Border Force Officer
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 7th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Please note – You must be over 18 and entitled to UK citizenship to apply for these roles.
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counterterrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration, and passports. We are Border Force, a Law Enforcement arm of the Home Office with primary responsibility for UK Border Security.
We are responsible for handling the UK border control by implementing Immigration and Customs regulations whilst working with the wider Home Office on Counter Terrorism, Organised Crime, Modern slavery, and Trafficking.
Border Force has six operational regions within the UK: Central, Europe, Heathrow, North, South, Southeast. These regions have responsibility for securing the border 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at the UK’s 140 seaports, airports, 200+ general aviation ports, postal depots, and international rail networks.
This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a team that both protects and enhances the UK economy. Our work is varied and rewarding, attracting people from all backgrounds and walks of life.
As a Border Force Officer at the frontline of our operation, your contributions will have a direct impact in delivering what the public expect from us. Your role at port will facilitate the clearance of passengers and goods from all over the world, representing the UK, while directly maintaining national Border Security in your role.
Job description
The role our Officers perform is dynamic, fast -paced and always evolving. You can expect to join a team where together we make a real difference to everyday life. Our work can be difficult and challenging but there will always be your team to support you throughout your career, not just the start. The part you play will be a fundamental aspect in how we maintain the security of the UK Border. Our work is high profile within public interest as we deliver the Home Office’s wider policy agenda to keep our country safe and prosperous.
Border Security includes a wide range of systems that function in tandem to facilitate a world class border the public expects. Our intention is to enable the flow of passengers and goods quickly and effectively through the Primary Control entry points, while refusing entry to the UK when appropriate and required. This includes checking passengers to ensure travel and trade is optimal whilst ensuring our legal duties towards Customs, Freight, Immigration, Safeguarding are always upheld.
Our operational activity is intelligence-driven with searches for prohibited, counterfeit or restricted goods (such as drugs, firearms, weapons, cash, tobacco, and alcohol) as well as people of interest.
As a Border Force Officer, you may be involved in the following types of activity:
- Operating immigration and customs controls at points of entry to the UK, checking passengers have the correct permissions and documentation to enter.
- Identifying vulnerable adults and children, prioritising their safety and welfare and referring to the appropriate agencies.
- Interviewing passengers, undertaking investigations, and making decisions on whether they qualify for entry to the UK or fall to be refused under the immigration rules.
- Identifying and searching people, goods, and vehicles to establish if a customs offence has been committed.
- Using law enforcement powers to arrest people involved in border offences, preserving evidence, managing the detention of individuals, and liaising with other law enforcement partners.
- If involved in International Trade, you will be responsible for the movement and clearance of imported and exported goods across a range of International Trade/Customs regimes and undertake post-detection action in respect of any irregularities identified.
For more information about working for Border Force and to hear from some of our colleagues, please visit our careers website at Border Force - Home Office Careers.
For information on the specific locations and wording patterns being offered please follow this link:
https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html
Working for the Home Office
There’s no one type of person working at the Home Office. Just like in wider society, everyone here is different. We believe that different backgrounds, perspectives, and voices add up to richer, fuller thinking that helps us deliver fairer, better outcomes.
We’re committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people can bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are particularly keen to welcome applications from women and those from an ethnic minority background who are currently underrepresented in Border Force.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Due to the work we do and where we do it, Border Force teams can operate in sometimes difficult and dynamic environments. These are public facing law enforcement roles where the work is often fast-paced and changeable - our officers need to respond to challenges in a calm and professional manner.
You will receive full role-specific and personal safety training and you will have the support of a team (see below for further information).
Successful candidates will need to have:
- The professional behaviours and personal integrity associated with a law enforcement organisation. This means acting ethically and with integrity, being able to take difficult decisions when they are needed, always doing the right thing, being impartial and honest.
- Demonstrable interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills and you enjoy working as part of a team.
- A genuine interest in people, an inquisitive, open mind and empathetic manner.
- The ability to be flexible, adaptable, and creative in solving problems and dealing with changing situations.
- The ability to confidently manage potentially difficult and challenging situations.
- Leadership potential or demonstrated leadership ability – this means role modelling professional behaviours, maintaining standards, making well-judged decisions, being motivated, adaptable to change and clear in your communication.
- An objective and analytical approach. Able to gather information from multiple sources, make a reasoned assessment and justify the resulting recommendation.
UK Driving Licence Requirement
Due to the nature of the work and/or the geographical area, driving may be a key requirement for this role. Please visit:
https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html to establish if a driving licence is an essential requirement in your preferred location.
Working patterns
For more information regarding the working patterns in the various locations please visit:
https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of submitting your application. You will be required to work between 22.00 and 06.00, so this is a legal requirement. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/night-working-hours
Home Office applicants with a live attendance management warning are not eligible to apply for vacancies during the initial 3-month improvement (live warning) period; however, they can apply for posts during the following 9 month sustained improvement period.
For more information on multiple assignments, outside activity of Civil Servants, training and the security checks required, please visit: https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html
Benefits
As well as offering the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, a career with the Home Office comes with a range of amazing benefits including:
- A career salary average, defined benefit pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
This role attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of between 13.87% and 77.01% dependant on shift and location, which equates to an additional £3,883 - £21,562 per annum based on national salary minimum. Please visit:
https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html for full details of the AHA for your chosen location and working pattern. Further information can be found on our website.
For more information on our wide range of benefits, please see Benefits page of our website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), across the recruitment process. To assess your full capability and potential we will use a blended approach of profiles across Ability, Experience and Strengths. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information about the role and how to apply, please visit the Home Office Campaign microsite:
https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact ho-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com at least two working days before the vacancy closes.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
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 : HO-Recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com or visit the microsite for a live chat option on https://www.homeofficejobs-sscl.co.uk/bf-vacancies.html
- Email : HO-Recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
Recruitment team
- Email : ho-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
