Fraud Investigation Officer (Covert) (3258)

Job summary

Are you experienced in foot and mobile surveillance in the context of criminal investigations, including recent experience in a Covert Investigation role or similar post? Do you want to further enhance your skills in a role where you can help safeguard vital resources for the people of Scotland who need them? If so, we would really like to hear from you.

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 has been built around the people of Scotland. Fraud is unfortunately a known risk in the benefits being devolved, and an appropriate and proportionate response has been established. While our strategy is to design out opportunities for fraud through preventative measures where possible, there remains the possibility that it will still occur. To respond to this, we have implemented Counter Fraud functions, including the use of covert tactics, to detect fraud and recover any associated loss.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly by submitting applications for and carrying out directed surveillance in accordance with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 (RIPSA) legislation, for the purpose of proving or disproving fraud allegations, utilising foot and mobile surveillance. Thereafter you will also document all surveillance activity and retain surveillance footage in accordance with retention policies, to ensure the security and integrity of its content to support potential criminal proceedings. You will be comfortable in a changing environment and enjoy working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to provide assistance, identify opportunities for improvements, and explore new ideas and solutions.

To be successful in this post, you must have extensive, recent operational experience in a surveillance team involved in criminal investigations. You will also require a good working knowledge of RIPSA legislation and experience submitting surveillance applications supporting the use of covert tactics. You must hold a valid UK driving licence and be willing to undertake a specialist driver training course relative to the role, as well as additional surveillance training to complement your existing skills and experience.

Due to the nature of the role a high degree of flexibility is required, including out of hours working, working at weekends/public holidays and overnight stays. This role is based out of Glasgow however there is an expectation for travel across Scotland from the Glasgow office.

Job description

• Carrying out static, foot and mobile surveillance, maintaining operational surveillance logs and using covert recording equipment to gather evidence during authorised directed surveillance.
• Working closely with fraud investigators and other internal and external stakeholders in relation to covert activities conducted under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 RIPSA.
  
  
• Submit the relevant surveillance applications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 RIPSA.
  
  
• Carrying out risk assessments related to surveillance activity, with responsibility for the application and management of Directed Surveillance Authorities.
  
  
• Assisting in the preparation and planning of surveillance operations and participation in subsequent briefing and debriefing sessions.
  
  
• Being responsible for the storage, retention and destruction of surveillance products in line with data protection policies.
  
  
• Assisting with the collation of all surveillance products to support investigations and subsequent related court proceedings.
  
  
• Other ad hoc duties relevant to the role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Full UK Driving Licence - please indicate within your CV whether or not you have a full UK Driving Licence. Candidates who are invited to interview will be required to bring their original driving licence with them.
  

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Significant operational experience in a surveillance team involved in criminal investigations, including recent experience of foot/mobile surveillance in relation to criminal investigation.
   
2. A good working knowledge of RIPSA legislation and experience submitting surveillance applications supporting the use of covert tactics.
   

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing – Level 3
• Making Effective Decisions – Level 3
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Benefits

Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.

A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.

Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.

Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.

Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.

Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

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

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift – From 5th March 2026.
Interview – w/c 23rd March 2026.
Location – In person in Glasgow.

To apply please submit an application form by clicking on the ‘Apply at Advertisers Site’ button.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

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.

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.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.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Kenneth Milne
• Email : kenneth.milne@socialsecurity.gov.scot
• Telephone : 08001577194

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Further information

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/help-with-your-application