Job description
Job Title: Referencing and Vetting - London - Multiple Vacancies
Location: Sidcup
Salary: Starting at £28,511 with an additional £1,721 location allowance
Are you an analytical thinker with a keen eye for detail? Looking for a role granting continual learning and development opportunities? Do you want to play a crucial role in who we recruit to keep the capital safe every day? If yes, we want to hear from you.
The Team
Our Referencing and Vetting team are expanding and we’re looking for multiple candidates with excellent attention to detail and a strong sense of integrity to join our large team. As part of this team, you will be crucial to ensuring that we are hiring the best of the best. You will play an important role in keeping London safe for everyone.
Referencing and Vetting is a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. To apply, you do not need any previous experience; we're looking for applicants with great attention to detail, strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and develop within the role. You will need to have strong IT skills (using MS Office packages and a number of databases) and be comfortable analysing, logging and maintaining records. We have multiple vacancies (outlined below) and you could be posted as a trainee to either of the below departments within our Referencing and Vetting team:
- Character Enquiry Centre (CEC):CEC manages local police checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to inform disclosure and barring decisions for those who are likely to work in positions of authority or safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
- Vetting Unit:At the Met we recognise that a thorough and effective vetting regime is a key component in assessing an individual’s integrity and an integral part in maintaining high ethical and professional standards. We conduct appropriate checks on individuals in positions of trust and identify areas of vulnerability which could damage public confidence
Full training will be given to ensure you’re in a position to provide expert knowledge and carry out vetting with confidence. The most important attribute is that you want to make a difference to the communities of London and safeguard both the Capital and those most vulnerable from harm.
It is a requirement for successful candidates to pass a Police National Computer (PNC) assessment. Individuals will be permitted 2 attempts to pass the assessment. Failure to pass after 2 attempts will lead to termination of your contract.
The Roles Available
We have a range of roles available within our Referencing and Vetting team and we will deploy you where you are most needed. You can of course indicate a preference for which roles you feel your skillset and ambitions are most suited and we will be keen to discuss this further should you be invited to interview.
As a Vetting Officer, your average day may include conducting vetting checks on Police Officers and Staff, Contractors and Volunteers, researching their professional and private life, financial affairs, known associates and employment history. You’ll advise on whether our applicants are suitable to be employed by the MPS, ensure that threats to security and the communities we Police are managed appropriately and we will manage our records to ensure that the information we hold is accurate. You might also work with other forces or external agencies on specific cases in order to keep London safe for everyone.
As a Character Enquiry Centre Caseworker, you’ll work on behalf of the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) to protect children and vulnerable adults from risk of harm. You’ll analyse police intelligence reports and a range of police systems to determine if there is any relevant information relating to applicants and will be instrumental in keeping vulnerable people safe. You’ll write detailed summaries in a balanced, factual and sequential manner to inform police intelligence’s decision making. If you’re successfully appointed as a Caseworker, you will start as a band E (£28,511 with an additional location allowance of £1,721) and those who successfully graduate from the 20-week training programme will progress to Pay Band K1 (£29,258 - £33,269 with an additional locational allowance of £1,721).
Due to nature of the roles you may find yourself exposed to material of a graphic and mature nature.
We are recruiting for a number of roles outside of those listed above and would encourage anyone interested by the nature of the work described to register your interest by clicking ‘Apply’ below.
Who are we looking for?
- You will need to be a great communicator, comfortable articulating yourself both verbally and in writing.
- You will need to be computer-literate and comfortable using both MS Office packages and using a range of databases that store highly sensitive records and information.
- You will need to have a keen eye for detail and be comfortable analysing sometimes complex circumstances.
- We’re looking for team players with a thorough and methodical approach to work.
- You’ll be able to maintain a high level of diplomacy, tact and discretion in the managing of sensitive and confidential information.
- You will need to be highly organised with the ability to multi-task.
- You will be comfortable multitasking and prioritising workloads so deadlines can be met.
- We’re looking for those who act with integrity and want to have a positive impact on London.
What’s in it for you?
You’ll join an experienced and supportive team who are keen to see you thrive and progress within the organisation. Once you’ve completed your office-based training lasting 12 weeks, the vast majority of our staff will be entitled to work in line with our blended working policy. Currently, this means that after an initial period of working full time in the office, you would be able to work 2 days in the office and 3 days at home (using Met laptops) each week. It should be noted that this arrangement is subject to short notice change with an agreed notice period, and will also be subject to acceptable performance levels being achieved.
As a Met employee, you’ll also have access to substantial annual leave, flexible and remote working opportunities, a Civil Service pension, exclusive Met savings products, interest free season ticket loans, the chance to join our variety of sports, social and leisure clubs and the opportunity to play a crucial role in keeping the Capital safe for everyone.
Next Steps
Does this sound like you? If yes, start your application now. Applications will be via a detailed CV, Personal Statement and online application form. To start your application, please follow the ‘Apply’ button to our careers website.
Completed applications must be submitted by 15/06/2023.
The Met is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and females.
As a Disability Confident employer, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. If you consider yourself to have access, workplace or reasonable adjustment requirements that need to be accommodated, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence and will not affect any recruitment decisions. Read our full disability confidence statement
The Selection Process will involve the following stages with individuals having to successfully pass through each stage to be offered a position (subject to successfully passing Vetting Clearance).
Stage 1: CV/ Personal Statement Sift
Stage 2: Assessment Test (50 minute classroom based test)
Stage 3: Competency Based Interview
NB: Please do not attach 2 copies of your CV/ Personal Statement.
Successful candidates will need to undergo and pass Police Vetting before joining and will be subject to a 12 month probationary period.
Additional Information
Please can you indicate your first choice post within your Personal statement? Although this information will be taken into consideration at the relevant stage, offers will be based upon the business need at that time.