Enforcement Investigator Bristol, England
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About the job
Job summary
The Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We work nationally and locally on unlocking the full potential of woodlands and the forestry sector to expand, protect, improve, and connect England’s valuable woodland assets.
The Forestry Commission is currently in a period of organisational development. Forest Services, the regulatory part of the Forestry Commission, has responsibility for the administration and management of all forestry regulations in England, such as for tree felling, Environmental Impact Assessment, or tree health, and for ensuring those activities meet the requirements of the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). We also have responsibility for undertaking enforcement activity where breaches of regulations are identified.
At present we rely upon Defra Investigation Services (DIS) to carry out criminal investigations on our behalf. However, we are building an in-house capability to increase our capacity to carry out criminal investigations. By implementing this plan, we will reduce our reliance upon DIS, and as such, we are recruiting two experienced investigators to carry out investigations into alleged illegal tree felling and other offences. This job role will replace our current DIS investigator resource and leave the role of our woodland officer field staff unchanged.
Our aim is to have a well-informed, self-reliant, and regulatory compliant woodland and forestry sector, but where non-compliance of forestry regulation occurs, we will be proactive in taking the steps necessary to secure appropriate enforcement action.
Requests from the successful candidate to be recruited as a secondment from their current employer will be considered.
Job description
At present, the Forestry Commission Woodland Officer responds to allegations of alleged illegal felling in the first instance and conducts inspections of the site(s) in question, recording their findings. This evidence is passed to our national Regulations Team, where further desk-based checks are undertaken and then an assessment made as to whether a criminal investigation is required.
Where criminal investigation is required, the case is currently referred to our DIS colleagues. Once these enforcement posts are recruited, these referrals will cease to be made to DIS (subject to capacity) and will instead be investigated by our in-house enforcement officers.
The post holders will be responsible for conducting full investigations in compliance with legislative and policy imperatives and prepare case files for submission to Crown Prosecution Service (if appropriate).
As the Forestry Commission’s in-house enforcement capability will start with the appointment of these two new posts, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape the processes and procedures that we adopt to conduct our investigations. It will also, therefore, require candidates to be flexible and adaptable and be capable of shaping a system, as well as operating within one.
The duties of this post will include;
- Leading and contributing to the strategic and practical advancement of criminal investigations, providing direction to such investigations.
- Operating within the legal and procedural requirements of the criminal justice system and FC guidance.
- Case management of investigations, ensuring professional standards, legal and procedural requirements are followed, including exhibit retrieval and management.
- Be accountable for decisions and activities undertaken during investigations. These are subject to scrutiny and inspection by Senior Investigation Officers, the Court system, and external authorities.
- Other duties as they become necessary for example, gathering evidence, obtaining victim and witness statements, interviews of suspects under caution, scene searches and management, liaison with CPS and other relevant duties.
- Compiling high-quality case reports and evidential bundles for submission to the prosecutor.
- Attend court to give evidence and act as Disclosure Officer in criminal prosecutions.
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships within FC, Prosecuting Authorities, the Police and other external agencies, being mindful of disclosure principles.
- Keeping abreast of technical, legal changes and professional developments.
- Acting as a positive role model, being committed, challenging inappropriate behaviour and encouraging colleagues to do the same.
Person specification
- Analytical and decision-making skills as they need to exercise sound judgement.
- Are self-motivators; investigators must be comfortable working on their own and as part of a wider team environment.
- Possess excellent leadership and communication skills, ability to manage workload efficiently and delegate work.
- Monitor team performance, challenging, identifying, implementing, and reviewing process improvements.
- Candidates must be resilient and able to handle confrontation with confidence.
- Candidates should have experience of conducting criminal investigations, including a working knowledge of PACE, RIPA, POCA, Police Act and CPIA disclosure.
- This role requires recent experience of conducting criminal investigations and a thorough knowledge of Criminal Justice procedures.
- A competent IT user, with experience of the MS Office suite of applications, SharePoint, and ability to learn new bespoke IT systems quickly.
Desirable Criteria:
- A full UK driving licence.
- PIP Level 2 or equivalent relevant experience
- Previous experience of environmental crime investigations.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- A Civil Service pension.
- A range of family friendly benefits.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
- Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
- 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
1. A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 2 parts and request: Job History, Full Qualification Details.
2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the 'Person Specification'.
3. 250 word statements demonstrating behaviours, Communicating and Influencing and Making Effective Decisions.
Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement and the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
At interview, you will be assessed against Behaviours, Experience and Strengths.
We will be conducting interviews in person at our National Office - 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ.
- Shortlisting to take place the week commencing 19th June. Date subject to change.
- Interviews to be carried out on the 3rd and 4th July. Date subject to change.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission 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
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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
The duties of this post require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. However, the Forestry Commission is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any other means.
The Forestry Commission is actively working to reduce the carbon emission of official travel and applicants should be aware of the broad principles which are being applied to reduce carbon emissions to less than 50gCO2/km. Travel options include:
Use of private car: some Officers chose to use their private car and receive payment for the miles they drive on official business. To register your car from 1 April 2022 it must emit less than 115gCO2/km if you wish to use it for official travel and claim mileage. These emission level requirements will reduce to 100gCO2 by 26/27, 80gCO2 by 27/87, 60gCO2by 28/29, 50gCO2by 29/30. At the point where a car already registered reaches the CO2 limit, it can be driven for 2 more years for business mileage.
- Use of CAPES (lease) Cars: after an employee has successfully completed their probation they can opt for a CAPES car. All CAPES cars must emit less than 50gCO2/km.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
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 [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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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