Fraud Investigator - North

Department for Work and Pensions

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 the 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 (England & Wales) 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. 

Successful candidates (Scotland) must be willing to attain the mandatory ACFIP qualification (Accredited Counter Fraud Investigators Programme), required to undertake the technical functions of the role. Please note that any required training is full-time and may require travel.   

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 the 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 the 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 the 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, and 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 dates:

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, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes £8,973 towards your 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 of public and privilege leave.
  • Support for financial well-being, 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 include 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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a personal statement. Further details about what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1 - Application Form 

Please complete the first stage of the short application form. 

Stage 2 – Casework Skills Test

After you submit the first stage of your application, you will be invited to take a Civil Service Casework Skills Test. If you pass, you will move on to the final stage of the application. 

Complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). The deadline for the tests is 23:55 pm on 04th February 2025. Failing to complete the test before the deadline will result in the withdrawal of your application. Guidance will be provided when you are invited. The tests are online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Stage 3 – Written Application and Sift

If you pass the Casework Skills Test , you will be asked to submit a personal statement (maximum 750 words) detailing your relevant skills and experience.

You should address the following when constructing your personal statement.

  • Explain how you have conducted a robust and challenging interview or conversation face-to-face and achieved an outcome.
  • Describe when you have analysed a range of information sources to make a difficult decision
  • Detail a time when you had to prioritise your workload amid conflicting and changing priorities.

Please consider the job description and person specification when providing your evidence.

Your personal statement should show how your experience meets the requirements listed. You can use any format you like: narrative, bullet points, etc. You can use one example to cover all the requirements. Focus on what you have done and the skills and experience you used. Tell us why you are suited for this role, what skills you have, and any relevant life experiences or passions.

If you don't have work-related examples, you can use examples from school, college, clubs, volunteering, or other activities.

To Note- Depending on the volume of applications, we may choose to progress all candidates who meet the required score at the test stage straight to the interview without conducting a sift. For this reason, the timeline post-test is subject to change depending on the approach we take.  

**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 04/02/2025** 

The sift is scheduled to be held from 10/02/2025 to 21/02/2025. These dates may be subject to change.

Stage 4 - Interview

If you pass the written application sift with the required score you will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.

The interviews will be conducted face to face in a selection of the locations listed in the Candidate pack (slide 2). If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend a face-to-face interview, please ensure you state those on your application form when asked to do so.

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 10/03/2025 to 21/03/2025; please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday between 09:00 to 17:00.

Communications will be electronic and/or by telephone; therefore, it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. Telephone calls may show as a withheld number; it is important that you answer so that your interview can be confirmed.  

Preparing for the interview

The interview will take approximately 40 minutes, and you will be asked a mixture of behaviour and strength-based questions. A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation, offering a more inclusive approach. The behaviour and strength-based questioning explores what you, the candidate, can and have done, but also your potential.  

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil Service Behaviours listed above at level 2.

To help you prepare and settle into the interview, you will be sent the behavioural questions in advance of the interview. These questions should be treated as confidential and should not be shared. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up questions on behaviours, and those about your strengths.

An example of a behavioural question would b,e “Tell me about a time when you have had to deal with a difficult customer.”

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:   

  • WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or
  • STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take?  What were the Results of your actions?

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength-type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role.

While strengths questions are shorter, and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.  

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further. 

Stage 5 – Offer

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. 

Successful candidates will be posted in strict merit order based on their location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business. Depending on their position on the merit list, if none of their location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer, DWP may offer a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer a role in any of the preferred locations, and candidates are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add them to the reserve list. 

The successful candidate(s) will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during May/June 2025.

Please note: 

  • If you are offered the role you applied for in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.  
  • If we make an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list. 

*Note: exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual part-time working pattern, and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health.

You should also note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in the post for a minimum of 18 months before applying for any other lateral moves within DWP. 

Important information 

Candidate pack

It is important that you take time to read the candidate pack, which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP. 

Location

The specific locations under the Manchester tag are Newton Heath and Wythenshawe. Candidates who choose Manchester as one of their location preferences at the application stage will be asked for further preferences at the interview stage from these two locations.

Please see slide 2 of the Candidate Pack for the full address for these posts/locations.

You should only apply for suitable posts where you can travel to and from your home office location daily within a reasonable time. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.

Hybrid working 

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. 

Working pattern 

Part-time, part-year, term-time compressed hours and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part-time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful candidates with agreed alternative working patterns will be required to work full-time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation.

Hours of work  

The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of:  

  • 7:45 am and 8:00 pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and
  • 8:45 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday.

Managers will agree on working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate. You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule. However, Investigation duties may require you to work outside of normal hours. The hours worked can be unsociable. Whilst we are proactive in planning our work, the nature of the role may require us on occasions to react quickly and work beyond the hours above.   

Further information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 3 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP 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. To find out if you are eligible, visit https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances, some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you will be doing this, please advise the Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service, telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Applicants who are successful atthe interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against the government.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Learning and development

DWP takes development seriously. Our aim is for our colleagues in these roles to be appropriately skilled and qualified – as determined by the business. To support this aim, you may be required to undertake a work-based qualification, which may be in the form of an apprenticeship, which will support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for this role and your future career development. The qualification can be undertaken in work time, you agree to take this job on the basis that you may be required to undertake a work based qualification; a candidate’s failure to participate fully in the professional programme, once appointed, may be a breach of their employment contract. 

Important 

If you hold a level 3 qualification (2 A levels or equivalent), then please bring your certificates with you to the interview if you have them.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, and allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following a successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment are current on the day they are posted unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened, and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at the interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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.

Attachments

386759 - EO Fraud Investigator - North Candidate Pack(pdf, 521kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview-Accessible-Version(docx, 67kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024(docx, 17kB)

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