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About the job
Job summary
Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) has been through wide transformation and continues to do so to ensure it can operate effectively for the future, has visible leadership and teams which work together as One CFCD to deliver the Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team committed to tackling Fraud encountered through Economic and Serious Organised Crime.
DWP Economic, Serious and Organised Crime (ESOC) Strategy compliments and aligns with the Home Office Strategy, the DWP Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy and the Risk and Intelligence Strategy.
Its objectives are to:
- Maintain a clear and coherent intelligence picture of the threat to inform our investigations, capability development and protect and prevent capabilities.
- Conduct high quality investigations targeted at the highest harm threats leading to judicial outcomes, disruptions and asset recovery.
- Promote our successful operations both internally and externally to deter and prevent further criminality.
- Exploit a range of data sources to identify and respond to threat.
- Engage with stakeholders across DWP, HMG, Law Enforcement and partners to shape policy, operations and capability development.
- Maintain and invest in our capabilities to stay ahead of the threat.
ESOC Threats and Prioritisation involve:
- Modern Slavery/Human Trafficking – Vulnerable people exploited to abuse the benefit system.
- Web Enabled Fraud – UC and other online frauds on an industrial scale.
- Insider Threat – internal abuse of position to facilitate fraud
- Identity Fraud – large scale use of false and hijacked identities to attack the welfare system.
- Organised Economic Crime – large scale abuse of the system including organised criminals setting up fake/shell companies providing false invoices/payslips to claim benefits and payments. .
Additionally, as work streams change and DWP reacts to the changing behaviours in criminal activity, the Economic Serious & Organised Crim (ESOC) investigators must keep pace with modern methods of criminality, this includes the use of crypto currencies to mask monies derived from fraudulent activity.
Job description
DWP is the lead agency for tackling economic serious and organised criminality against the welfare system. DWP’s Economic Serious and Organised Crime (ESOC) investigators are part of a National team with geographical representation throughout the UK. We are responsible for, and are committed to detecting, preventing, dismantling and prosecuting organised criminals facilitating benefit offences and abuse. Serious offenders often receive substantial custodial sentences.
The role of ESOC is primarily to investigate fraud in the welfare system perpetuated by organised criminal groups. This mostly involves working across multi law enforcement agencies on high profile and serious fraud operations involving multi suspects in multi-million-pound criminality.
Key Tasks include:
- Working directly to an Officer in Charge (OiC) of a criminal investigation.
- Undertake Interviews Under Caution in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).
- Submit prosecution files in accordance with Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National File Standard guidance.
- To undertake tasks as directed by an OiC to support the progression of investigations, including, but not exclusively, as listed.
- To research a variety of information/intelligence sources and collate relevant information that will be required for investigation, and evaluate information in accordance with legislation and guidance.
- Complete and approve Requests for Information (RFIs) as required.
- To record, retain and review material collected during the course of the criminal investigation for Disclosure purposes – such as banking information, benefit systems, CCTV footage, statements from witnesses, mobile phone messages, social media conversations and photographs.
- To liaise confidently, promptly and professionally with all internal staff and outside agencies in respect of the work of the team.
- To keep abreast of current, new and proposed legislation relating to criminal investigations.
- To understand the need for a range of interventions, including ‘prevention’, ‘disruption’ and ‘prosecution’ in ESOC investigations.
- To handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately, ensuring all information/evidence is processed in accordance with legislation and guidance.
- To attend Court hearings as directed by the OiC or to assist the OiC.
- To provide statistical information where required on investigations, working with colleagues and/or the OiC.
- To complete Disclosure schedules as advised by the OiC, providing Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with schedules of any unused material and identifying any material that undermines the case for the prosecution or assists the case for the defence.
- To process enquiries/applications in line with established procedures for handling and disclosure of information relevant to Court Proceedings.
- To prepare information for disclosure and disseminate to CPS within agreed timescales.
- To apply initiative and knowledge gained in the handling of complex enquiries.
- To quickly respond to emerging threats by disrupting live attempts to defraud DWP benefit systems.
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering a high standard of service at all times by managing own workload, prioritising to ensure all deadlines are met.
