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G3 National Search Adviser

  • Company:National Crime Agency
  • Reference:HM-POJ-260128-63939
  • Remuneration:£55,575 - £68,037
  • Role/type:Permanent
  • Location:Remote Working (Anywhere in the UK)
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Role Summary To provide assistance to Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) and Investigating Officers (IOs) in major, complex, serious or volume crime in relation to the search for victims, suspects, evidence or other items the location of which is either concealed or unknown. To provide a co-ordinated national approach for Search Strategies relating to homicide, missing persons and mass fatality disasters on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

About the Role

Information about the Command

Investigations Command is the core crime fighting capability of the NCA. We take an intelligence-led approach and concentrate on tackling the criminals and risks to the public which are beyond the capability or capacity of other law enforcement bodies. Our work is largely focused on investigating Organised Immigration Crime, Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Economic Crime, Firearms, Drugs, Kidnap and Extortion and Money Laundering. The Investigations Command provides a flexible, shared operational capability, designed to maximise the impact of the UK’s collective resources against serious and organised crime. Our teams respond to a broad range of threats, many of which also remain a responsibility for police forces and other agencies as well as private industry.

Information about the Business Area

This Deputy Directorate incorporates the teams of Operation Stovewood, Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) Operations and the Child Protection Team (CPT), National Investigative Capabilities (NIC), Investigations HQ and the Command Private Offices.

To provide assistance to Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) and Investigating Officers (IOs) in major, complex, serious or volume crime in relation to the search for victims, suspects, evidence or other items the location of which is either concealed or unknown. To provide a co-ordinated national approach for Search Strategies relating to homicide, missing persons and mass fatality disasters on behalf of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

This is a home-based/remote working role as it does not have a specific location as the role will require flexibility with travel to deploy nationally and internationally in support of the Major Crime investigators . 

The National Search Adviser acts as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) within law enforcement in relation to crime and missing person searches.

Working with MCIS, Specialist National Advisers represent areas of law enforcement where in-depth advice or insight is most frequently requested.

To provide strategic and tactical advice and support relating to crime and missing person search to Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) and Investigating Officers (IOs) investigating homicide, rape, series and serious sexual offences, crimes in action, critical impact incidents, unidentified human remains, and suspicious missing person enquiries.

To provide, when required, guidance relating to search in relation to counter terrorism, major incidents, serious and organised crime and high risk and/or complex missing person enquiries.

Duties & Responsibilities
To provide investigative support in relation to serious, major and organised crime. This includes high risk missing person searches to other law enforcement agencies and associated government bodies and departments.
To provide observations and recommendations, both dynamically, verbally and through the production of written reports, with due regard to timeliness and the potential impact of the advice.
To develop and maintain close working relationships with partner agencies and specialists associated with crime and missing person search.
To support the development of national guidance and best practice for LE, by working closely with National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) leads for associated portfolios and the College of Policing.
To contribute to NPCC and government strategic boards and working groups on a consultative basis, and where sanctioned engage in, or oversee national projects or research associated with crime and missing person search and associated disciplines.
To deliver presentations relating to the utility of search in relation to serious, major and organised crime, including high risk missing person behalf of MCIS (Ops) team to conferences and supported training courses.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Experience and practical knowledge of the application of search techniques and a detailed knowledge of current legislation, police and procedures of Major Crime investigation and recent application.
Demonstrate excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills, both written and verbally. With the ability to brief complex information succinctly and clearly at all levels.
Evidence appropriate interaction at all levels within the Police Service and other Law Enforcement agencies. Experience of multi-agency partnership working within the law enforcement community.

Essential Criteria

You must meet the essential criteria and evidence this within your application to be considered for the role.

Qualified as a Police Search Advisor (PolSA), accredited by the College of Policing,

The National Search Adviser acts as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in crime and missing person searches.

Any applications from candidates not meeting this eligibility criteria will not progress.

Desirable Criteria

Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.
Recent experience in performing the role of the Police Search
Co-Ordinator (PolSC).

Salary

All salary offers will be made in line with Remuneration Policy.

Benefits

All NCA employees are members of the UK Civil Service and eligible for the Civil Service pension scheme, alongside your salary the NCA contributes £16100. Further information on the benefits of the scheme is available on the Civil Service Pension Website.

New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.

If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).

