The Personnel Security Vetting team is expanding as we enter a new era of enhanced vetting within HMPPS. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing team at the forefront of personnel security, playing a vital role in protecting the organisation from potential threats.
As a Security Vetting Officer, you will carry out a range of vetting checks across different applicant groups, helping to ensure that those joining HMPPS share our values and do not pose a risk to the safety, integrity, or mission of the organisation. Your work will directly support the delivery of secure and effective services across the agency.
Please note
Although the advert lists the address as HMP Gartree, the role is based at Foxley House, an external building separate from HMP Gartree. Foxley House is a national team facility and is not affiliated with the prison itself.
A 30-minute risk identification desktop exercise will be presented during the interview
Overview of the job
The Personnel Security Vetting team are part of Risk and Capabilities Unit in the Directorate of Security. Located in Newport, Wales and Manchester, the team is responsible for evaluative decisions on the suitability of all applicants applying to join the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS Agency who are subject to security vetting. The team contribute to the management of corporate risk on behalf of the organisation, working closely with the Head of Personnel Security Vetting, as well as offering the opportunity to build relationships with individuals and agencies across the criminal justice landscape.
The role will contribute to the acceptance or refusal of vetting on over 6,000 applications in the central Ministry and over 22,000 cases per annum in HMPPS.
The post holder provides verbal and written advice to senior and recruitment managers in the central Ministry, as well as providing information which contributes to submissions, appeals and PQs.
The job role involves close, regular liaison and discussion with recruiting managers and Shared Services vetting teams to ensure any risk to HMPPS is effectively managed. It also involves partnership working with a number of internal and external stakeholders including the police and other criminal justice agencies.
This post will be based in Newport or Manchester within one of our vetting hubs. On occasion there may be a requirement to travel for a location other than your base location for full team/unit events.
Summary
The Security Vetting Officer works as a member of the Personnel Security Vetting team. This team is responsible for making evaluative decisions in a range of substantial work areas on the suitability of applicants to work within the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS; it contributes to the management of corporate risk in compliance with agreed policy and procedures.
To ensure all applicants are evaluated on a consistent basis and providing cover for colleagues to ensure business continuity in their absence, making decisions in consultation with the Head of Team where necessary.
Review and respond to appeals from applicants refused vetting for HMPPS and Ministry of Justice appointments within agreed timescales.
Undertake sampling checks on vetting applications ensuring checks are accurately submitted to third party organisations.
To maintain, review and update the record of staff dismissed and workers excluded held on the HMPPS Exclusion List as required in a timely manner.
Contribute to the overall operation of the Personnel Security Vetting team, the post holder will establish and develop stakeholder partnerships, ensuring the organisation applies best practice in security vetting in the most cost effective manner.
Contribute to the analysis of data on vetting applicants and decisions, identifying trends and patterns which may require revision and change to existing protocols or deliver procedural improvements.
Ensure that all applicants are evaluated in compliance with agreed policy and procedural guidelines, consulting with the Head of Team in more complex cases with wider policy, legal or procedural implications.
Responsibilities, Activities and Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
• Ensure the quality and consistency of decision making, retaining an evidentiary audit trail and knowledge bank for future referral for both the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS.
• Operate within the Ministry of Justice SLA constraints and turnaround work to contribute to those timeframes being met.
• Consider the applications presented via the Oleeo platform and make balanced decisions on their eligibility and suitability to progress to a panel review.
• Direct follow up work for clarification purposes with Shared Services Vetting teams as appropriate.
• Provide fair, consistent and defensible decisions on the suitability of applicants, maintaining the security and credibility of the service.
• Work collaboratively and liaise regularly with a number of key stakeholders including Disclosure Scotland, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Corporate Security Branch, National Security team in Shared Services, recruiting managers and HRBPs.
• Applications under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) should be progressed taking into account relevant policy and codes of practice.
• Consider any appeals/representations against a vetting decision whether from an applicant or third party, providing written notification of outcomes in a timely manner ensuring an appropriate audit trail.
• Monitor the storage of critical data and customer information to support decision making and conduct regular reviews to ensure it is stored accurately, confidentially and responsibly.
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