Investigation Support Glasgow, Scotland
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Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) has been through wide transformation and continues to do so to ensure it can operate effectively for the future, has visible leadership and teams which work together as One CFCD to deliver the Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team committed to tackling Fraud encountered through Economic and Serious Organised Crime.
DWP Economic, Serious and Organised Crime (ESOC) Strategy compliments and aligns with the Home Office Strategy, the DWP Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy and the Risk and Intelligence Strategy.
Its objectives are to:
- Maintain a clear and coherent intelligence picture of the threat to inform our investigations, capability development and protect and prevent capabilities.
- Conduct high quality investigations targeted at the highest harm threats leading to judicial outcomes, disruptions and asset recovery.
- Promote our successful operations both internally and externally to deter and prevent further criminality.
- Exploit a range of data sources to identify and respond to threat.
- Engage with stakeholders across DWP, HMG, Law Enforcement and partners to shape policy, operations and capability development.
- Maintain and invest in our capabilities to stay ahead of the threat.
ESOC Threats and Prioritisation involve:
- Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking – Vulnerable people exploited to abuse the benefit system.
- Web Enabled Fraud – UC and other online frauds on an industrial scale.
- Insider Threat – internal abuse of position to facilitate fraud
- Identity Fraud – large scale use of false and hijacked identities to attack the welfare system.
- Organised Economic Crime – large scale abuse of the system including organised criminals setting up fake/shell companies providing false invoices/payslips to claim benefits and payments. .
Additionally, as work streams change and DWP reacts to the changing behaviours in criminal activity, the Economic Serious & Organised Crim (ESOC) investigators must keep pace with modern methods of criminality, this includes the use of crypto currencies to mask monies derived from fraudulent activity.
Job description
DWP is the lead agency for tackling economic serious and organised criminality against the welfare system. DWP’s Economic Serious and Organised Crime (ESOC) investigators are part of a National team with geographical representation throughout the UK. We are responsible for, and are committed to detecting, preventing, dismantling and prosecuting organised criminals facilitating benefit offences and abuse. Serious offenders often receive substantial custodial sentences.
The role of ESOC is primarily to investigate fraud in the welfare system perpetuated by organised criminal groups. This mostly involves working across multi law enforcement agencies on high profile and serious fraud operations involving multi suspects in multi-million-pound criminality.
Key Tasks include:
- Working directly to an Officer in Charge (OiC) of a criminal investigation.
- Undertake Interviews Under Caution in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
- Submit prosecution files in accordance with Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National File Standard guidance.
- To undertake tasks as directed by an OiC to support the progression of investigations, including, but not exclusively, as listed.
- To research a variety of information/intelligence sources and collate relevant information that will be required for investigation, and evaluate information in accordance with legislation and guidance.
- Complete and approve Requests for Information (RFIs) as required.
- To record, retain and review material collected during the course of the criminal investigation for Disclosure purposes – such as banking information, benefit systems, CCTV footage, statements from witnesses, mobile phone messages, social media conversations and photographs.
- To liaise confidently, promptly and professionally with all internal staff and outside agencies in respect of the work of the team.
- To keep abreast of current, new and proposed legislation relating to criminal investigations.
- To understand the need for a range of interventions, including ‘prevention’, ‘disruption’ and ‘prosecution’ in ESOC investigations.
- To handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately, ensuring all information/evidence is processed in accordance with legislation and guidance.
- To attend Court hearings as directed by the OiC or to assist the OiC.
- To provide statistical information where required on investigations, working with colleagues and/or the OiC.
- To complete Disclosure schedules as advised by the OiC, providing Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with schedules of any unused material and identifying any material that undermines the case for the prosecution or assists the case for the defence.
- To process enquiries/applications in line with established procedures for handling and disclosure of information relevant to Court Proceedings.
- To prepare information for disclosure and disseminate to CPS within agreed timescales.
- To apply initiative and knowledge gained in the handling of complex enquiries.
- To quickly respond to emerging threats by disrupting live attempts to defraud DWP benefit systems.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering a high standard of service at all times by managing own workload, prioritising to ensure all deadlines are met.
- To be aware of the Unit’s objectives and ensure maintenance of, and adherence to, quality standards, service level agreements and customer requirements, highlighting areas for improvement where appropriate.
Person specification
- A flexible, agile outlook and approach.
- Innovation, drive and creative thinking.
- Good presentation and communication ability with excellent written/drafting skills.
- Ability to make sound business decisions, at pace.
- Honesty, integrity and probity.
- A personal demeanour that inspires confidence and loyalty.
- Good communication skills using a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony.
- Ability to provide excellent Customer Service.
- Sound and confident decision making ability.
- Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and work collaboratively with colleagues.
- Strong IT skills to enable navigating a range of computer systems.
- Ability to work in a challenging and rewarding environment and ensure actions are completed in a timely manner.
Key/Essential Criteria:
Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key Criteria:
- Lead Criteria: You can demonstrate clear and concise communication skills; use a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony with the ability to express ideas, adding value to ways of working.
- 2nd Lead Criteria: You are able to research and understand complex information, taking responsibility for making effective decisions while being able to explain how they were reached in a clear and concise way.
- You have the ability to create clear plans, set priorities and balance quality and cost effectiveness while keeping customers informed.
- You can develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and organisations, working collaboratively with colleagues within teams and across the organisation.
- You display strong IT skills to enable navigation of a range of computer systems and software packages.
