Location

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is a national organisation which currently has a Head Office in London and regional offices in Birmingham and Leeds. The Government is committed to increasing the number of Civil Service roles throughout the UK under its Places for Growth programme and this will see more roles based outside London and the South East. In line with this, over the next five years HMICFRS is moving its Head Office to Birmingham and reducing the number of roles in London and Leeds. We will also be creating a new hub in Manchester (Salford). These roles are being advertised on a national basis and will be home based. There will be a requirement to travel into the office on occasions and to designated forces.

About the job

Summary

HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire & rescue services – in the public interest. We promote improvements in policing and fire & rescue services to make everyone safer.

We are independent of the government, police and fire and rescue services. We ask the questions that we believe the public wish to have answered and produce major reports which shine a light on issues at the very heart of policing and fire and rescue services. Our reports are widely covered by the media and help inform the public of the performance of their local police forces and fire and rescue services. You can find out more about HMICFRS on our website (https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/) and see some of our recent reports.

Working at HMICFRS gives you an opportunity to make a real difference to the quality of local police and fire and rescue services and the lives of the general public. We are a unique organisation with staff seconded or loaned from across the civil service, police forces and fire and rescue services. We are also a rewarding place to work. We set ourselves high standards, taking great pride in the quality of work we achieve and the opportunities we create for our staff.

Job description

We are seeking new Inspection Officers who have the skills, experience and passion necessary for making improvements to policing.

These are fixed term appointments, to help with a temporary increase in work.

Inspection Officers support our exciting programme of inspections of police forces.

Working closely with colleagues drawn from a mix of ranks and grades, Inspection Officers form an integral part of the teams responsible for conducting and supporting a variety of different inspection activities.

Inspection Officers develop a detailed understanding both of a range of inspection processes and, more broadly, of policing.

HMICFRS inspections contribute to the overall efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy of police and fire and rescue services.

We are seeking candidates who have a broad range of current skills and relevant operational experience in policing.

Candidates should have a comprehensive understanding of practices and policies as they apply to policing in England and Wales. In addition, they will have proven communication and leadership skills, together with the ability to develop successful working relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners.

We are seeking motivated self-starters who can plan and prioritise their work and who consistently deliver to a high standard with a minimum of supervision. Highly organised people, successful candidates will be those who can meet deadlines and make effective decisions, operate calmly under pressure and exhibit resilience. In exchange, they will enjoy a role that combines professional challenge with job satisfaction, bespoke training and unique development opportunities.

As remote access workers, Inspection Officers will often operate independently from their home offices. They are also required to conduct inspection fieldwork in police forces. Sometimes they are required to attend one of our regional hubs. These activities can involve travel and overnight stays.

Inspection Officers are required to undertake a wide variety of activities in support of HMICFRS’ cadre of Force Liaison Leads. These activities include representation at strategic level meetings, maintaining and building relationships with police forces and providing briefings for senior colleagues.

Inspection Officers are also responsible for preparing and conducting inspection activities in accordance with standard processes and methodologies. These can include:

• Gathering evidence via focus groups, interviews and reality testing.

• Conducting other insight activities, including desk-based evidence collection, such as file and document reviews.

• The objective assessment of data and performance.

• Identifying examples of notable practice and areas for improvement.

• Creating reports that will lead to change.

• Designing future inspections.

Inspection Officers have the opportunity to contribute to the wider work of HMICFRS. They act as ambassadors for HMICFRS and demonstrate the highest standards of professional conduct.

Responsibilities

Inspection Officers are expected to actively promote the objectives of HMICFRS and to demonstrate the values and behaviours of the organisation.

Our objectives are to:

• Demonstrate our values in everything we do.

• Conduct informed, independent and evidence-based inspections.

• Provide value for money.

• Work with others to promote improvements in policing and fire and rescue services.

• Report our inspection findings and analysis in a clear and compelling way.

• Ensure that our staff have the skills, knowledge and support to do their jobs.

Our values are:

• Respect: we respect and value all who we work with, and the contribution that they make.

• Honesty: we are always truthful.

• Independence: we are objective in all that we do, operating without bias towards or against anyone. We are independent of the police service, fire and rescue authorities and government, and act only in the public interest.

• Integrity: we act ethically and openly in all that we do.

• Fairness: we treat people fairly.

Essential Criteria

• Current experience of working within a police force or equivalent law enforcement environment.

• The ability to generate high-quality products within challenging time frames.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of applying inspection principles.

• Experience of using analytical skills to assess information and apply it to performance improvements.

• Experience of presenting to, and managing relationships with, senior level stakeholders.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership