that the successful applicant is expected to be in post by around July 2024, as the space where the team will be located will not be ready before this date. There is a possibility that some of the CMT roles can be in post sooner. This will be discussed further at interview. Essential Criteria: You’ll have a demonstrable passion for delivery with the following skills or strong experience in: An ability to work independently, manage a large workload and effectively prioritise tasks. Strong analytical skills and good judgement to inform their assessments and when providing opinions or advice to others. Strong oral and written communication skills. Desirable Criteria: For this role, previous experience would be beneficial, but is not essential:Casework experience. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Making Effective Decisions 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, Strengths and Experience. As part of the application process candidates will be required to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability (of no more than 500 words). In addition, candidates will be required to provide evidence of the lead behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions'. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Within your statement, please advise how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria and the job description. CVs will not be scored. In an event where a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift will take place using the lead behaviour 'Making Effective Decisions'. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview. Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on all behaviours outlined in the job advertisement and Strength-based questions. Sift and Interview Dates: The sift will take place week commencing 30th October 2023. Interviews will take place week commencing 20th November 2023. Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview. 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. The successful candidates will be required to hold DV clearance before commencing the role. A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months. This will be considered in the first instance to recruit any additional posts required at this grade. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process. Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home. A hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow. Applicants can discuss what this means with the vacancy holder if they have specific questions. 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 [email protected] 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 developed vetting (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 Open to UK nationals only. 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. Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre - BICS, HSG, PSG Email : [email protected] Recruitment team Email : [email protected] Further information If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.