- To be aware of the Unit’s objectives and ensure maintenance of, and adherence to, quality standards, service level agreements and customer requirements, highlighting areas for improvement where appropriate.
Person specification
Person specification
- A flexible, agile outlook and approach.
- Innovation, drive and creative thinking.
- Good presentation and communication ability with excellent written/drafting skills.
- Ability to make sound business decisions, at pace.
- Honesty, integrity and probity.
- A personal demeanour that inspires confidence and loyalty.
- Good communication skills using a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony.
- Ability to provide excellent Customer Service.
- Sound and confident decision making ability.
- Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and work collaboratively with colleagues.
- Strong IT skills to enable navigating a range of computer systems.
- Ability to work in a challenging and rewarding environment and ensure actions are completed in a timely manner.
Key Criteria:
Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key Criteria:
- You can research and understand complex information, taking responsibility for making effective decisions while being able to explain how they were reached in a clear and concise way.
- You can demonstrate clear and concise communication skills; use a variety of communication methods including digital and telephony with the ability to express ideas, adding value to ways of working.
- You can develop effective relationships with key stakeholders and organisations, working collaboratively with colleagues within teams and across the organisation.
- You display strong IT skills to enable navigation of a range of computer systems and software packages.
Desirable skills:
For roles based in Wales an ability to speak Welsh is desirable.
Please be aware:
Please note that the role that you are applying requires National Security Vetting (NSV) to the level – Security Check (SC). You can find more information at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you are successful in your application, you will need to attain SC clearance before you can take up post. This is mandatory and is in addition to completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).
The purpose of the NSV process is to provide a level of assurance about an individual’s trustworthiness, integrity and reliability, and other factors that increase their vulnerability to corruption or risk of committing a security breach. It involves the investigation of an individual’s background and circumstances to achieve this aim.
To be eligible to apply, you will need to have 5 years continual UK residency prior to the date of your application. In certain circumstances a minimum period of 3 years may be considered with additional checks. If you do not have continual UK residency, we will not be able to proceed with your application, because you will be unable to obtain Security Clearance. This includes if you have been out of the UK for six months or more during this time.
The application process will ask for personal details about you, your address history, previous relationships, your parents, your employment history, your financial circumstances, and details of any pending, spent or unspent convictions. This list is not exhaustive. Please view the Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information.
If you require any further information, please contact the vacancy holder – the details are on the jobs portal through which you made your application.
If you are successful in your application, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the NSV process and advise that you collate as much information as you can prior to starting your Vetting application.
If you go on to attain Security Clearance, then you should be aware of the following:
Behaviours expected of you to maintain clearance
Keeping your clearance is dependent upon maintaining good security behaviours. You must:
- Not take any illegal drugs.
- Always act with honesty and integrity and, if you are a Civil Servant, adhere to the Civil Service Code.
- Always act in a way that will not put you at risk of being unduly influenced, exploited or blackmailed by people such as criminals and journalists.
In addition to the above candidates who are successful will be asked about the following before we offer them a position.
Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge:
- Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had.
- Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded.
- Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had.
- The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court.
What Checks are Involved
- Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.
- Completion, by the individual, of a security questionnaire.
- A departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records.
- A check of both spent and unspent criminal records.
- A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
- A check of Security Service (MI5) records.
- Exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed.
- In the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out.
- Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire.
Travel Requirements - you will be required to attend:
- Briefings and operational planning with external stakeholders such as Police, Lawyers, Barristers.
- Interviews under Caution.
- Organise and participate in arrests, search and seizure.
- From arrest location, transport evidence to office or a secure location in preparation for court.
- Attendance at Court for applications of Orders and Confiscation/Civil hearings.
Successful candidates will need to be able to travel, retrieve evidence and be available at short notice. Due to the nature of the role this could be at any location nationally and during unsociable hours (both night/day and weekends). A departmental vehicle OR hire car may be made available if you hold a full UK driving license.
Learning Requirements:
Successful candidates must be willing to attain the mandatory Level 4 Investigations apprenticeship, required to undertake the technical functions of the role which is expected to last 18 months. Please note that any required training is full time and will require travel.
