Caseworker- Central Authorities Bureau (Ref: 91759)
HM Prison & Probation Service
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 11th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Job description
Overview of the job
This is a specialist administrative role within HMPPS Headquarters. The posts sit in the Central Authorities Bureau (CAB), which is a part of the Intelligence Portfolio, Governance and Compliance Unit, within the HMPPS National Intelligence Unit (NIU).
The CAB provides oversight of policy and advice to practitioners across the prison estate exercising powers available to HMPPS under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA). It is a required function under RIPA, maintaining a central record of authorities granted for activity under the legislation. CAB also oversees HMPPS use of case management systems used to record such activities, providing assurance to HM Commissioner of Investigatory Powers.
This is an HQ post, based in London, and will require some travel to establishments, probation offices and SOCT regional offices as required.
The post holders are responsible for day to day advice and support to the operational line in respect of the lawful deployment of covert resources; the quality assurance of all applications made under RIPA; inspections undertaken by the Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO), and act as a subject matter expert in the use of the central case management system.
The role requires in depth knowledge of different legislations and internal policies relating to covert and overt tactics, escalating as required to managers to take forward where concerns are identified. It requires the post holder to have an understanding of risk management in order to contribute to the security of prison establishments, protect the public, and to protect HMPPS from unlawful use of its powers under RIPA/IPA.
Post holder will need good attention to detail skills as they will be responsible for undertaking quality assessments of applications submitted by prisons. They will need to be confident and assertive in the delivery of this feedback and ensure that the views of the CAB are upheld. Regular contact with prisons and Law Enforcement Partners will be expected.
The post holders require a high level of proficiency with IT systems, both as users, and providing support in the administration of IT systems for which the CAB hold responsibility. This includes acting as Subject Matter experts for the case management system, at the time of writing known as Charter, or any successor system. Full training on all systems will be provided.
At this present time there is no expectation of line management responsibility, however the post holder will be responsible for training, and tasking admin support staff who contribute to CAB work as part of their wider responsibilities for NIU.
Summary
The specialist administrative role provides expert advice and guidance to front line operational staff in the use of powers available to HMPPS for investigating criminal activity in prisons and probation operations. Quality assurance of all applications for deployment of covert activity and surveillance is completed by the post holder, ensuring that compliance with legislation and internal policies is observed, and recorded accurately.
The post holder will also oversee ongoing use of a case management system being implemented across the prison estate for the administration of applications, including contributing to configuration design, training design, and delivery of training sessions to operational staff in the use of the system.
Due to the nature of the role, the post holder is required to hold a minimum of National Security Vetting at Security Clearance (SC) level before taking up the post, and potentially may be asked to complete Developed Vetting (DV).
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• Quality assure all applications for deployment of powers under RIPA 2000, liaising with Applicants and Authorising Officers to ensure compliance with legislation and HMPPS policy.
• Maintain and update the central record of applications, ensuring that management and performance information is available to managers on request, and highlighting any compliance issues in a timely fashion.
• Monitoring and supporting the administration of authorities once granted, to ensure that they are reviewed, renewed or cancelled in line with requirements.
• Staffing a helpline, which is available out of normal office hours, for which an on-call allowance will be provided.
• Provide policy advice on HMPPS use of intelligence, investigatory powers and related issues to front line staff, escalating to managers where required.
• Support inspection of HMPPS establishments, and the agency overall by IPCO, through liaising with prisons to identify dates for inspections, oversight of recommendation and issues, and provision of material for inspection as required.
• Support the CAB Manager, and the SOCT Operational Security Advisor in identifying and reviewing potential relevant errors in the use of surveillance or investigatory powers.
• Manage the CAB functional mailbox, to ensure that queries are dealt with, or directed elsewhere as required, to ensure efficient management of CAB business. This will include tasking of non-dedicated admin support, in liaison with the NIU Business Manager.
• Support the administration of IT systems required for the deployment of covert tactics, including Charter, BT Pins and any other system identified as being within the scope of the unit.
• Work with CAB manager in delivery of identified Business Change projects as required, either as project support, or leading on a project to specified timescales and quality standards.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Person specification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
- Telephone : 0845 241 5358
Recruitment team
- Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Further information
