Address Overview:
Do you have experience in counter fraud or criminal investigations? Are you looking for an interesting and challenging role where you can work proactively and collaboratively and further develop your team working skills? If so, our Fraud Investigation Officer role could be a great fit for you. This role offers an exciting opportunity to join Social Security Scotland’s Inverness-based Counter Fraud team, where you will contribute to the team’s evolution and influence the design of its counter fraud service.
While our strategy is to design out opportunities for fraud and error through preventative measures, there remains the possibility that fraud will occur. To respond to this, Social Security Scotland's counter fraud service detects and investigates fraud, taking enforcement action where appropriate.
The role offers the opportunity to contribute to the safeguarding of vital resources for the people of Scotland who need them, by forming part of an expert team gathering and assessing intelligence to support formal investigative action. It also allows the exciting opportunity to engage closely with project management staff, helping to influence the design of the service, testing processes and systems to shape our evolution as we move through implementation.
As the successful candidate you will demonstrate flexibility, be comfortable in a changing environment, and enjoy working collaboratively to identify opportunities for improvements, exploring new ideas and solutions.
What do we offer you?
Hybrid Working
We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh or Inverness offices. There is an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in your assigned location however role specific attendance will be discussed and agreed with successful candidates.
Find out more about us here Responsibilities:
Additionally, while the Counter Fraud Service transitions to the fully functioning model, investigators will be required to adopt a flexible approach, undertaking additional activities such as risk assessment of referrals, informal intervention interviews etc. as and when required. Qualifications:
How to apply
A CV (no longer than two pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements - this is accessed through the candidate profile.
A Personal Statement (no longer than 1000 words) explaining why you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria below.
1.Operational experience in counter fraud or some other form of criminal investigation, ideally to include investigative planning, formal interviewing, statement noting, crime report collation and surveillance.
When considering how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and personal statement to reflect the role and the essential skills/criteria as described in the job description.
When reviewing your application, we will be assessing your career history and achievements against the essential criteria for the role. We’re looking for examples of things you have previously achieved or your knowledge in a particular field which are relevant to the role.
If we receive a large number of applications, we may complete an initial sift on the first essential criterion. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.
Reserve List
Recruitment Contact
Further Information
The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)
If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner
If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
If you are interested in us contacting you about further available vacancies, please sign up to our mailing list to receive job alerts.
Do you have experience in counter fraud or criminal investigations? Are you looking for an interesting and challenging role where you can work proactively and collaboratively and further develop your team working skills? If so, our Fraud Investigation Officer role could be a great fit for you. This role offers an exciting opportunity to join Social Security Scotland’s Inverness-based Counter Fraud team, where you will contribute to the team’s evolution and influence the design of its counter fraud service.
Everyone in Scotland should have the support they need to live their life and we believe they should be able to get it when and where they need it. That's why Social Security Scotland is built around the people of Scotland. However, as fraud and customer error is a known risk in the benefits being devolved, as an agency we are planning our response.
While our strategy is to design out opportunities for fraud and error through preventative measures, there remains the possibility that fraud will occur. To respond to this, Social Security Scotland's counter fraud service detects and investigates fraud, taking enforcement action where appropriate.
The role offers the opportunity to contribute to the safeguarding of vital resources for the people of Scotland who need them, by forming part of an expert team gathering and assessing intelligence to support formal investigative action. It also allows the exciting opportunity to engage closely with project management staff, helping to influence the design of the service, testing processes and systems to shape our evolution as we move through implementation.
As the successful candidate you will demonstrate flexibility, be comfortable in a changing environment, and enjoy working collaboratively to identify opportunities for improvements, exploring new ideas and solutions.
What do we offer you?
- Access to our flexible working system with potential to accrue up to four additional days’ leave in a four-week period.
- Minimum five weeks’ annual leave (pro rata) in addition to 11.5 public and privilege holidays.
- Full and comprehensive training, and access to learning and development opportunities to support your personal and professional growth.
- Career progression – join a developing organisation with excellent opportunities for career advancement.
