Deployable And Reactive Team Officer (Security).

The Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) is responsible for physical and personnel security across both Houses of Parliament and provides support to Members and staff when away from the Estate. Its purpose is to keep Parliament safe and open for business.
PSD sets security strategy provides expert advice and delivers an operational service. It does this in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and by working closely with the Parliamentary Maintenance Services Team (PMST), Strategic Estates, Serjeant at Arms and Black Rod’s office, Restoration & Renewal teams, the Parliamentary Digital Service, and other key stakeholders.

Job Information
The Deployable and Reactive Team’s (DaRT) primary functions are to provide an effective mitigation to risk identified by the PSDs Security Hub, to afford PSDs Security Control Room a deployable resource of highly skilled officers to deal with short notice and spontaneous threats, and to increase the overall security of the estate through intelligence-driven and customer focussed security enhancements.

The DaRT is a proactive resource for the Security Hub to factor into planned risk mitigation and event operations, and a reactive asset for the Control Room to deploy to incidents. They will work closely with the Security Officer Managers to provide a complementary and joined up security posture. They consult with other departments within Parliament including Doorkeepers, Visitor Services and the MPS to deal with planned and spontaneous events, including committees, mass lobbies and demonstrations within the Parliamentary Estate. The team also provides an overt and covert behavioural detection function, targeted patrols and checks across the estate, Close Protection and security sweeps of Parliamentary buildings.

The DaRT is a key part of day-to-day operational security as well ceremonial events such as State Opening of Parliament, Laying in State, State visits, Speakers Events, and other high-profile events.
Responsibilities
• Respond to and manage security incidents, exercising common law powers including use of reasonable force across the Parliamentary Estate.
• Supervise security searches of buildings, construction sites, survey sites and boreholes, when called upon acting as team leader for other DaRT Officers. Be trained to use and maintain mobile trace detection and other specialist search equipment and keep accurate logs of all search processes.
• Conduct Close Protection duties for high profile persons to external events and venues. Acting as team leader ensuring the welfare of team members and conducting reconnaissance prior to a movement which involves consulting with external venue points of contact (POCs) and government agencies.
• Ensure the security of parliamentary committees in line with the weekly ‘Committee Risk Assessment,’ consulting with Committee Clerks and Chairs, Doorkeepers, Visitor Services and the MPS where a specific risk has been identified.
• Perform an overt and covert behavioural detection role within Parliamentary galleries and around the Parliamentary Estate including outside of the perimeter linking in with MPS, British Transport Police (BTP) and other external agencies.
• Facilitate the arrival and movement through the Estate of high-profile guests and dignitaries, including leading reconnaissance support for domestic and foreign countries protection teams.
• Support security for pre-planned ceremonial and short notice events.
• Conduct proactive tasks that support initiatives that will improve the security of the Parliamentary Estate.
• First response and deployment for continuity and contingency plans for Parliament.
Security
Successful candidates will be required to complete pre-employment checks. This includes security vetting to Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level or higher, as described in the job description. All successful candidates are required to pass these checks before an offer can be confirmed.
To enable meaningful checks to be carried out you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period. To undergo a CTC, you must have normally resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 years out of the last 5 years.

Uniform
You will be provided with a uniform including any specialist equipment, which will be replaced when required, and must be worn at all times whilst on duty. You are required to purchase plain black, lace up shoes or boots.

Hours
Due to the nature of the role and size of the team, only full-time employees can be considered. Bands A – E Positions (Full-time) Net conditions full-time working hours for staff of the House are 36 hours per week. This excludes daily meal breaks of one hour. The exact daily times of attendance will be agreed with line management.
Shift Work DaRT Officers are contracted to 24/7, 365-day presence. You will be expected to work to a 12-hour pattern that includes Saturdays. Due to constant reviews of our business needs this may also include Sundays and Bank Holidays in the future.
The DaRT currently runs two shifts which cover the core business hours of Parliament.
There will be an expectation to be flexible with shifts due to the nature of the role. This could include changes to start and finish times and/or changes to rest days at short notice.
All rosters are subject to change to support the evolving business needs of Parliament.
Additional Information
• Where you will receive as much warning as possible, some flexibility in shift patterns may be required to fulfil operational requirements.
• You will be expected to complete a fitness assessment every 12 months.
• You will need to be comfortable with leading a team on certain tasks.
• You should be prepared to attend external courses that may be conducted over a number of weeks and can be fairly arduous in their nature.
Workplace Adjustments
As an inclusive employer, the House of Commons supports individuals in need of workplace adjustments. The workplace adjustment process prevents, reduces, or removes problems you might face at work. Adjustments can be requested to help with obstacles relating to mental health, and physical or non-physical requirements. You can request a workplace adjustment if you have a disability or suffer from a difficulty or disadvantage in your workplace.
Application and Selection Process
Further details will be provided if you are successful at the initial application stage. If you are invited to the assessment part of the process, you should expect the following:
• Fitness assessment.
• Internal applicants – All PSD training to be in date, including X-ray screening and annual Essentials training. (External candidates will receive all necessary essential training).
• Communication and teamwork assessment.
• An observation and report writing exercise.
• A formal interview.
• You will be asked for proof of any specialist security certification.

As a Disability Confident Leader, it is important that we can make appropriate arrangements or adjustments where necessary in order to create a full and equal participation in the selection process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact the recruitment team to see how we can meet your needs.
This role does however require an individual to be fit and be able to wear body armour. You will be expected to be able to stay on your feet for prolonged periods of time and respond rapidly to incidents. The assessment day contains physical activities. An opportunity to discuss any concerns around your physical suitability to the role will be conducted on the assessment day.
Training
If successful, you will complete a series of essential, job-related, training courses during your probation period; it should be noted that passing these is a mandatory requirement for the role and failure to do so could result in the termination of your contract. Some of these courses will be external so you may be expected to travel to and from these external locations independently.
Our Values
The House Service is proud of our organisational values, which will deliver our strategy. We are looking for people who can bring these values to life:
Inclusive: We value everyone equally; We respect each other; We all have a voice.
Courageous: We try new things; We own our actions and decisions; We learn from our mistakes.
Trusted: We trust each other to do a good job; We are impartial; We build confidence in Parliament with our integrity.
Collaborative: We share our knowledge and experience; We work towards a shared vision; We know we work better in a partnership.

Skills and Security Experience
Criterion 1
Candidates must have a security background with demonstrable experience in areas relevant to the role such as behaviour detection, specialist search, close protection, and surveillance, with an ability to follow relevant security policies and directives.
Criterion 2
Experience of working with diverse groups of people, upholding the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is, at all times, treated with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
Criterion 3
Experience of working in a fast-moving, unpredictable environment showing the ability to be flexible and hands-on when needed to meet operational demand.
Criterion 4
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills – Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to relay information clearly and concisely to different audiences specifically with other departments of PSD and the wider Houses, or with external police, security agencies and other external stakeholders building relationships, to ensure that your tasks are completed in a safe and timely manner.
Criterion 5
A sound decision maker with demonstrable experience of understanding current threats and risks.
A team player with an ability to work with minimum supervision and capable of leading a team.