Discovery, Review & Disclosure Officers (Up to 4 posts)
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Saturday 19th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Cabinet Office plays a vital role in supporting the independent public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, the Public Inquiry Response Unit (PIRU) was set up to lead the Cabinet Office and No. 10’s response to the Inquiry. PIRU commissions, coordinates and supports work across the department to provide evidence and statements to support the Inquiry. It also works with witnesses to ensure they are well supported through the process, and provides senior leaders, and Ministers, with analysis of the Inquiry’s progress.
The Inquiry is unprecedented in its scale and the breadth of issues it covers. PIRU’s role in responding to the Inquiry and supporting both the Cabinet Office and No. 10 makes the Unit a fascinating place to be. Over the past two years, PIRU has disclosed over 50,000 documents to the Inquiry, and has supported over 40 witnesses. The Inquiry is a high profile area to work and has attracted a lot of interest from the media and wider public.
The Unit provides excellent learning and development opportunities, with members benefiting from a range of opportunities including formal training (eg. apprenticeships) as well as informal development opportunities (such as attending the Inquiry’s hearings in person).
If you are looking for an exciting position in a fast-paced environment within a friendly team, in a high-profile area of Government, this role would provide an excellent opportunity for you.
Job description
The Discovery, Review and Disclosure (DRD) team works with teams across the Cabinet Office, other Government Departments, the Inquiry and also legal teams to collate all relevant evidence held across the department, ensuring it is reviewed and disclosed in response to requests from the Inquiry.
We are seeking 4 highly motivated Executive Officers for roles within the DRD team. The roles involve: reviewing a range of evidence to be submitted to the Inquiry; working closely with a wide range of stakeholders to assess documents for sensitivities; maintaining an audit trail of documents, keeping track of their progress through the review and disclosure process; and working with colleagues across the wider Cabinet Office.
Each role is integral to the functioning of the wider PIRU team, with responsibility for supporting cross-cutting issues within DRD and ensuring that the team is best placed to support PIRU’s overall programme, working collaboratively with all CO teams. The role also provides for regular engagement with the PIRU leadership team; the Government Legal Department; external contractors; and with other Senior Leaders across the Cabinet Office and No. 10.
Our work can also adapt to those who need to work flexibly through a part- time or job share arrangement, but who want to be involved in supporting the Cabinet Office and No. 10’s response to the Inquiry. We can offer a range of flexible working arrangements that will be agreed with successful candidates on a case- by- case basis prior to the start of employment. However, we do require that any successful candidate can work in one of our offices for 60% of their working time, in line with Cabinet Office policy.
This role is available on level transfer and on TDA.
Responsibilities will include (not limited to):
- Commissioning sensitivity checks across documents identified as relevant to the Public Inquiry, collating results and ensuring appropriate action is taken where necessary.
- Developing, managing and maintaining products to track the journey of documents through the review and disclosure process, ensuring a comprehensive audit trail.
- Supporting with searches for relevant documents to be disclosed, working with Cabinet Office Business Units to locate material.
- Ensuring that documents the Public Inquiry wish to publish have been fully reviewed and agreed redactions have been applied.
- Developing excellent working relationships with stakeholders and legal teams, including senior leaders, to ensure all relevant parties are involved in the process of sensitivity checking documents.
- Playing an active corporate role in the wider unit, for example supporting the monitoring of Inquiry hearings.
Person specification
Person Specification
- Able to work independently and manage tasks allocated;
- A positive approach to collaborative working, supporting others in the team as needed;
- Good organisational skills, able to plan your activity, and prioritise effectively, ensuring attention to detail;
- A clear communication style, able to ask questions to clarify areas of uncertainty;
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with colleagues across the department;
- Inquisitive, curious and keen to learn and share your knowledge and experience with others;
- Able to prioritise a number of differing work streams and competing deadlines, working with stakeholders and colleagues to achieve this.
Essential Criteria
- Be highly organised, with the ability to work on, manage and prioritise multiple work streams within tight timelines and with limited supervision;
- Ability to build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives;
- Excellent written communication skills and the ability to spot errors or inconsistencies;
- Ability to work in an ambiguous environment with continual change.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working in or responding to public inquiries;
- Experience and knowledge of information management processes;
- CTC clearance or above.
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV. Your CV should include details of your job history and skills.
You will also be assessed on 3 behaviours. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
Interview process
At the interview stage we will use the Civil Services Success Profiles to assess you on behaviours.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 21st October 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 28th October 2024
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Reasonable adjustments
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 cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet 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
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/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
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.
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 : Rejan Miah
- Email : rejan.miah@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
