Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

East Kilbride, London, Milton Keynes

About the job

Job summary

We lead the UK’s diplomatic, development and consular work around the world. We employ around 17,000 staff in our global network of 281 offices worldwide. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street in London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.

Main Purpose of Job 

We are recruiting a Senior Safeguarding Investigations Specialist to work in the Safeguarding Investigations Team (SIT) in response to reported cases of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment (SEAH) and other safeguarding concerns in its programmes and within FCDO. The candidate will be required to undertake investigations into allegations of SEAH. The SIT respond to all reported safeguarding concerns and allegations to FCDO and ensure the appropriate investigatory response. Candidates must have past experience of working on investigations of SEAH. 

We are looking for candidates who would be comfortable working independently and forming judgements in the complex operating environment presented by FCDO’s work, and who can demonstrate skills and experience of investigating allegations of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment.

This is an opportunity to take on a challenging and exciting role, working on safeguarding on the UK’s international development programming, in the best internal audit and investigations directorate in government. This role provides the opportunity to work in a profession which is growing in size and stature within FCDO and across government, and an unrivalled opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of FCDO’s operations, departments and programmes.

Job description

Roles and Responsibilities 

In this role you will also be responsible for:

• Leading safeguarding investigations – including, planning the investigation, allocating resources, delivering fieldwork including interviewing witnesses, survivors and alleged perpetrators, and writing investigation reports; 
• Managing a small allocated safeguarding caseload; ensuring resources are assigned to the most significant cases. Working with partner organisations to ensure appropriate investigatory response; 
• Line managing junior members of the team; coordinating and being responsible for the work of teams on the assignments you lead, and act as an effective leader of teams. Effectively support and develop junior staff and act as a professional role model within the department;
• Providing advice to FCDO colleagues and partners on reporting safeguarding concerns, on case management and investigations;
• Delivering safeguarding capability work and raising awareness of sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment;
• Supporting the SIT management team to deliver on Ministerial priorities and provide quality briefings for senior officials;
• Managing multiple responsibilities and work streams effectively and flexibly to contribute to the delivery of the safeguarding capability plan and IAID’s work.

Contributing to the wider work of the IAID through active participation in the achievement of the department’s goals, the work of departmental meetings and working groups, and the development of technical knowledge and resources. 

In this role you will be expected to complete a safeguarding investigation qualification.

Person specification

It is essential in your application that you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following Minimum Criteria as far as you are able to do so. These responses will be further developed and discussed with those candidates invited for interview.

Minimum Criteria

We are looking for someone with;

• An understanding of the fundamentals of protection of individuals from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment and of the principles of survivor centred investigations into these areas.
• A relevant degree / professional qualification or relevant experience of working in safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment.
• Substantial experience of leading investigations relating to safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. Experience of leading investigations in international contexts will be preferred.
• Experience of leading teams and/or mentoring junior colleagues.
• Experience of working proactively across organisational boundaries with different teams to deliver shared goals.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• Motivation question at interview.
• Presentation at interview
• As the lead investigator on a SEAH investigation, list the factors which you considered when planning the investigation.
• List the key components of an SEAH investigation report.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• As the lead investigator on a SEAH investigation, list the factors which you considered when planning the investigation.
• List the key components of an SEAH investigation report.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £12,891 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• A Civil Service Pension.
• 25 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 9 days Public and Privilege holidays per annum.
• Learning and Development tailored to your role.

See the attached Candidate Pack for more details.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Laura McNeill
• Email : laura.mcneill@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : external.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

The FCDO’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact external.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the FCDO, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners at info@csc.gov.uk.

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