Witness Intermediary Team Coordinator

Job summary

Major Crime Investigative Support (MCIS) provides front line policing with information, advice and support in relation to major crime and vulnerable and intimidated witnesses. The unit's primary focus is to support investigations through both written and verbal advice, investigative suggestions and where required, access to the MCIS's deployable resources.

On behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) the NCA Witness Intermediary Team are responsible for the operational delivery of the matching process by identifying Registered Intermediaries (RIs) to assist vulnerable victims and witnesses navigating the criminal justice system.

RIs enable police and prosecutors to gather complete, coherent and accurate evidence from vulnerable victims to assist them in achieving best evidence and to improve the victim’s quality of evidence in court. The primary objective is to provide equal access to justice.

Full time office attendance is required until training has been completed, after which a hybrid working pattern will be implemented on a rota basis to ensure continuous team coverage. The location of the office is in the St Neots area

This is a full time role but we can consider flexibility in working hours to support a work-life balance that can be discussed upon offer

Job description

The Witness Intermediary Team is part of the wider Major Crime Investigative Support unit that supports major and complex crime. The role of the Witness Intermediary Co-ordinator is to identify the Registered Intermediary with the skills that match the communication needs of the vulnerable witness, to advise those making requests about the process involved in using a Registered Intermediary, and to negotiate the initial deployment and timescales for assessment of the vulnerable witness by the Registered Intermediary.

This is a unique opportunity to develop skills within a law enforcement agency focusing on identifying suitable Registered Intermediaries to assist vulnerable victims or witnesses of crime, to provide their evidence throughout the criminal justice process. As a Witness Intermediary Team coordinator you will be part of a fast paced, national specialist service, that provides advice and support on the use of Registered Intermediaries to all police forces within England and Wales and the Crown Prosecution Service. You will be coordinating multiple cases every day, working to tight deadlines, negotiating timescales and ensuring the police or CPS are appraised of the progress of their request, all delivered to a high quality level of service. This specialist post follows an in-house training programme, followed by coaching / mentoring by an experienced member of staff. This role is integral to the operational delivery of the Ministry of Justice Witness Intermediary Scheme.

Duties and Responsibilities

Case Management

Effectively arrange for a Registered Intermediary to meet the needs of the vulnerable victim based on their limited receptive and expressive communication issues associated with age and disability.

Records management

Complete and record accurately all work undertaken for each operational case on corporate systems.

Influencing

Employ excellent influencing and communication skills to effectively support police and prosecutors decision making when conveying why the complexities of a case can impact the investigative and trial process.

Information Analysis

Evaluate complex information using a developed and comprehensive understanding of the needs of a victim and the range of specialist communication skills of the Registered Intermediaries. Obtain further clarification to ensure requests are matched in accordance with RI special measures under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999. Identify inconsistencies and resolve them.

Decision Making

Explain clearly, verbally and in writing, how a decision has been reached and review decisions in the light of new information and changing circumstances.

Communication & Negotiation

Daily contact via telephone and email with Registered Intermediaries, police and crown prosecutors, assisting them with their decision making to facilitate the matching of an RI to a vulnerable victim/witness, negotiating timescales, responding to queries and resolving issues to minimise negative impact to investigations and court proceedings.

Knowledge & Learning

Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of good practice in relation to the use of Registered Intermediaries, legislative changes and initiatives.

Person specification

Confident Microsoft Office user

Outlook and excel skills are essential to manage daily workload

Ability to communicate effectively

Inaccurate/unclear communication will directly impact police investigations and court proceedings

Records Management

Demonstrates timely and accurate record maintenance.

Time Management

Consistently delivers against multiple challenging, critical and priority objectives with the ability to promptly identify risks and resolve issues efficiently.

Working Together

Works collaboratively with team members, contributing positively and constructively to the achievement of the team and organisation.

Relationship Management

Ensures relationships are effectively maintained and customers appraised of the progress of their enquiry, taking responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard.

Organised

Is extremely organised and detail-oriented when responding to shifting priorities.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Skilled in understanding and evaluating complex information with the ability to identify inconsistencies and resolve them
• Proven ability to manage a high case work load, working to multiple deadlines whilst retaining flexibility to reprioritise tasks to meet changing demands.
• Fully computer literate with competent, accurate typing skills and experience that demonstrates strong organisational skills with a high degree of independence and accountability.
• Experience that demonstrates influencing decisions to achieve a desired outcome when working with colleagues with different communication or work styles.

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, Experience 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:

• Skilled in understanding and evaluating complex information with the ability to identify inconsistencies and resolve them (lead criteria)

• Proven ability to manage a high case work load, working to multiple deadlines whilst retaining flexibility to reprioritise tasks to meet changing demands.

• Fully computer literate with competent, accurate typing skills and experience that demonstrates strong organisational skills with a high degree of independence and accountability.

• Experience that demonstrates influencing decisions to achieve a desired outcome when working with colleagues with different communication or work styles.

A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.

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.

- Skilled in understanding and evaluating complex information with the ability to identify inconsistencies and resolve them (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

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

Technical

• Skilled in understanding and evaluating complex information with the ability to identify inconsistencies and resolve them (lead criteria)

• Proven ability to manage a high case work load, working to multiple deadlines whilst retaining flexibility to reprioritise tasks to meet changing demands.

• Fully computer literate with competent, accurate typing skills and experience that demonstrates strong organisational skills with a high degree of independence and accountability.

• Experience that demonstrates influencing decisions to achieve a desired outcome when working with colleagues with different communication or work styles.

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.

Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.

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

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 : The Recruitment Team
• Email : central.recruitment@nca.gov.uk
• Telephone : 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.