Department for Work and Pensions

Contents

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

Basingstoke, Caernarfon, Cannock, Eastbourne, Ebbw Vale, Exeter, Gloucester, Great Yarmouth, Ilkeston, Lewes, Lincoln, Llanelli, Nottingham, Pembroke Dock, Plymouth, Redhill, Rhyl, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Truro, Wisbech, Yeovil

About the job

Job summary

Do you have a curious mind and enjoy engaging with customers? If so, we need you!

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) handles welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy, helping people find jobs, supporting pensioners, and protecting vulnerable individuals. Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) works to reduce fraud, errors, and debt in the benefit system to safeguard public funds.

As part of CFCD, you will help DWP reduce fraud and errors in the benefit system, an essential public service with growing importance.

Join us if you value work-life balance, want to learn new skills, and advance your career.

Job description

As a Fraud Investigator, your work will change based on business needs, so adaptability and flexibility are essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Request necessary evidence from designated sources using Authorised Officer powers and the Operational Intelligence Service. 
• Collaborate with other departments and organisations like Local Authorities, Police and HMRC within the framework of any existing partnership agreements. 
• Research and gather information for investigations, ensuring it meets legal standards. 
• Complete Requests for Information (RFIs) as needed. 
• Record, retain, and review collected materials for criminal investigations.

for Disclosure purposes. 

• Recommend next steps for action to Team Leaders for consideration.
• Conduct Interviews under Caution as per legal guidelines under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (England and Wales) and Common Law (Scotland). 
• Prepare prosecution cases following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National File Standard guidance (England & Wales) and in line with Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service guidance in (Scotland).
• Attend court and give evidence in criminal cases and appeal tribunals.
• Maintain quality standards by following DWP policies and procedures, and CFCD operational instructions. 
• Work effectively within a team and contribute to team goals. 
• Promote fraud awareness within DWP and to external partners.
• Communicate confidently and professionally with internal staff and external agencies.

Person specification

As a Fraud Investigator you will: 

• Show effective leadership and communication skills to engage with diverse audiences and partners.
• Have excellent organisation and planning skills.
• Use strong judgement and decision-making abilities.
• Present information professionally to both internal and external audiences.
• Work well both alone and in a team.
• Handle challenging and vulnerable individuals appropriately.
• Inspire others with positivity, drive, and energy to achieve goals and implement change.
• Be willing to travel between sites as needed.
• Adapt to a demanding and changing environment.
• Exhibit honesty, integrity, and probity.
• Possess excellent writing and drafting skills.

Learning requirements

Successful candidates must be willing to attain the mandatory Level 4 Investigations apprenticeship CFIA (Counter Fraud Investigations Apprenticeship), required to undertake the technical functions of the role which is expected to last 18 months. Please note that any required training is full time and will require travel. 

If you already hold the following equivalents to the Level 4 Investigations apprenticeship, you will not be required to do the apprenticeship. 

• Accredited Counter Fraud Investigators Programme (ACFIP).
• Professionalism in Security (PinS) Accredited Counter Fraud Officer.

Candidates are advised that all colleagues are required to undertake any future mandatory learning for their job role. 

Where a qualification is not achieved, it would not be possible to fulfil the role requirements and candidates will be redeployed, within CFCD where possible, following Workforce Management Policy and Procedures.  

The DWP is committed to investing in people and ensuring their teams are a professional workforce. It is a requirement of counter fraud post holders within DWP to attain, and retain, membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) at Practitioner level. This means if you are successful in applying for this role you will need to undertake an annual self-assessment to evidence your knowledge, skills, and experience within your role to attain and retain practitioner level membership. We provide post holders with a learning routeway to support them in achieving as well as any workplace adjustments they may require. Failure to attain membership of the GCFP at practitioner level may result in DWP seeking an alternative role for you.

In applying you will have indicated that you have read and fully understood the professional requirements for this Counter Fraud Investigator role.

Candidate Integrity Declaration

Candidates who are successful will be asked about the following before we offer them a position. 

Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge: 

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had. 
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded. 
• Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had. 
• The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court. 

Travel Requirements - you will be required to attend:

• Briefings and operational planning with external stakeholders such as Police, Lawyers, Barristers. 
• Interviews under Caution. 
• Attendance at Court as required.
• Business and private addresses to obtain witness statements. 

Successful candidates will need to be able to travel, retrieve evidence and be available at short notice. Due to the nature of the role this could be at any location nationally and during unsociable hours (both night/day and weekends). A departmental vehicle OR hire car may be made available if you hold a full UK driving license. 

Webinar Event

We will be holding a webinar event to let you know more about these roles. This will take place on the following date:

• Wednesday 19th February 2025 13:00 to 14:00PM Webinar Event Fraud Investigator South- 19/02/2025 

If you would like to join the event, please click on the link above and complete your details to register interest. You will then be automatically enrolled onto the webinar and can access the event on the day via the link sent to your email address. 

If you attend a webinar for this role you may be sent a survey afterwards to help us improve our service. 

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,975, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £8,973 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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 : CFCD Recruitment Team
• Email : cfcd.recruitmentinbox@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Read Full Description