Job Introduction
Our Operational Directorate are at the heart of delivering our main organisational goal of conducting robust and fair investigations into the policing system. The varied investigative work of our Operational Directorate is often high-profile and rewarding, whilst allowing for many career progression opportunities throughout the Directorate who are ready to support you on your career journey. We are looking for Investigators in both Core Investigations and the Directorate of Major Investigations (DMI).
Core Investigations
Our core investigations teams are based across five regions: Greater London; South East; Wales and South West; Midlands and Central; North East and North West. Our investigation teams carry out hundreds of independent investigations every year, you can read more about the type of work the teams do on our website.
Major Investigations
The DMI provides organisational capability and capacity to deliver large scale, resource-intensive investigations, that are generally complex and high-profile, including investigations of national significance. In this directorate, you can find you'll find many specialisms including anti-corruption, intelligence, and survivor engagement. You can read about one of our largest ever investigations, Operation Linden on our website.
Purpose
As an Investigator, you will be welcomed into a dynamic and inclusive investigations team working locally and nationally on a wide range of IOPC investigations. The IOPC is on a journey to develop its culture, perspectives and ethos to support the organisations core outcomes and this is your opportunity to enter into the varied world of investigations, allowing you to develop your mindset and approaches to contribute to improving the police complaints system in England and Wales.
The IOPC is an organisation steeped in history, influenced by significant figures such as Stephen Lawrence and Sir William Macpherson, overseeing the police complaints system in England and Wales and setting the standards by which the police should handle complaints. As a completely independent organisation, we seek to uphold the rights of the public and investigate the most serious matters, including deaths following police contact, to promote learning and influence change in policing. The investigations teams are tasked with upholding our values whilst establishing the facts behind a complaint and reaching conclusions to draw recommendations.
As an Investigator, you’ll work on a variety of unique local and national cases that are often in the public eye. You’ll use your investigative, regulatory or inspection experience to take on this complex role. You’ll complete varied tasks – everything from analysing evidence and attending post-mortems, speaking to bereaved families and taking part in inquests. As an articulate communicator, you’ll make informed recommendations based on your findings – remaining calm in emotionally charged situations.
The IOPC is a public service and aims to ensure that everyone receives an equal service. To make this a reality we need innovative and socially aware people to join us. You can find out about all of our unique roles here, from Trainee Investigator to Operations Manager. The IOPC are committed to developing the mindset of a team of diverse and passionate individuals to reach their career goals whilst contributing to improving policing confidence.
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, to find out more, please click here.
As part of the application process, you will be asked four sift questions which are based on your Experience, IOPC Values and Behaviours. We'll assess you against the following HEO Behaviours during the application process:
- Seeing the big picture
- Making effective decisions
Throughout the recruitment process we may also assess your Experience, Behaviours, Strengths, Technical skills and Values. The behaviours assessed at the next stage will be shared with candidate who reach the shortlisiting stage.
Important Dates: Anticipated assessment and interview dates are from the 29th January 2025. This will all be working towards a cohort start date and training on 19th May 2025.
Positive Action
At the IOPC, we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the communities in which we serve. A more inclusive workforce enables us to be a more effective and efficient organisation, better understand and respond to the needs of our communities.
Positive action as detailed in the Equality Act 2010, allows us to use measures designed to help improve equality in the workplace, and create a level playing field for all, whilst still employing everyone based on merit. Our workforce profile data shows that people who identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic are under-represented at the IOPC.
For this role, should we have a situation where multiple candidates have achieved the highest score and one identifies as black, Asian or minority ethnic, by using positive action, we can select that candidate for the role, therefore improving this area of under-representation at the IOPC. We will only use positive action in this way where the highest scoring candidates have all scored equally, and above our required threshold.
#IND
Main Responsibility
- Conduct investigations in accordance with agreed guidelines, including obtaining witness statements, interviewing witnesses and suspects, preparing casework and making recommendations for criminal and disciplinary action.
- Visit incident scenes and assist in supervising scene management ensuring that all necessary action is taken to preserve and recover evidence.
- Liaise with complainants and bereaved families to provide briefings on progress of investigations
- Attend post-mortems and brief pathologist as required
- Write investigation reports upon completion of investigation for submission to the assigned Regional Director for approval
- Prepare papers for submission to the Crown Prosecution Service and to Regional Director
- Liaise with other agencies and personnel as required.
- Take part in court, misconduct and associated proceedings where necessary
- Contribute to the provision of a 24 hour on call facility (please see attached document regarding expectations)
- Be prepared and able to work unsocial and extended hours, including working away from home and overnight stays when required
- Any other relevant duties appropriate to the grade as may be required including the participation in the interchange of duties within the Directorate
Additional Information
You will be required to complete the IOPC investigator training programme which includes formal and on the job training, as well as the requirement to build a portfolio of evidence. This will provide you the skills and knowledge to achieve a Professionalising Investigations Programme Level 1 (PIP1) qualification. The PIP1 programme is a mandatory requirement of your role. Failure to engage may result in disciplinary processes.