- You have a positive and focussed attitude to achieving outcomes, supporting colleagues, prioritising actions and taking corrective measures when needed against objectives.
- You are a proactive, passionate individual, able to understand areas of responsibility while understanding the wider impacts of actions.
Essential Criteria:
Please be aware:
Security Clearance: Successful applicants for this role will need to undergo National Security Vetting to Security Clearance Level (SC) due to the nature of the role.
Please note: All candidates must obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. In certain circumstances, a minimum of 3 years UK residency prior your vetting application may be considered, with additional checks. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
In addition to the above candidates who are successful will be asked about the following before we offer them a position.
Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge:
- Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had.
- Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded.
- Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had.
- The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court.
What Checks are Involved
- Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
- Completion, by the individual, of a security questionnaire.
- A departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records.
- A check of both spent and unspent criminal records.
- A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
- A check of Security Service (MI5) records.
- Exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed.
- In the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out.
- Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.
Accreditation Requirements:
Successful candidates must be willing to attain the mandatory Level 4 Investigations apprenticeship, required to undertake the technical functions of the role.
Please note that any required training is full time and successful candidates will be required to attend the ESOC Academy on a full-time basis for three months.
Where a qualification is not achieved, it would not be possible to fulfil the role requirements and candidates will be redeployed, within CFCD where possible, following Workforce Management Policy and Procedures.
Desirable skills:
For roles based in Wales an ability to speak Welsh is desirable.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
With great benefits including:
Generous annual leave - 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus bank holidays and one day of leave for the King’s Birthday. The exact number of days of annual leave will be determined by any current years of service.
Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave. We also recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and offer flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
Training and apprenticeships and up to 5 days’ personal development and learning allowance.
Flexible/hybrid working.
Employee discount schemes.
Free wellbeing support.
Opportunities to make a real difference through joining forums, initiatives and charities.
Interest free travel loans.
Vodafone advantage discount scheme.
The employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension.
Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution.
Your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
For more information, visit civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Written Application – Sift Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement in no more than 1,000 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the Key Criteria.
When completing your 1,000 word Personal Statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference. You may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence the key personal requirements. What have you done that’s relatable to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills, experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
In the event of a high volume of applications it may be necessary to undertake an initial sift on the lead, and possibly the second lead, criteria before moving to a full sift. If so, we will sift on:
- Lead Criteria: You can demonstrate clear and concise communication skills; use a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony with the ability to express ideas, adding value to ways of working.
- 2nd Lead Criteria: You are able to research and understand complex information, taking responsibility for making effective decisions while being able to explain how they were reached in a clear and concise way.
The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism is found your application will be withdrawn.
**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 15/05/2023**
Sift scheduled to be held between 17/05/2023 and 26/05/2023
Interview
If you meet the required standard and your application is successful, you will be invited to a video interview held using Microsoft Teams.
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 12/06/2023 to 16/06/2023. Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage, and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.
Communications will be electronic and/or by telephone therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed.
Preparing for the interview
The interview will take approximately 40 minutes where you will be asked a mixture of Behavioural and Strength questions.
A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation, offering an enhanced inclusive approach. The Behaviour and Strength based questioning explores what you the candidate can and has done, and also your potential.
At interview you will be assessed against three Civil Service Behaviours (Level 2):
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
- What it was, how you approached the work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or
- What was the Situation? That were the Tasks? What Action did you take? How/what did you learn through a Review?
If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
The evidence you provide in your interview must relate to your own thoughts and experiences.
Further information about the process can be found in the Candidate Pack.
If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.
After the interview
Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email.
The successful candidates will be offered a posting based on their preferred location/s and will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during July 2023. The posting offer will be made in strict merit order.
Reserve List
Successful candidates, not offered a posting, will be placed on a reserve list which will be held for 3 months.
The reserve list may also be used to offer future permanent opportunities not necessarily restricted to the current locations included in the advert. They may also extend to permanent opportunities which arise across the wider DWP network. Any such offers would be made in strict merit order to all candidates remaining on the reserve list. The location and job role would be fully explained to you. Refusal of the offer would not change your reserve list position.
Find out more about Working for DWP
Further information:
Location
Bromley, Eastbourne, Glasgow, Harrogate, Liverpool, Staines, Treforest Ty Taf (Pontypridd).
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Working Pattern
Part-time and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful part time and job share candidates will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.
Training Requirements
You will be required to undertake training which is necessary for you to perform your role. This will be provided by the Department for Work and Pensions at no cost to you. Every effort will be made to arrange for training to be held during your agreed normal working hours. Exceptionally, where this is not possible, you will need to be prepared to adjust your normal hours to attend for training and pay will be adjusted accordingly. In these circumstances you will be given details of your revised times of attendance for the period of the training event by management. Time off in lieu may be taken as an alternative to payment at the discretion of your manager and subject to the needs of the work where appropriate.
Apprenticeships
DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract.
Important
If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.
Equality and Diversity
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this search:
Equality and diversity - Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
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 “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.
Internal Fraud Database
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.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Criminal Record Check
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to the Disclosure and Barring Service (Disclosure Scotland) on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance 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 mail to [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]
Additional Information:
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Any move to DWP 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
Existing Civil Servants and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules are eligible to apply.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department full pre-employment checks may be carried out.
If you are employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) and are applying for a job in the Civil Service (or vice versa) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g., mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants who transfer into DWP from other government departments, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may wish to save a copy for your records.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
