HMRC Audio Visual Practitioner

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About HMRC
HMRC is the UK’s tax, payments and customs authority and we have a vital purpose: we collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and help families and individuals with targeted financial support.
About Our Team
HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) is responsible for the department’s civil and criminal investigations.
FIS provides HMRC with an effective investigation arm to enforce the Department’s compliance policies. This enables the Department to deliver against the strategic responsibilities across all the taxes and duties it coordinates. This includes sophisticated offshore evasion, international smuggling of illicit excise goods, exports of controlled weapons and technology, labour market abuses, VAT and Self-Assessment repayment frauds and a host of other fraud attacks targeted at the tax system.
FIS is home to a wide range of people with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds – including accountants, cybercrime specialists, criminal justice professionals, tax professionals and operational delivery support teams to name but a few.
We use a range of powers and approaches to protect funding for UK public services, investigating the most harmful tax cheats and ensuring nobody is beyond our reach.
Covert Operations, Digital Exploitation (CODE) sits within HMRC’s wider Fraud Investigation Service (FIS). Working across Law Enforcement and government, CODE provides investigative tools and covert techniques to front-line investigations and works with key partners to develop and provide access to new technology and systems to enable investigators to respond to serious and complex tax evasion and crime., Cybercrime & Forensic Services (C&FS) provides critical support to FIS investigations nationally through the provision of important forensic services. From supporting warrant executions to the preservation and analysis of digital evidence. This is an outstanding opportunity to be responsible for critical elements of our Audio-Visual Forensic Service provided to HMRC’s investigation teams. You will ensure that all aspects of Audio-Visual Forensic work are carried out the highest standard, adhering to forensic strategy and principles, and meeting Forensic Science Regulator requirements.
As an Audio-Visual Practitioner, you will be dealing with a wide variety of audio-visual evidence such as video, CCTV, audio and photography. Assisting officers with handling, processing and communicating this evidence in a factual and forensic manner for interview and court.
The Forensic Science Regulator (“FSR”) has provided clear instruction that all forensic service providers within the criminal justice system will become aligned with the FSR Codes and Practice of Conduct (“FSR Codes”) as well as relevant ISO standards for the conduct of digital forensics activities. Audio Visual Practitioners are subject matter authorities and therefore responsible for developing and delivering documented technical procedure, maintaining quality checks and the competency framework, as well as acquiring UKAS accreditation to the required standard(s).
As part of the role, practitioners will be required on occasion to travel around the UK to undertake on site work which requires additional hours and flexibility, as well as being on call 1 in 4 weeks. This is covered by the flexibility payment (see below for further details and a further attachment on the main Civil Service Application at the bottom), Reporting to the Senior Audio-Visual Practitioner, the responsibilities of an Audio-Visual Practitioner are:
+ Processing of analogue and digital devices pertaining to audio, video & photographic media including acquisition, improvement (audio and visual), editing and production of audio, video and photographic material for presentation to the Criminal Justice system.
+ Attending both friendly sites and addresses under warrant to triage and recover CCTV data / conduct forensic scene photography.
+ Troubleshooting technical problems under pressure and providing technical advice to officers in support of forensic submissions
+ Handle forensic exhibits to ensure continuity, confidentiality and security is always maintained.
+ Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, leading multiple tasks through to completion.
+ Attending court as a professional/experienced witness
+ Assist the Audio – Visual accreditation lead with the implementation & maintenance of technical procedures, establishing and maintaining validation of AV forensic methods and assessing and testing staff proficiency.
+ Positively endorse and cultivate a culture that understands and embraces the requirement to work to the FSR code of practice, quality frameworks and remain committed to continuous improvement.
+ Good communicator who can perform in a client/customer facing role.
+ To carry out any duties commensurate with the purpose of the post that may from time to time be required., Depending on existing experience, you will be expected to undertake Audio-Visual Forensics training, ranging from in-house training to external courses.
There will be a Training and Assessment Period of 6 months for this role.
Additional Information
This role requires security clearance to SC. Any job offer is conditional to the attainment of the security clearance to SC and thus, the security clearance is mandatory. Please be aware that those who do not attain the required security clearance will not be allowed to carry on in this particular post.
Applicants who wish to work alternative working patterns are welcome to apply. The preferred working pattern may or may not be available, agreement will be subject to business need, and any request to work an alternative working pattern should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
This role requires a certain degree of fitness and applicants will be required to be cleared by an Occupational Health assessment to be able to attend an Operational Safety Training (OST) course. Successful completion of the OST is required to undertake duties away from the office. Failure to pass and maintain the OST certificate may affect receipt of the Flexibility Payment.
All applicants will be required to declare any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’. You must also declare any disciplinary proceedings relating to previous employments. The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar you from employment with FIS, but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on your credibility if questioned in court.
FIS may conduct background checks and any offer will be withdrawn if you fail to disclose any relevant material that causes conflict with you being able to complete the duties of the role.
Depending on individual circumstances and the requirements of the role we may be able to make reasonable workplace adjustments such as flexible working, adjusting breaks and time to complete tasks, providing alternative office equipment, software etc. A successful applicant would be able to discuss this with their manager.
Appointment will be conditional upon satisfactory conduct and discipline checks and security vetting.
Candidates must live within reasonable daily travel of the Nottingham Regional Centre., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ At interview candidates will be required to undertake a Practical Test with CCTV system and written questions on video, audio and photography., + A name blind CV detailing your most recent and relevant experience matching the "About You" Section of the advert, including relevant Qualifications. Your CV will be scored.
+ A 1000-word personal statement.
Your Personal Statement should detail how you match the Essential Criteria in no more than 1000 words. Please give examples, outcomes and impacts of your experience that were beneficial here, not to say you have this experience. You will be scored for this also.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
A sift will be carried out on your CV, Personal Statement, with successful candidates being invited to interview.
Interview
During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of.
You will also be required to undertake a Practical Test with CCTV system and written questions on video, audio and photography.
Interviews will take place face-to-face.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via: ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.gov.uk – Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, a single merit list will be created and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
+ Contact the UBS Recruitment Excellence Team via ubsrecruitmentexcellence@hmrc.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.
Additional Security Information Please note
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 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 the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ The applicant has already achieved LEVA Certified Video Technician Status (Level 1 & 2) or be willing to work towards it.
+ Demonstrate a solid understanding of at least one of the below:
CCTV and Video - Forensic video applications, acquisition/recovery methods, conversion methods, video editing techniques, enhancement.
Audio - Forensic audio applications, acquisition/recovery methods, conversion methods, audio editing techniques, enhancement.
Photography - forensic photographic techniques and their application in a control environment or on scene, methods of image enhancement and image quality assessment.
+ The ability to undertake a technical analysis of audio & video recordings submitted in evidence and report on findings.
+ Ability to communicate technical concepts and findings to a non-technical audience.
+ Experience of working towards and acquiring ISO 17025 accreditation (for Audio – Visual forensic specifically) in accordance with the Forensic Regulator’s guidance, to include maintaining team records, improving processes and the writing of standard operating procedures.
Additional Essential but not to be measured at application.
+ Hold a full UK Driving Licence to drive on official business.
+ This post requires National Security Vetting to Security Check (SC) level clearance and if not already held you must be willing and able to achieve SC.
Desirable Criteria
+ Experience of contributing to a quality management system, such as the production of Documented Technical Procedures (DTPs, formerly known as SOPS), the conduct of internal auditing, or the development of competency and validation frameworks.
+ Operational search and seizure experience, particularly the application of audio – visual forensics methods at crime scenes.
+ Degree or equivalent qualifications in a relevant subject such as computer science, forensics, digital imagery, photography, etc.
+ Acquired LEVA Level 3 & 4 qualifications.
+ Previous experience working in a Law Enforcement environment / legal environment.
+ Working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
+ Experience of giving evidence in court, Hold a full UK Driving Licence and be willing to drive on official business

Alongside your salary of £35,092, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £9,474 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.
+ Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 27% of their salary.
+ Family friendly policies.
+ Personal support.
+ Coaching and development.
To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.
Flexibility Payment - This post attracts a Level 2 Flexibility Payment (FP) that is paid monthly with salary. This FP allows HMRC flexibility to change your work pattern, at short notice, to meet business needs.
You will be expected to undertake periods of On Call. You will also be expected to work additional hours, at weekends and outside your normal working hours/days (including bank holidays).
In applying for a position and accepting the FP you agree that you can and will meet those attendance requirements.
FP levels are reviewed annually – on a business need and personal basis – and may be subject to change.
If you currently receive the Flexibility Payment, which may include Transition Protection and/or a Maintained Pension Value, moving to a new role may affect your payments.
Details of the Flexibility Payment can be found in the attached document.