- Attractive Civil Service pension (employer contributions between 26.6% - 27.9%).
- Workplace adjustments for everyone who needs them to ensure your comfort and safety in your new role.
- Health and wellbeing support including 24-hour access to our Employee Assistance Programme, plus counselling support available for all.
Hybrid Working
We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh or Inverness offices. There is an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in your assigned location however role specific attendance will be discussed and agreed with successful candidates.
Your base location will be Inverness, however you will be expected to travel extensively within the Highland and Islands area in order to carry out investigations and in the execution of your duties.
About Us
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.
Find out more about us here
You will undertake investigations into allegations of fraud which are compliant with legal and policy requirements, to include:
- Investigation planning to identify relevant enquiries and gather appropriate evidence
- Interviewing witnesses and conducting formal recorded interviews of suspects
- Undertaking risk assessments, administering documentation and carrying out activities in support of directed surveillance
- Close working with other government departments and Police Scotland as appropriate
- Preparing adjudication reports and case summaries
- Writing crime reports for submission to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service, collating production packs and disclosure schedules etc.
- Providing evidence as a witness in prosecution case proceedings and supporting Appeals Officer as appropriate, where a Tribunal hearing is requested in relation to a fraud determination
Additionally, while the Counter Fraud Service transitions to the fully functioning model, investigators will be required to adopt a flexible approach, undertaking additional activities such as risk assessment of referrals, informal intervention interviews etc. as and when required.
No specific qualifications are required for this post.
How to apply
To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process.
A CV (no longer than two pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements - this is accessed through the candidate profile.
A Personal Statement (no longer than 1000 words) explaining why you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria below.
1.Operational experience in counter fraud or some other form of criminal investigation, ideally to include investigative planning, formal interviewing, statement noting, crime report collation and surveillance.
2.Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners, seeking opportunities to share resources, information, experience and best practice.
3.A sound approach to decision making, with an ability to consider proportionality and necessity when undertaking investigation enquiries.
4.An ability to work effectively in a changing environment, demonstrating flexibility and overcoming challenges while also enabling others to do so.
When considering how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and personal statement to reflect the role and the essential skills/criteria as described in the job description.
When reviewing your application, we will be assessing your career history and achievements against the essential criteria for the role. We’re looking for examples of things you have previously achieved or your knowledge in a particular field which are relevant to the role.
If we receive a large number of applications, we may complete an initial sift on the first essential criterion. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.
Social Security Scotland - Further_information for job applicants
Information Session
If you are interested in applying for a role as a Fraud Investigation Officer, we highly recommend attending our online Information Session before you submit your application. The session will tell you more about the role, the application process, the benefits of working with us, and lots of tips and guidance to help you submit a great application.
Please feel free to join us on Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 12:00 noon using the link below -
Click here to join the Information Session
Interview/Assessment Information
If you are interested in applying for a role as a Fraud Investigation Officer, we highly recommend attending our online Information Session before you submit your application. The session will tell you more about the role, the application process, the benefits of working with us, and lots of tips and guidance to help you submit a great application.
Please feel free to join us on Tuesday 12th March 2024 at 12:00 noon using the link below -
Click here to join the Information Session
Interview/Assessment Information
Here are details of the Competencies required for this role which you will be tested against if you are invited to attend the interview/assessment:
Self-Awareness- Communication and Engagement
- Improving Performance
- Analysis and Use of Evidence
- Specialist Knowledge – experience in criminal investigations including the investigation of fraud
Reserve List
In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 12 months.
Recruitment Contact
To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Alan Ross who can be reached at alan.ross@socialsecurity.gov.scot
Further Information
This post requires the successful candidate to clear additional National Security Vetting clearance before a start date can be offered.
The post is a full-time role, however staff with different working patterns are invited to apply. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
The post is a full-time role, however staff with different working patterns are invited to apply. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for this post.
The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade.
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot.
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)
If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner
If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
If you are interested in us contacting you about further available vacancies, please sign up to our mailing list to receive job alerts.
