Forensic Identification Officer
Job summary
Forensic Services provides a range of capabilities to support the NCA's fight against Serious and Organised crime. At the heart of everything we do is the Forensic Science Regulator's Codes of Practice and for the Identification Bureau this means compliance to international accreditation standard ISO 17025.
The Identification Bureau is a specialist team of Fingerprint and DNA subject matter experts who provide NCA with a range of services to deliver robust evidence and intelligence to support the identification of subjects. The team manages the NCA’s access to the UK National Fingerprint Database (IDENT1) to support various automated identification activities in support of NCA core business and International fingerprint requirements.
The Forensic Identification Officer provides customer focused operational support, administration, data management, assurance and internal reporting function to the technical fingerprint team to ensure organised delivery of operational services and adherence with requirements of forensic regulation. The role is customer facing with the external fingerprint community and acts a central point of contact providing first line support for a range of business operations.
Minimum part time hours – 22.5 hours per week
Job description
Forensic Identification Officer duties are varied. Management of both technical and administrative fingerprint records using databases and systems make up a high proportion of the day to day work. They play a key role in receiving, quality assuring and storing casework data. Management of various mailboxes and first line response to enquiries. Provision of customer support to external fingerprint community performing administrative functions to create and maintain user accounts of shared web application. Maintaining and operating biometric systems, performing identity checks, ensuring data integrity and compliance with quality standards and legal requirements such as Protection of Freedoms Act. A range of related business support activities involving the collation of information and data from a variety of sources in order to produce management and performance information to assist with demonstrating continued compliance to ISO 17025.
Duties and Responsibilities
Records Management - Maintain accurate and up to date records to aid investigations for prosecution purposes in line with Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA). Operate, maintain, monitor and troubleshoot fingerprint systems ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data stored within them.
Providing Business Support & quality assurance - Providing technical, operational and administrative assistance for biometric systems & processes, including the handling, storage and documentation of fingerprint exhibits. Carry out effective quality assurance of case material and assist the development of fingerprint datasets.
System administration & maintenance - Set up, configuration and administration of systems and related devices. (administering Ident1 collections, devices and applications)
Fingerprint Examination - Search, collate and analyse tenprint data from multiple sources/ data systems to attribute subject identity in accordance with relevant legislation, best practice guidance, international accreditation standards and agency policies.
Data Analysis & Provision of Management Information - Extract, collate, analyse, present data from multiple sources/ data systems for management
Building working relationships - Establishing and maintaining positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
Process Development - Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures for the use and management of biometric systems in ISO 17025 accredited environment. A commitment to, and compliance with, the Forensic Science Regulators Codes of Practice and Conduct
Acting as a Single Point of Contact (SPoC) - Act as single point of contact for a range of Identification services
Respond to queries - Monitor Email / telephone queries received and respond appropriately providing advice and escalate if required.
Ordering specialist goods and consumables - Ensuring the team and business area have access to consumables, stationery and stock is replenished correctly, in line with NCA Policy
Person specification
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
IT Skills - Ability to confidently work with Microsoft Office (primarily excel) as well as learn other forensic applications and programmes as required.
Data Analysis - Ability to extract, interpret and present data/information.
Customer Service - Understands who the customer is, what they want and need and effectively delivers against those requirements. Develops and maintains positive relationships with internal and/or external stakeholders.
Communication - Conveys information clearly and effectively through written and verbal communication.
Time Management - Effectively manages time and workload ensuring tasks are completed to agreed standards and timelines.
Desirable Criteria
Desirable criteria are only used for assessment in the event of a tie break.- Knowledge of relevant legal powers/procedures/acts - Protection of Freedom Act (PoFA), Accreditation Forensic Science Providers Regulations (AFSPR), Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA)- Previous experience handling exhibits and evidence, and considerations around continuity and integrity
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Administration of business management functions/systems in an ISO accredited environment (Lead Criteria).
- Strong IT skills and proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports, visualisation and analysis of data.
- Experience of excellent organisational skills with proven ability to manage and prioritise competing customer demands to meet tight deadlines.
- Positive contributions to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £36,057, National Crime Agency contributes £10,445 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.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.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.How we will assess you
Your application will be assessed against the following:Technical - this will be assessed by 250 word examples on:- Administration of business management functions/systems in an ISO accredited environment (Lead Criteria).
- Strong IT skills and proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports, visualisation and analysis of data.
- Experience of excellent organisational skills with proven ability to manage and prioritise competing customer demands to meet tight deadlines.
Longlist
In the event of a high number of applications, we may operate a longlist. Applicants will need to meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria.
- Administration of business management functions/systems in an ISO accredited environment (Lead Criteria). .
Candidates who do not meet the minimum pass mark for the lead criteria will not progress to having their other criteria assessed. Applications must meet the minimum criteria to be progressed to the assessment stage.
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- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Administration of business management functions/systems in an ISO accredited environment (Lead Criteria).
- Strong IT skills and proven experience in Microsoft software in creation of reports, visualisation and analysis of data.
- Experience of excellent organisational skills with proven ability to manage and prioritise competing customer demands to meet tight deadlines.
- Positive contributions to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
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:
- Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
- If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
- If still tied, application sift scores will be used
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : NCA Recruitment Team
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
Further information
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.
Salary range
- £36,057 per year