Other benefits include:

  • Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements)
  • Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum
  • Learning and Development opportunities
  • Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits
  • Housing schemes – Key Worker status
  • Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway | Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
  • Staff support groups/networks
  • Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC)

Further information is available on the NCA Website.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework and will assess using the following criteria: Behaviours, Technical Skills
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

How we will assess you

Your application will be assessed against the following:
Technical – this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:
  • Extensive Police Search Adviser experience within critical incidents, homicide, high risk missing persons.
  • Experience in reviewing, planning, implementing search strategies within major crime (e.g. homicide, missing persons and mass disaster investigations.
  • Ability to manage prolonged and complex searches working with partners across multi-agency / multi-disciplinary arena.
  • Ability to bring innovative solutions to search scenarios as a PolSA.
  • Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis.
A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.

We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.

Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.

For guidance on the application process, visit:
NCA Applying and Onboarding

Assessment 1

The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the Success Profiles at Assessment section.

Success Profiles at Assessment

Behaviours
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace
Technical
  • Extensive Police Search Adviser experience within critical incidents, homicide, high risk missing persons.
  • Experience in reviewing, planning, implementing search strategies within major crime (e.g. homicide, missing persons and mass disaster investigations.
  • Ability to manage prolonged and complex searches working with partners across multi-agency / multi-disciplinary arena.
  • Ability to bring innovative solutions to search scenarios as a PolSA.
  • Proven experience of taking steps to improve culture on an individual and team basis.
Assessment Outcome
Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
Reserve lists can be used to fill similar role types across the Agency where the assessment criteria is considered a match by the recruitment team and the business area.

In the event of a tie at the assessment stage, available roles will be offered in merit order using the following order:

  1. Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
  2. If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
  3. If still tied, application sift scores will be used
Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.
You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.
Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.
We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.

Eligibility, Pre-Employment Check and Vetting

Please see the NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf) for details on how your data is handled.
If you are an internal candidate who has passed interview but is undergoing an internal investigation or have a written warning in place preventing a post move you may not be able to be posted until this investigation is concluded or restriction lifted.

Nationality Requirements

This role is broadly open to the following groups:
• UK nationals or dual nationals, where one component is British
• 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)
• 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
You will be required to participate in digital right to work and address checks as part of the recruitment process.

Security and Vetting

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is SC Enhanced. All security clearances will be managed by the NCA.
For more information on security vetting please visit: UK Security Vetting guidance for applicants and Demystifying Vetting and see our vetting charter at: The Vetting Charter.

Vetting requirements – SC Enhanced

Prior to commencing the role, you will need to successfully complete SC Enhanced clearance.
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years.
Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
For further information on National Security Vetting checks please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting
Individuals will be required to undertake and pass a substance misuse test as part of pre-employment checks.

Occupational Health

Successful candidates will be expected to undertake an occupational health assessment. Depending on the role an in-person medical may be required in either London or Warrington. Unfortunately, travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Things you need to know

Near Miss

If you meet the criteria for a lower grade, you may be offered that role if not appointable at the advertised grade.

Conversely, if found appointable at a higher grade but no posts are available, you may be offered a lower-grade role.

All offers are made based on merit.

Hybrid Working

The NCA supports hybrid working. The extent of remote working will depend on the role and can be discussed at the offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive, equal opportunities employer.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. If you’re neurodiverse, have a disability, or live with a long-term health condition, we encourage you to let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need during the recruitment process.

If you experience accessibility issues with the advert or require reasonable adjustments, please contact our Recruitment Team at Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk before the advert closing date.

Please ensure you complete the ‘Equal opportunities’ and ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ sections in the application form to inform us on what support you may need in the recruitment process.

For more on our Disability Confident commitment, visit Disability Confident Scheme | Civil Service Careers. 

Visit NCA Benefits and Support for more details.

Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

In order to monitor the effectiveness of the National Crime Agency’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, we require certain personal details about you on submission of your application for statistical and monitoring purposes only. Please note that this will be treated in confidence and will not impact your application.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit on merit through fair and open competition, in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

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.

If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk (quoting the vacancy reference).
If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.

Working for the NCA

The National Crime Agency is a 24/7 organisation, and working patterns must support business requirements. Some roles may require you to respond at short notice or outside of core hours.
If preferable, alternative contract types may be available. Please review the green bar of this advert to view all available contract types for this role. Where Loan or Secondment options are available, these would be for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
If you have any specific queries about the role that are not covered by the advert, please contact:

Name : Central Recruitment Team
Email : Central.Recruitment@nca.gov.uk

Attachments

NCA T&Cs and Privacy Policy (pdf)
Apply now
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