Workflow & Assurance Manager

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.
Detention Services (DS) is part of Immigration Enforcement (IE) and supports compliance across the immigration system through the detention and removal of individuals who no longer have the right to remain in the UK, and for whom other enforcement approaches have been unsuccessful. DS is responsible for running the immigration detention estate, which comprises of several Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs). We have a responsibility to ensure that all people in detention are held securely, safely and are treated with dignity and respect., We are excited to welcome candidates who can work with flexibility and handle contending priorities and being able to work at pace whilst demonstrating attention to detail. Due to the external focus of this work, establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with internal and external customers is essential.
You will report to a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Certification Lead and work collaboratively with your counterparts.
Certification Workflow and Assurance Managers are responsible for day-to-day workflow and management of the team. They problem-solve issues as they arise and providing second line assurance for all certification functions.
As part of our commitment to ensuring that people in detention are treated with dignity and respect, the estate is subject to independent scrutiny by bodies including HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP), the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) and the National Audit Office (NAO).
Central Support Services (CSS) sits within DS and has a dynamic remit to support the operations of the detention and escorting estate. Part of that remit is to certify individuals who work in the Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), Short-Term Holding Facilities (STHF), Residential Short-Term Holding Facilities (RSTHF), Residential Holding Rooms (RHR) and In-Country & Overseas Escorts.
This team is the Detention Services Certification Team (DSCT). Certification for Detainee Custody Officers (DCO’s) can only be issued once an individual has passed a comprehensive initial training course and cleared extensive pre-employment requirements. DCO certification is subject to scrutiny throughout an individual’s employment lifecycle which includes, annual refresher training and professional standards monitoring/investigations.
Please Note: There is a requirement to occasionally travel across the detention estate to attend meetings/workshops in person. In addition, there will be a requirement for occasional travel between team ‘hub’ locations which will include overnight stays.
Working Patterns
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available., + Line management of Workflow and Assurance Officers (EO). Countersigning manager for Administrative Officer (AO) Case Officers.
+ Oversight of the Duty Officer function, including regular review of Management Information (MI).
+ Oversight of the Detention Custody Officer (DCO) certification process, covering the entire detention estate.
+ Leading on workflow allocations and adjustment, ensuring work is evenly distributed between the team.
+ Delivering training and offering support to all through periods of change.
+ Responding to queries relating to all issues involving security clearance applications, problem-solving issues as they arise.
+ Ensuring Contracted Service Providers (CSPs) follow proper procedure in cases such a dealing with staff suspensions and/or dismissals and resignations under investigation.
+ Providing resilience and cover duties for the wider team during periods of leave and/or on experiencing a surge in demand., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Communicating and Influencing, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
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 06 November 2024
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
+ Personal Statement (maximum 500 words).
+ Evidence of the Lead Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing (maximum of 250 words).
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.
2. Sift – week commencing 11 November 2024
The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and Lead Behaviour - 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 Lead Behaviour - 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.
Should a high volume of applications be received, the sift will be conducted only on the Personal Statement.
3. Interview – week commencing 02 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 MS 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.
Further Infromation
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
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.
Standards
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.
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
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
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).

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
+ Strong verbal and written communication skills.
+ Be able to demonstrate confidence in leading others.
+ Able to work autonomously with minimal oversight.
+ Be comfortable building links and engaging with a range of partners, both internally and externally.
+ Initiative skills with the ability to work autonomously to deadlines with minimum supervision.
+ Good organisational skills and capability to work to tight timeframes with sometimes conflicting demands.
Desirable Criteria
+ Experience, knowledge and understanding of working within Immigration Enforcement.
+ Prior Line Management Experience.

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.
+ See more of our benefits on our careers website.