Investigating Officer
4 days ago
Belfast
JobTitle:Investigating Officer Reporting to:TeamManagerorSeniorInvestigationOfficer(inOwnInitiative) Grade: PO2(NJC scale) Salary:£39,862to£42,839perannum Location:Belfast Mainpurposeofjob Thepostholder maybeplacedand/orundertakerolesacrossthefollowingteams: MaladministrationComplaintinvestigationteam To undertake impartial desk-based analysis and investigation of complaints from people who believe a public body caused them to sustain an injustice. OwnInitiative Systemicinvestigationteam To support the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) within the Own Initiativeinvestigationfunctionbyimpartiallyassessingandinvestigatingconcernsofpossible systemic maladministration and/or systemic injustice by public bodies in the Ombudsmans jurisdiction. LGESCouncillorConduct investigationteam To assess and, in appropriate cases, investigate complaints alleging that a Councillor or a former Councillor may have breached the NI Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors. In each of these roles the post holder will be required to prepare detailed and analytical written reports in NIPSOs corporate style. Summary of principal duties and responsibilities InvestigatingOfficers,actinginaccordancewiththeschemeofdelegationthatisinplacewill: Undertake analysis and investigations in accordance with the 2016 Public Services Ombudsman Act, Councillor Code of Conduct, Local Government Act 2014 and the operational procedures and standards of the Office. Communicate effectively with service users, public bodies, and independent professional advisors in line with the values of the office. Manage a caseload and other competing priorities while taking personal responsibility for completion of tasks and casework to meet organisational targets, individual performance indicators and service standards. Identifykeyissuesandmakeproportionateenquiriestogatherrelevantinformation. Analyse large volumes of sensitive information from a range of sources, to make a determination on a case. Interpretarangeoflegislation,policy,guidanceandstandards. Interviewpartiestotheinvestigationandwitnesses,asappropriate. Forthoseinvestigationsthatinvolveprofessionaljudgementdecisions,seekspecialised advice from independent professional advisors, in line with internal guidance. Reachfinelybalancedconclusions,proposefindingsandmakerecommendations. Developandissuerelevanthighqualityinternalandexternalcommunications,including evidence-based briefings for senior management. Monitorandevaluatecompliancewithrecommendationsmadeto publicbodies. Maintainaccurateinformationon thecasemanagement system. Maintain professional working relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders; and promote the role of the Ombudsmans office at external events. Maintainanawarenessofchangesin publicsectorpolicyandenvironment. General Responsibilities & Duties AdheretotheNIPSOvaluesof independence,fairness,peoplefocused, excellence; Adhere to and promote the Office policies on Equality of Opportunity and Dignity at Work, demonstrating a commitment to the principles of equality, fairness and diversity in all aspects of work; Havedueregardforyourownsafetyandwellbeing;andthatofothers,behaving appropriately at all times and reporting all accidents no matter how minor; Take responsibilityforthe developmentofownskills andknowledgethroughproactive engagement in the internal performance review processes; Undertakead-hoc,cross-functionalprojectworksupportingthedevelopmentofthe Office and service provision as reasonably requested by your line manager. This job description is subject to review and amendment as the demands of the role and the organisationevolves.Therefore,thepostholderwillberequiredtobeflexibleandadaptableand aware that they may be asked to perform tasks, duties and responsibilities which are not specifically detailed in the job description but which are commensurate with the role. PERSON SPECIFICATION ESSENTIALCRITERIA Applicants must, as at the closing date for receipt of applications, be able to demonstrate by providing personal and specific examples on their application form that they have: Qualifications Educated to degree level (or equivalent) ANDa minimum of 2 years relevant work experience in collecting and analysing information to arrive at evidence based, written conclusions (AF & I); OR Aminimumof4yearsrelevantworkexperienceincollectingandanalysinginformationto arrive at evidence based, written conclusions (AF & I). Experience Strong analytical skills and the ability to use sound and balanced judgement to support well-reasoned and appropriate decisions (AF, AC & I); Identifying and interpreting relevant legislation, codes and guidance, regulation or procedural requirements (AF, AC & I); Excellent written communication skills with the ability to present and analyse evidence, and effectively communicate findings through letters and reports. (AF, AC & I); Excellentorganisationalandplanningskillsincludingtheabilitytomanageasignificantand complex caseload and meet tight timescales (AF & I); Stronginterpersonalskillsincludingtheabilitytodealwithrobustchallengewhilstshowing appropriate empathy (I); Experienceof carryingout challenginginterviewstogatherinformation(AF,AC&I). DESIRABLE CRITERIA In addition to the above essential criteria, NIPSO reserves the right to only shortlist those candidateswho canalsodemonstrate,byprovidingpersonaland specificexamplesonthe application form that they have: Knowledgeofandexperienceinapplyingbestpracticeinvestigationorinspectionplanning, policies and procedures (AF); Handling complex issues in a sensitive and high-profile environment (AF). SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES Applicantsmustbeabletodemonstrateevidenceofthefollowingskills,competenciesand attributes which will be tested at assessment centre and/or final interview: Oral andWrittenCommunication CollaborativeWorking AnalyticalandProblemSolving Decisionmakingandaccountability Continuous Improvement WORKING FOR US Remuneration Thesalaryforthispostiscurrentlyequivalent toNationalJoint Council(NJC)PO2which is £39,862 o £42,839 per annum. Location Therolewillbebased atNIPSO,ProgressiveHouse,33WellingtonPlace,Belfast,BT16HN. WorkingArrangements The successful candidate will work in one of the following teams: Maladministration, LGES, Own Initiative. Weoperatehybridworkingarrangementsi.e.amixofworkingfromhomeandfromtheoffice which offers employees additional workstyle choices. Candidatesshouldnotethatwhilstwedohaveaflexibleapproach,theoperationalrequirements will require office-based working for 5 days per week for a minimum of 4 weeks post- appointment, and a minimum of 2 days per week after this. Successful applicants also have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. Management will give full consideration to the flexible working request. However, no employee can be guaranteed flexible working and the needs of the organisation will take priority. Working Hours Thepostispermanent,full-time (37 hoursperweek), subjectto aprobationaryperiod of9 months. Pension The successful candidate will be eligible to join the NICS Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. Annual