Covert Surveillance Officers

As part of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) response to tackling fraud within the welfare system, the Department utilise covert surveillance to gather evidence to prove/disprove offences
This is an opportunity to join our team of highly trained, dedicated Operatives in this challenging but highly rewarding role. This is not a normal office hours role. It will require you to work unsociable hours (early start and late finishes) including some weekend work alongside a good level of fitness., As a CFCD Covert Surveillance Operative you will:
+ Lead in taking forward tasking requests. Ensuring all surveillance activity provides value for money, is compliant with legal requirements, such as Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, The Police Act 1997 & Criminal Procedures and Investigations Act 1996, and in accordance Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office recommendations as well as Departmental requirements.
+ On occasions lead the activities of the Surveillance Team, as an OIC (Officer in Charge), providing direction to the team as the dynamic and evolving circumstances demand and to achieve the operational objectives.
+ Undertake Risk assessments
+ Produce evidential packages to a high standard that are professional and accurate. Including, writing/obtaining witness statements to evidence witnessed activities, exhibit evidence obtained, including editing and compiling video/audio evidence and to account for the continuity of exhibits including preparing disclosure schedules in accordance with legislation.
+ Ensure you adhere strictly to the DWP’s surveillance standards, and general instructions set out in the Fraud Procedures / Instructions Manual, and other user manuals and follow the processes to ensure people comply with the legal and policy requirements.
+ Undertake and successfully complete a demanding suite of learning events to support you in undertaking this role. Included are several critical events in required to undertake these duties. These events are assessed and successful completion is required for this role. Please also note some of these events may be residential.
+ Promote professional standards at all times.
+ As required, appear as a witness in court.
+ Actively participate in surveillance operations, often requiring regular attendance in unsocial hours and travel. Some overnight stays may also be required., Successful candidates will be required to complete a demanding suite of learning. Some of these events are residential and may require you to be away from home (excluding weekends) for 2 weeks. They are also assessed events that require you to pass them to undertake this 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.
Microsoft Teams Live Event
We will be holding two Microsoft Teams Live events to let you know more about the roles. These will take place on two days between Friday 3rd May and Friday 10th May
Attendance to this event is by invitation only. To register your initial interest, please contact cfcd.ssclvacancies@dwp.gov.uk typing in the subject line EO Covert Surveillance Officers MS Teams event
You will be sent an invite to the event with a link to join.

Licences
Full Driving licence is required to undertake the role.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together
+ Making Effective Decisions, Those who pass the Civil Service Judgement Test will be invited to a Online Assessment Centre and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.
You will be required to undertake two aptitude assessments at the assessment centre.
1. Observation skills
2. Listening skills
These assessments will utilise both video and audio media. You will also be required to answer questions as part of the assessment and therefore need to ensure your device is compatible.
Please note the assessment centres will be via video using Microsoft Teams and you will need to use your personal or work device to access the video link. You will receive a link to join the assessment centre at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.
They are scheduled to take place on three dates in either week commencing 27/05/2024 or 03/06/2024, please note that this week is only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. The assessment centres will be scheduled Monday to Friday, at a time between 09:00 to 17:00. They are expected to last approximately one hour.
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 assessment can be confirmed.
Stage 3 – Interview and assessment
Those who pass the assessment centre 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 via video using Microsoft Teams and you will need to use your personal or work device to access the video link. You will receive a link to join the interview at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 24/06/2024 to 05/07/2024, 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.
Preparing for the interview
The interview will take approximately 45 minutes where you will be asked a mixture of Behavioural and Strength questions alongside a map reading assessment. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview offering a more inclusive approach. The Strength and Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.
Behaviours
You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed above at 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 above to explain:
+ WHO - What it was, How you approached the work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
+ STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
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., 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 or 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 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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.
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
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ A confident, inspirational, driven leader. Able to take charge of situations and provide direction to the team to achieve results.
+ Able to work effectively as part of a team. Fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect
+ Be proactive in developing and maintaining positive and professional working relationships with a variety of people and organisations
+ Able to interpret and work within set rules and processes in an ever-changing environment.
+ Able to make effective decisions in a pressurised environment with a focus on value for money
+ A focus on customer service. Ability to place the customer at the heart of all we do.
+ Candidates must hold a current full driving licence for manual vehicles. Officers are expected to drive the full range of vehicles covered by a full driving license
+ The role requires a good level of fitness. Officers need to be able to walk significant distances at varying paces and for prolonged periods.
+ The role requires good vision/observational skills. Officers are required to observe activities and describe these as they happen whilst also remembering details in environments where it may be difficult to make notes
+ The role requires a good level of hearing. Officers are required to wear covert audio equipment as well as take verbal information/instruction from multiple sources.
+ Must be flexible as you may be required to deploy at short notice. This may involve working unsocial hours and may on occasion require you to stay away from home
Essential Criteria
+ Full Driving licence
Desirable Criteria
+ Surveillance Experience
+ Professionalism in Security (PINS) / Accredited Counter Fraud in Professionalism (ACFIP) or equivalent qualification
+ If based in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

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
+ 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.
+ 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., The successful candidate(s) will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during August/September 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. However, surveillance duties will require you to regularly work outside of normal hours. The hours worked can be unsociable and prolonged. Whilst we are proactive in planning our surveillance the nature of the role requires us on regular occasions to react to intelligence and deploy with little notice.
You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.
In applying you will have indicated that you have read and fully understood the demands of the role, specifically the unsociable hours and the physical requirements for this Covert Surveillance Officer role.
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.
Candidates who are successful will be asked to complete an integrity declaration 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.