Asylum Support, Resettlement and Accommodation - Asylum Support Contract Assurance – Executive Officer

Three different suppliers hold regional Asylum Accommodation & Support Contracts (AASC) to provide housing and associated support to destitute asylum seekers across the UK. The Asylum Support Contract Assurance Team (ASC-A) plays a key role in scrutinising the performance of our suppliers against these contracts. This is critical to understanding the health of the system, driving business improvement, and holding the suppliers to account for their performance.
The EO Inspector posts involve on-site property inspections (approximately 50% of working week), with pre and post inspection office based (hybrid). Property inspections will involve regular travel within your region, and, on occasion, travel may be required to other regions which may involve occasional overnight stays. Whilst different staff will lead the data analysis parts of the ASC-A role, post holders may also be required to assist with those tasks. This is a high-volume and fast-paced team, and these roles are the mainstay of team delivery.
In addition to training in the role and the standard mandatory Home Office training, you will receive the following:
• Level 2 Personal Safety Training (this is a requirement for visiting properties). A moderate degree of physical fitness is required for this training.
• Training in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) which is the national standard methodology for assessing hazards in properties. This typically takes two days’ learning followed by your completion of an HHSRS assessment on which you will be marked.
Whilst the above training is provided post-appointment, it should be understood that passing the training is a requirement to continue in post. Commercial Contract Management foundation training will also be available.
Working Pattern:
Monday to Friday between the hours of 07:00 to 19:00. Flexible working hours, Full-time, Part-time, operating under Hybrid Working (60% office 40% non-office).
1 x post in Belfast
2 x posts in Sheffield
1 x post in Peterborough
5 x posts in Croydon / South of England region at Home Office sites., • Planning and undertaking quality housing inspections, to ensure that the accommodation supplier is maintaining property standards in line with the AASC contract.
• Interacting with service users throughout the course of your inspections, to conduct wellbeing checks, respond to accommodation issues and signpost to support services where needed.
• Writing up findings from the inspection and presenting that information in MS software products; for example, Excel spreadsheets to inform the business on provider performance.
• Supporting the HEO and analytical staff in co-ordinating the production and delivery of findings to the supplier and internal stakeholders.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list, and the post holder will be required to perform any additional duties reasonably expected of them within the scope of the grade and within the limits of their skill, competence, and training., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Communicating and Influencing, 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.
1. Application – by 3rd of November 2024
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
+ Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
+ Evidence of the Behaviour/s "Communicating and Influencing" (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the Essential Criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
1. Sift – week commencing 4th November 2024
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and Behaviour/s "Communicating and Influencing".
The Personal Statement will be scored for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the Personal Statement will progress to a further sift where the Behaviour(s) "Communicating and Influencing" will be scored. These candidates will receive a sift score for both elements.
Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the Personal Statement will not have their Behaviour(s) scored and will only receive a sift score for the Personal Statement.
1. Interview – week commencing 2nd Of December 2024
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
+ Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.
The interview will take place on Microsoft Teams.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Location Preferences
You will only be able to select a single location preference so please ensure this is a location that you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at your preferred location and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
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.
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.
Advertising in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is part of the UK. As stated in the Belfast Agreement, also known as the Good Friday Agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.
Appearance and Standard
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further Information
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service Access NI 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 Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
+ Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
+ Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window)., If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

• Follow relevant policies, procedures and legislation to complete your work. Have a positive and focused attitude to achieving outcomes, despite any setbacks.
• Regularly check own performance against objectives, making suggestions for improvement or taking corrective action where necessary.
• You will need to be able both to work individually and as part of an effective and collaborative team.
• You will be expected to build strong relationships with internal customers, external suppliers and stakeholders, and will need the ability to converse at ease and provide accurate and concise advice and challenge where necessary.
• Due to the requirement to visit asylum accommodation, a valid driving licence is required and to be prepared to drive on official duties. Vehicle ownership is not required as hire cars can be booked.
Desirable criteria:
• Experience of working with or managing commercial suppliers., Due to the nature of the work and/or the geographical area, driving is a key requirement for this role. Applicants must have a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence which you MUST present at interview.

+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
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.