Investigation and Enforcement Officer

Investigation and Enforcement Officer

Cotswold District Council

Gloucestershire

The Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join the successful shared service.

About the role…

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Counter Fraud and Enforcement Unit. The successful applicant will work across West Oxfordshire District Council, the Gloucestershire Local Authorities and a number of social housing providers to support the continuing development of a Counter Fraud & Enforcement Unit tasked with minimising abuse of the public purse through fraud prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution.

You will be employed by Cotswold District Council however the CFEU is a shared service with Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Borough Councils and Forest of Dean, Stroud and West Oxfordshire District Councils.  The team work in an agile manner working from home or from one of the offices sited across the partnership. 

The CFEU also provides services to other Councils in relation to fraud risk, investigation and enforcement. The Investigation and Enforcement Officers within the team assist the regulatory teams in criminal investigation and prosecutions, and are also responsible for internal investigations under disciplinary procedures and the Members Standards regime. The work includes delivery in relation to the investigation of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Scheme fraud with the Department of Work and Pensions. In addition, the Counter Fraud Unit has a number of third party clients with a focus on Housing and Tenancy Fraud.

You will required to support the Unit in achieving these aims, with a focus on assisting with the growth in internal cases. Experience in relation to conducting disciplinary or Code of Conduct investigations would be an advantage.

The team work in an agile manner, working from home and from all of the offices sited across the partnership.  Please indicate which office is nearest to your home.

You will need…

• GCSE / NVQ equivalent qualification
• Experience in similar roles
• Experience of liaison and communication with members of the public and colleagues
• Experience of handling confidential and sensitive information and an understanding of data protection issues

Special Conditions…

• Ability to travel
• BPSS/DBS
• Standard DBS

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

Interview date: 3rd December/ 4th December (TBC)

What can we do for you…

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care 
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

Terms and conditions apply

These are just a handful of the benefits that you can enjoy when you join us!

To apply for this position please click on "apply now" within this page to complete an application form and supporting statement together with your CV. Please tell us about your skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and in the job description/person specification. It’s important that we’re a good fit for each other, so let us know what’s important to you and why you want to work for the partnership. Your CV will not be available to the hiring manager unless you are shortlisted for interview to assist with our non-biased screening process so please ensure you complete the application form in full.

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian, and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people and children.  Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references;  proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.