Leave Annual leaveentitlement is25daysannualleave,risingto30daysafter5years service,plus12 days public holidays. Otherbenefits We have a generous occupational sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption leave/pay arrangements, as well as a suite of work-life balance policies. Employees also have access to an Employee Assistance Programme. We provide support for ongoing training and provide development opportunities for all staff. In 2022 we implemented a coaching framework to ensure all employees of NIPSO receive regular support and guidance from their line manager. SELECTION PROCESS Applications for the post can be made on the GetGotJobs Portal by clicking Apply below. Completed application and monitoring forms are to be completed no later than 12noonon29th September2025. Applicants who meet the shortlisting criteria will be invited to participate in a selection and assessment process. IntheeventofahighvolumeofapplicationsNIPSOreservestherighttoapplyadditionalcriteria in order to achieve a manageable shortlist of applicants. ReasonableAdjustments NIPSO are committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities for all individuals. Applications from disabled applicants are welcome. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment and selection process, please contact us. Guidancenotesforcompletingyourapplicationform NIPSO is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all job applicants. The information you supply on this application form will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be used solely for assessing your suitability for the post. A candidate found to have knowingly given false information, or to have wilfully suppressed any material fact will be liable to disqualification from the process, or if appointed, to dismissal. All appointments are made on merit and in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection Policy. Any canvassing of officers directly or indirectly in connection with an appointment will automatically disqualify the candidate. Applications will only be accepted on the specific NIPSO application form. Incomplete application forms will not be considered. CVs, letters or any other supplementary material will not be accepted in place of, or in addition to, completed application forms and will not be made available to the shortlisting or interview panel. Pleasealsonote: Applicationswhicharereceivedaftertheclosingdateortimewillnotbeaccepted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the completed form, together with the completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, is returned by the closing date for applications. Qualifications You will be asked to provide original qualification certificates (or, where you have mislaid your original certificates, a certified statement of results from the relevant awarding body) and proof of memberships etc. that are relevant to the post applied for before any offer of employment can be made. If you believe that your qualification is equivalent to the one required, you must provide specific evidence to demonstrate its equivalency in comparison to the qualification that was specifically detailed in the person specification. If you possess any professional qualifications, please include the full details and include the date of the award. If you have membership of a professional body please include the name of the body or organisation, the type of membership you hold (e.g., student, associate, fellow etc.), the date when this grade of membership was obtained and the expiry date (if any). If the membership has lapsed, please state this. Experience It is necessary to state your exact dates and periods of employment as at the application closing date (month/year) because this is calculated to the nearest month for shortlisting purposes. The shortlisting panel will only consider the information asked for in each separate box on the application. You will be required to clearly demonstrate, by giving personal and specific details on your application form, how you meet the experience detailed in the person specification in the relevant box. If you do not supply sufficient information on your application form to clearly demonstrate that you meet the criteria, you will not be shortlisted. Conflicts of Interest Given the breadth of the Ombudsmans jurisdiction (namely her roles in investigating complaints about all public service providers in Northern Ireland and in investigating and adjudicating on alleged breaches of the NI Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors), it is important that any actual or perceived conflicts of interest are declared. On successful appointment, a pre-employment check will be to ask to consider and declare whether or not you have any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Any interests that would impact your ability to carry out the role independently may result in not being able to progress your offer of employment. For further assistance you may wish to consult the Northern Ireland Audit Office good practice guide on conflicts of interest. SelectionandAssessmentProcess Shortlisting will take place during the week of 29th September 2025.Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria and if required, the desirable criteria, will be invited to attend a competency-based interview. Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria and if required, the desirable criteria, will be invited to attend an assessment envisaged to be held during week commencing 13th October 2025. Furtherdetailsoftheprocesswillbeprovidedtocandidates invited to participate in this process. Interviews are envisaged to take place during week commencing 3rd November 2025.Further details of the process will be provided to candidates invited to interview. A reserve list of candidates may be held for a period of twelve months and may be activated on a merit basis if a vacancy arises within that period. Principles of the Appointment NIPSO is committed to providing and promoting equality of opportunity and to the principle of recruiting on the basis of merit only. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of their gender, including gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, having or not having dependants, pregnancy and maternity, religious beliefs, political opinion, race, ethnic origin, colour or nationality, sexual orientation, disability, age, Trade Union membership or non- membership or criminal records. All NIPSO offers of employment are conditional and subject to successful pre-employment checks and the successful applicant will be required to: providedocumentationtoconfirmtheiridentityandtheirrighttoworkintheUK; provide documentation to verify information already provided on the application form, e.g. qualifications, professional registration, driving licence, etc; provideabasicAccessNICheck,whichthesuccessfulcandidatemust obtainandthecost of which will be reimbursed upon appointment; provide satisfactory references, one of which must be from the candidates current or most recent employer. provide a declaration on whether or not you have any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.