If you already hold the following equivalents to the Level 4 Investigations apprenticeship, you will not be required to do the apprenticeship.
- Accredited Counter Fraud Investigators Programme (ACFIP).
- Professionalism in Security (PinS) Accredited Counter Fraud Officer.
Candidates are advised that all colleagues are required to undertake any future mandatory learning for their job role.
Where a qualification is not achieved, it would not be possible to fulfil the role requirements and candidates will be redeployed, within CFCD where possible, following Workforce Management Policy and Procedures.
The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) is committed to investing in people and ensuring their teams are a professional workforce. It is a requirement of Counter Fraud post holders within DWP to attain, and retain, membership of the GCFP (Government Counter Fraud Profession) at Practitioner level. This means if you are successful in applying for this role you will need to undertake an annual self-assessment to evidence your knowledge, skills, and experience within your role to attain and retain practitioner level membership. We provide post holders with a learning routeway to support them in achieving as well as any workplace adjustments they may require. Failure to attain membership of the GCFP at Practitioner level may result in DWP seeking an alternative role for you.
In applying you will have indicated that you have read and fully understood the professional requirements for this Counter Fraud Officer role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits
Benefits including:
- Generous annual leave - 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus bank holidays and one day of leave for the King’s Birthday. The exact number of days of annual leave will be determined by any current years of service.
- Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave we also recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and offer flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
- Training and apprenticeships and up to 5 days’ personal development & learning allowance
- Flexible/hybrid working
- Employee discount schemes
- Free wellbeing support
- Opportunities to make a real difference through joining forums, initiatives & charities
- Interest free travel loans
- Vodafone advantage discount scheme
- Highly sought after civil service pension- your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where:
- The employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension.
- Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and
- Your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
- For more information, visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Location
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
Hybrid Working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
HASSRA
DWP colleagues will have the opportunity to join HASSRA, a vibrant and successful organisation that provides a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). It also has an important part to play in helping us achieve a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing in the workplace.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1 - Application and Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement in no more than 750 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the following question.
- Please describe a situation where you were required to gather a large amount of data, to analyse it objectively, to make a decision or a recommendation based on the results. Explain how you considered options and risks and how you involved others.
Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirement set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirement needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 21/05/2024**
Sift to be held 03/06/2024 to 14/06/2024. These dates made be subject to change.
Stage 2 - Interview
Those who pass the Written Application Sift with the required score will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.
Please note that interviews will be held Face-to-Face across the UK at various locations on the advert. You will receive a invite with the relevant details to attend the office at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 01/07/2024 to 12/07/2024, please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.
Communications will be electronic and/or by telephone therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number, it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed.
Preparing for the interview
The interview will take approximately 40 minutes where you will be asked a mixture of Behavioural and Strength questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation, offering an enhanced inclusive approach. The Behaviour and Strength based questioning explores what you the candidate can and has done, and also your potential.
Behaviours
At interview you will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed above (Level 2):
To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the behavioural questions in advance of the interview. These questions should be treated as confidential and should not be shared. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up questions, and those about your strengths.
An example of a Behavioural question would be “Tell me about a time when you’ve had to deal with a difficult customer.”
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
- What it was, how you approached the work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or
- What was the Situation? That were the Tasks? What Actiondid you take? How/what did you learn through a Review?
If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.
Strengths
It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role.
While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.
If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.
Stage 3 – Offer
Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email.
Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list.
The successful candidate(s) will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during October/November 2024.
Important information.
Working Pattern
Part-time and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful part time and job share candidates will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.
Hours of Work
The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of:
- 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and
- 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.
Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate.
You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.
Please note:
- If you are offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.
- If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
- Note - Exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual Part Time Working Pattern and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered, or in cases of serious ill health.
Candidates should also note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before applying for any other lateral moves within DWP.
Further information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP 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 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.
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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim you may be required to undertake a work based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract.
Important
If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent) then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Reasonable Adjustments
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dwprecruitment.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 are deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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 :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
