**Immigration Caseworker

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

We’re looking for Immigration Caseworkers to work within the National Returns Progression Command (NRPC), supporting the removal of individuals with no lawful basis to remain in the UK, and the Foreign National Offenders Return Command (FNO RC), progressing foreign national offenders towards removal under the deportation process.

In these roles you’ll have an impact on real people’s lives through the decisions you make or cases you progress. You will directly contribute to the maintenance of safe, lawful and effective immigration controls for the UK. You will also build broad and robust knowledge across immigration workstreams, helping you to grow both personally and professionally while laying the foundations for a rewarding and sustainable career pathway.

Job description

As a Caseworker, you’ll be working in a busy but supportive operational environment, where priorities can change at short notice and effective teamwork is essential to delivering outcomes. Depending on which role you’re posted to, you could support case progression by obtaining documentation, monitoring legal challenges and maintaining accurate records, or be involved in making decisions on removal or deportation.

You’ll take responsibility for managing your own time and workload to meet operational targets and deadlines, remaining flexible to pivot to meet the needs of a case. You will also work collaboratively within and across teams, as well as with internal and external stakeholders to progress cases and achieve shared outcomes. With comprehensive training and a strong, supportive team around you, you’ll quickly build confidence and specialist knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

Depending on the team you’re posted to, you could be involved in the following activities:

• Making confident, high-quality decisions on how to best progress removal/deportation cases, having analysed evidence from a wide range of sources.
• Monitoring and progressing cases in a timely manner, ensuring actions taken are in line with Home Office policy, legislation and case law.
• Managing your own workload effectively in a busy and evolving environment, contributing to team goals and delivering professional and accurate
• Producing clear and professional formal letters and documentation to communicate case updates or decisions.
• Collaborating with a range of internal and external stakeholders including legal representatives, healthcare professionals, the police, probation and social services to progress cases efficiently and effectively and safeguard vulnerable individuals.
• Maintaining accurate case records using Microsoft Office tools, including Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint and MS Teams.
• For roles with line management responsibility, you will be required to lead the team to provide the best possible service to our customers and stakeholders, managing workflow effectively and supporting colleagues in their professional development.

Once in post you may be required to undertake a Caseworking role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.

Working Pattern

This role is available on a full-time basis. This role is also suitable for part-time working hours, with a minimum requirement to work 3 days / 22 hours per week due to business requirements, with some flexibility necessary during the initial training.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. Training takes place initially in the virtual classroom and then continues on the job with a mentor who supports you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support. Please note, additional office attendance may be required during the initial training and induction period.

Information Session

To learn more about this role and how to apply, register for one of our free, optional live events. Click the date and time that suits you below.

Wednesday 24 June – 18:00-19:00 - https://uk.meetandengage.com/amqgcram2

Thursday 25 June – 12:00-13:00 - https://uk.meetandengage.com/amqgcwskd

Tuesday 30 June – 18:00-19:00 - https://uk.meetandengage.com/amqgcxwu6

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to make effective decisions by analysing evidence from a wide range of sources.
• Able to manage your workload effectively, work collaboratively with others and contribute positively to team outcomes.
• Effective verbal and written English communication skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Able to build strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders using sound interpersonal skills.
• Able to adapt quickly to changes in priorities and/or processes, a commitment to continuous learning and skill development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Desirable Criteria

The below criteria is desirable only. It will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will only be used in the event of tied interview scores.

• Previous experience of working within a caseworking function (150-word limit)

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.

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

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), across the recruitment process. To assess your full capability and potential we will use a blended approach of profiles across Ability, Experience and Strengths.This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

Personal Information & Eligibility

The first step will be to complete an application form. This captures some basic personal information to allow us to check you are eligible to apply for the role, as well as some equality and diversity information and evidence of the desirable criteria. You will not be able to progress to the next stage until this is complete.

Caseworker Suitability Assessment

After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the Caseworker Suitability Assessment.

This consists of three tests designed to assess a range of skills relevant to the Caseworker role. You will be tested on a range of areas to allow us to obtain a full picture of your capabilities.

• Personality questions to better understand your strengths, motivations and preferences at work.

• Verbal critical reasoning questions to assess how you interpret written information and reach decisions.

• Role-specific decision making within scenarios you may experience in-role, to understand your interpersonal and critical thinking style.

You should set aside 45-50minutes to complete the Assessment and you will need to do so within 48 hours of receiving the invite. You will be sent a reminder 24 hours before the final deadline. If you fail to complete the online test or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take it.

If you wish to apply for multiple vacancies, which are being advertised at the same time, you will only be required to complete the Caseworker Suitability Assessment once and your score will automatically carry across. Please be aware that each vacancy has an individual pass mark and, whilst assessment scores may meet the minimum benchmark criteria for some roles, they may not meet the minimum benchmark criteria for others.

Your score will be banked for 6 months and may be used for other Home Office Caseworker vacancies.

The assessment can be completed on a mobile device however, we’d strongly recommend completing it on a laptop or desktop where possible. In either event, please ensure you’re in a quiet and private environment in which you can concentrate.

If access to suitable technology may present a barrier to completing the assessments, please contact the recruitment team to discuss support options available.

Pre-Recorded Video Interviews

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to a Strengths-based pre-recorded video interview.

Strengths are the things that we do regularly, do well and that motivate us. When we assess your strengths, we are considering if the job role would be a good fit to your skills and interests. Your interview will only feature Strength questions. Questions cannot be provided beforehand, as we are looking for a natural, unrehearsed response.

Please note: You will have 5 calendar days to complete the video interview. Failure to complete your video interview within the 5 calendar days will result in your application being withdrawn.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Candidate Advice , Home Office Jobs and Applying - Home Office Careers.

This role is being advertised at different locations via multiple linked adverts. Should you wish to apply for the role but at locations listed on different adverts, the first application you make will be treated as your ‘lead’ application and assessment scores from this will be automatically carried over to any subsequent applications.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Breaking Tied Scores

The strengths have been ranked in order of importance to enable us to differentiate between candidates with tied interview scores. This will be applied first and only if candidates remain tied will we score evidence of the desirable criteria.

Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Reasonable Adjustments
If you require a reasonable adjustment, you must discuss this with us before you start the assessments. You can do this by following the instructions in your invitation email or by contacting us at the earliest opportunity.

We want to support you if you need an adjustment in the recruitment process, even if you do not feel you qualify for the Disability Confident Scheme.

As part of the application process, you will be given the opportunity to request any additional assistance or adjustments required at any stage of the selection process.

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.

We are committed to ensuring that disability is not a barrier to recruitment. We provide individuals with the support they need to excel in their role and develop their career.

If you feel you require adjustments during the selection process, please complete the relevant section of the application form and provide as much detail as you are comfortable sharing.

In exceptional circumstances, if you require adjustments for a condition or disability not originally disclosed in your application, please contact us at ho-dcs_adjustments@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk. We will review your circumstances to ensure appropriate support is in place during the assessment process.

Criminal Record Check

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 Sopra Steria of your intention by emailing homeoffice-pre-employment-checks@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk, stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Feedback

Due to the size of the campaign, it will not be possible to provide candidates with feedback at assessment or interview stage.

Please therefore disregard the following statement.

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 counter-terrorist 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.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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : horccampaignteamie@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : ho-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk