STARS – Forensic Science Regulator – Digital Scientific Support

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small and dynamic team of Home Office officials which supports the work of the Forensic Science Regulator ensuring that the provision of forensic science services across the Criminal Justice System is subject to an appropriate regime of scientific quality standards. This is a vital and rapidly changing area of science with emerging new techniques in areas such as digital forensics and quality standards are critical to ensure forensic science use in the Criminal Justice System is both robust and reliable. The role involves significant engagement with stakeholders both internally across the Home Office and Police Forces, Forensic Science Providers, the judiciary and leading experts across industry and academia., The post is to join a small team of full time Home Office officials in the Office of the Forensic Science Regulator (OFSR) which supports the work of the Forensic Science Regulator (the Regulator).
Although sponsored and supported by the Home Office, the Regulator is a public appointee and operates independently of the Home Office, on behalf of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) as a whole. The Regulator’s role is to advise Government and the CJS on quality standards in the provision of forensic science. This involves:
+ The Regulator is required to publish and keep under review a Code of Practice about forensic science activities, subject to approval by Parliament.
+ Amongst other powers, the Regulator can investigate and take enforcement action in relation to forensic science activities carried on in a manner that risks prejudicing the course of legal proceedings.
+ The Regulator may prepare and publish guidance or reports on any matter relating to forensic science activities carried on in England and Wales.
This is an exciting opportunity to work to support the Regulator in a high profile, challenging area; the post involves significant engagement with the Home Office Science Secretariat who also assist the Regulator with committees, key stakeholders such as forensic science providers, police forces, judiciary, academia, leading scientific experts and other Government departments.
This is a critical role for maintaining public confidence in forensic science and supporting policing in reducing crime, maintaining order, and bringing criminals to justice.
This post will be contracted as an office-based worker in Birmingham or London, but there may be flexibility to adopt a hybrid working pattern which would see post holders spend part of their week working from home and currently a minimum of 60% of time in the office. Applicants can discuss any specific questions with the Vacancy Holder., The post holder will be responsible for:
Providing support with tracking, monitoring and investigating incidents, complaints and referrals about quality in digital forensic science activities including evaluating risk and root causes.
Supporting the OFSR to deliver the priorities, work plan and objectives of the Regulator for digital forensic science activities.
Using scientific interpretation skills and experience, provide technical input, administrative, and secretariat support to continually improve the development and maintenance of the technical standards and guidance in digital forensic science activities.
Organising and managing ad hoc expert technical review groups for standards and guidance development as agreed with the OFSR scientific lead.
Providing scientific and technical advice on digital forensic science activities and quality standards to the OFSR scientific lead, the Head of the OFSR, the Regulator and key stakeholders.
Maintaining relationships with HO colleagues, HO Science support services, HO corporate services to ensure effective support to the Regulator.
Maintaining relationships with external stakeholders including specialist groups, law enforcement agencies in England and Wales and forensic units.
Providing support to the OFSR corporate and business functions for the Forensic Science Regulator.
The post holder may be required to line manage one EO grade.
A degree and/or comparable experience with recognised qualifications related to a digital forensic science activity is required., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Changing and Improving
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Changing and Improving, For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made. We may also hold a location merit list.
Please note: If you are currently an agency member of staff or a contractor working within the Home Office, you can only apply for roles that are advertised externally, i.e. outside the civil service. If you are eligible to apply for a role, you are required to select yourself as an external applicant and not internal when submitting your application on Civil Service jobs. This will prevent any delays in pre-employment checks should you become successful in being made an offer of employment after the Interview stage.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.
Visa sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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 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).

A working knowledge of forensic science, and knowledge of the forensic science process in any digital forensic science discipline.
Good communication skills (both written and oral), and the ability to convey key issues, technical information, and solutions effectively to an audience from a range of backgrounds through written reports, briefings, and other material.
Ability to analyse and interpret information effectively and present findings clearly and concisely.
Good knowledge of policies and procedures impacting on policing, forensic service suppliers and CJS.
Be flexible, adaptable, and able to work under pressure with sound judgement and decision-making skills
Proven experience in building positive stakeholder relationships and liaising with stakeholders to identify relevant issues and awareness of what other organisations are doing in the field and how changes within the OFSR relate to them.
Have an understanding of quality management principles and /or a working knowledge of international accreditation standards.
Have good working knowledge of Outlook, Word and Excel.
Desirable Criteria
Proven experience in the delivery of a digital forensic science discipline.
Experience of process mapping and/or the application of risk assessment methodologies such as Failure Mode Effect Analysis.
Experience in the use of root cause analysis.
Experience of working within a regulated environment, possibly involving forensic science or within law enforcement agencies.
Experience in the analysis and interpretation of forensic evidence.
A working knowledge of quality management and the international standard ISO 17025.
Understanding and experience in quality management, risk and information management, and project management methodologies.

+ 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 average employer contribution of 27%, The sift will be held on the CV, the personal statement, and Behaviour set out in the advertisement.
In the event that a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will be based on the CV and Lead Behaviour – Changing & Improving.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Candidates who progress to interview will be further assessed on all Behaviours listed in the advertisement.
Sift and Interview dates
Sift is expected to take place from 11th July 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place from 1st August 2024.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews
Interview will be face to face in London or Birmingham. Further details will be provided ahead of interview. Please note travel costs will not be reimbursed.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.