Offender Subject Access Request Team - Vetting Officer (Ref: 21931)

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK – including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

What we do

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent, and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:

• Courts
• Prisons
• Probation services
• Attendance centres.

We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range. Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer/pay on promotion rules.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/e….

Background

The Offender Subject Access Request team sits within the MoJ’s Security, Services and Information Governance Group Directorate, which has a broad range of responsibilities including corporate communications through to information management and records compliance. As part of the Directorate’s Information Services Division, our aim is to ensure the MoJ holds information in compliance with legislation, that all information is correctly stored, accessible, and shared appropriately, and our information is protected, and the risks managed. We believe that knowing what information and records we have and having the right information available at the right time by those who need it or request it, is at the heart of an excellent justice system.

The Offender SAR team manage and process over 6,000 Subject Access Requests (SARs) on behalf of the MoJ per annum.

Role Purpose

You will be joining an established team that provides a dedicated and expert function in processing offender SARs. We ensure that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.

The successful candidate will become a Vetting Officer within the vetting team that is responsible for reviewing offender information and determining what information can be disclosed in line with the Data Protection Act (2018). This role is a vital part of the Offender SAR function.

The role involves viewing sensitive offender information that contains details of offences which can be of an explicit nature. Due to the volume and complexity of the information you’ll be handling, careful attention to detail is a must. You will be required to have strong English reading and comprehension skills.

Working Pattern

Please note that this vacancy is for a full-time position only working 37 hours. The role requires a full-time working pattern to support the operational requirements of the Offender Subject Access Request Team and the structured training programme. Applications for part-time working patterns or reduced hours cannot be accommodated for this vacancy.

Training and Performance Expectations

The successful candidate will undertake a structured training programme to develop the knowledge, skills and competence required to perform the Vetting Officer role independently.

During the initial training phase, which typically lasts up to 8 weeks, you will be expected to attend the office on a full-time basis. Full-time office attendance during this period is required to ensure you receive the appropriate face-to-face training, coaching and support needed to develop the knowledge and competence required for the role. Candidates should therefore ensure they are able to meet this requirement before applying.

Upon successful completion of the initial training phase, you will be permitted to work from home for up to two days per week, with the remaining three days worked from the office. This hybrid working arrangement will apply subject to operational requirements and the needs of the Offender Subject Access Request Team.

Throughout the training period, you will be expected to meet incremental Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets, which will increase as you progress through the different stages of training and develop your competence in the role. These targets will include expectations relating to productivity, quality and accuracy.

Your progress against the required KPI targets and quality standards will be regularly reviewed throughout your training. Successful achievement of the required incremental KPI targets and demonstrated competence at each stage of the training programme will be required in order to achieve full sign-off as a Vetting Officer.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Process personal information requested in a SAR and determine what information can be disclosed in line with the DPA.
• Read large volumes of sensitive information, mainly in digital format as well as occasional hard copy; this needs to be done with care and accuracy.
• Apply redactions to offender information in line with the DPA exemptions.
• Use computer systems to accurately record your decisions.
• Undertake occasional ad hoc office duties, including some light manual handling (site specific).
• Demonstrate and encourage behaviours which support the MoJ and Civil Service values.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,582, Ministry of Justice contributes £7,411 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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, Strengths and Experience.

https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) 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.

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 : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/21931?entityId=21931