If you have already achieved PIP1, you will need to provide clear evidence that your PIP1 status remains active. If this evidence is not provided before beginning the programme, you will need to complete the PIP1 programme in full.
All investigators, whether joining with PIP1 or completing PIP1 with the IOPC, will need to engage fully in the PIP revalidation processes. Revalidation ensures that your skills and knowledge are enhanced and maintained in line with the PIP requirements. Failure to engage could mean your PIP1 status becomes inactive and may result in disciplinary processes.
The Ideal Candidate
Person specification
Essential Experience
- Good general education or demonstrated through structured workplace development.
- Proven experience of conducting investigations in the public or private sectors, including recent experience of:
o Carrying out investigative interviews
o Evidence gathering, analysis and presentation
o Contributing to planning and scoping investigations
- Experience of making appropriate decisions based on analysis of existing and emerging information
- Engaging effectively with people or groups from different backgrounds, adapting communication style as appropriate
- Proven experience of working effectively in a team environment.
- Evidence of effective oral and written communication skills, including writing investigation reports
- Full driving licence valid for driving in the UK. You will need the confidence to drive alone, in a fleet car, in all conditions including at night and on all road types such as motorways and country lanes.
Desirable Technical
- PiP2 qualification or equivalent investigative experience
- For Cardiff only - Advanced level 3 in Welsh (written and oral) is desirable for this role
The role requires clearance to BPSS
National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Reasonable Adjustments
- Extra time for presentations or interview questions
- Formatting changes such as colours for text or background on written assignments
- Questions presented in writing during interviews
If you require any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, please email recruitment@policeconduct.gov.uk
Package Description
- 27.5 days paid annual leave (increasing with service to 32.5 days)
- Options to carry over, buy or sell annual leave
- Civil Service pension
- Civil Service maternity leave package
- PAM employee assistance programme
- Access to Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) membership
- Cycle to work scheme
- Opportunity to enjoy the latest home and electronics in a more affordable way provided by Vivup
- Car Leasing Scheme
- Staff networks focused on each of the protected characteristics – run for staff, by staff: Enable Network, Welsh Network, Age Network, Pride and LGBTQI+ Network, Sex and Family Network, Race, Religion and Belief Network
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity behaviours
Additional Information:
The IOPC is not eligible to participate in the Civil Service transfer process, therefore successful candidates will not be able to transfer to the IOPC on their existing terms and conditions.
The IOPC does not participate in the UK Visa Sponsorship Scheme therefore, candidates will have to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK if offered a role with us.
This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, therefore a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out for the successful candidate during the pre-employment process.
Any move to the Independent Office for Police Conduct 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
Emotional Consideration:
In performing this role, you will have regular exposure to distressing material which will likely be impactful, traumatic and challenging. Given the nature of the work, you will have contact with individuals who are experiencing extreme distress. The IOPC recognises this and offers all staff a range of wellbeing provisions, including TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) peer-to-peer support, a dedicated Wellbeing Advisor, and access to free confidential counselling. All staff are strongly encouraged to proactively access and engage with the support available. If you would like to speak about this element of the role with somebody already doing similar work at the IOPC, please contact humanresources@policeconduct.gov.uk and this can be arranged.
Rydym yn croesawu ymgeiswyr i ymgeisio am rolau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg fel eu dewis iaith.
About the Company
As a completely independent organisation, the IOPC seeks to uphold the rights of the public and investigate the most serious matters, including deaths following police contact, to promote learning and influence change in policing. The IOPC is an organisation steeped in history, influenced by significant figures such as Stephen Lawrence and Sir William Macpherson. We are looking for people to uphold our core values, and in return we will give you a supportive and inclusive work environment to flourish in.
Be yourself
The IOPC is committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity in everything we do. Our vision is to be, and to be seen as, a leader in inclusive employment and services, demonstrating this ethos in everything that we do.
- As a silver standard Stonewall employer, we continue to commit to being a LGBTQ+ employer through the work of our Pride LGBTQ+ Staff Network, creating welcoming environments for lesbian, gay, bi and queer people.
- We are pleased to share that we are a signatory of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. The Charter is composed of five calls to action for leaders and organisations across all sectors.
- Being a Disability Confident employer, the IOPC is dedicated to removing the barriers for disabled people to thrive in the workplace.
- Our Staff Networks are constantly working to make the IOPC the leaders of inclusive employment, from our Allyship Programme to Welsh Language Standards and our Know the Line Policy, we are constantly seeking new ways to create an environment for all to develop and thrive.
