HQ Job Description (JD)
Band 5
Directorate: Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism
Job Description - Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker
Document Ref.
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0
Document Type
Management
Version
2.0
Classification
Official
Date of Issue
4 June 2020
Status
Baselined
Produced by
Job Evaluation Assurance and Support Team
Authorised by
Reward Team
JD Evidence
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0
Job Description
Job Title
Central Authorities Bureau Case Worker
Directorate
Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism
Band
5
Overview of the job
This is a specialist administrative role within HMPPS Headquarters. The posts sit in
the Central Authorities Bureau (CAB), which is a part of the Intelligence Portfolio,
Governance and Compliance Unit, within the HMPPS National Intelligence Unit
(NIU).
The CAB provides oversight of policy and advice to practitioners across the prison
estate exercising powers available to HMPPS under the Regulation of Investigatory
Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA). It is a required
function under RIPA, maintaining a central record of authorities granted for activity
under the legislation. CAB also oversees HMPPS use of case management systems
used to record such activities, providing assurance to HM Commissioner of
Investigatory Powers.
This is an HQ post, based in London, and will require some travel to establishments,
probation offices and SOCT regional offices as required.
The post holders are responsible for day to day advice and support to the
operational line in respect of the lawful deployment of covert resources; the quality
assurance of all applications made under RIPA; inspections undertaken by the
Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO), and act as a subject matter
expert in the use of the central case management system.
The role requires in depth knowledge of different legislations and internal policies
relating to covert and overt tactics, escalating as required to managers to take
forward where concerns are identified. It requires the post holder to have an
understanding of risk management in order to contribute to the security of prison
establishments, protect the public, and to protect HMPPS from unlawful use of its
powers under RIPA/IPA.
Post holder will need good attention to detail skills as they will be responsible for
undertaking quality assessments of applications submitted by prisons. They will
need to be confident and assertive in the delivery of this feedback and ensure that
the views of the CAB are upheld. Regular contact with prisons and Law Enforcement
Partners will be expected.
The post holders require a high level of proficiency with IT systems, both as users,
and providing support in the administration of IT systems for which the CAB hold
responsibility. This includes acting as Subject Matter experts for the case
management system, at the time of writing known as Charter, or any successor
system. Full training on all systems will be provided.
At this present time there is no expectation of line management responsibility,
however the post holder will be responsible for training, and tasking admin support
staff who contribute to CAB work as part of their wider responsibilities for NIU.
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0
Summary
The specialist administrative role provides expert advice and guidance to front line
operational staff in the use of powers available to HMPPS for investigating criminal
activity in prisons and probation operations. Quality assurance of all applications for
deployment of covert activity and surveillance is completed by the post holder,
ensuring that compliance with legislation and internal policies is observed, and
recorded accurately.
The post holder will also oversee ongoing use of a case management system being
implemented across the prison estate for the administration of applications,
including contributing to configuration design, training design, and delivery of
training sessions to operational staff in the use of the system.
Due to the nature of the role, the post holder is required to hold a minimum of
National Security Vetting at Security Clearance (SC) level before taking up the post,
and potentially may be asked to complete Developed Vetting (DV).
Responsibilities,
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities
Activities and Duties
and duties:
? Quality assure all applications for deployment of powers under RIPA 2000,
liaising with Applicants and Authorising Officers to ensure compliance with
legislation and HMPPS policy.
? Maintain and update the central record of applications, ensuring that
management and performance information is available to managers on
request, and highlighting any compliance issues in a timely fashion.
? Monitoring and supporting the administration of authorities once granted,
to ensure that they are reviewed, renewed or cancelled in line with
requirements.
? Staffing a helpline, which is available out of normal office hours, for which
an on-call allowance will be provided.
? Provide policy advice on HMPPS use of intelligence, investigatory powers
and related issues to front line staff, escalating to managers where
required.
? Support inspection of HMPPS establishments, and the agency overall by
IPCO, through liaising with prisons to identify dates for inspections,
oversight of recommendation and issues, and provision of material for
inspection as required.
? Support the CAB Manager, and the SOCT Operational Security Advisor in
identifying and reviewing potential relevant errors in the use of surveillance
or investigatory powers.
? Manage the CAB functional mailbox, to ensure that queries are dealt with,
or directed elsewhere as required, to ensure efficient management of CAB
business. This will include tasking of non-dedicated admin support, in
liaison with the NIU Business Manager.
? Support the administration of IT systems required for the deployment of
covert tactics, including Charter, BT Pins and any other system identified as
being within the scope of the unit.
? Work with CAB manager in delivery of identified Business Change projects
as required, either as project support, or leading on a project to specified
timescales and quality standards.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not
intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable
alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant
adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall
be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Behaviours
? Managing a Quality Service
? Making Effective Decisions
? Communicating and Influencing
? Delivering at Pace
? Leadership
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0
Strengths
It is advised strengths are chosen locally, recommended 4-8.
Essential Experience
Technical
Requirements
Ability
? English; spoken and written
? Able to use standard work based office packages, such as Microsoft Office
? Training delivery
? Administrative skills commensurate with grade
? Legislative knowledge and knowledge of prison operating environment can
be provided once in post.
Minimum Eligibility
? All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.
? All external candidates are subject to 6 months’ probation. Internal candidates are
subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within
HMPPS.
? All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or
organisation which HMPPS consider to be racist.
Hours of Work
Leave Blank
(Unsocial Hours)
Allowances
To be used by the JES Team only
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0
Success Profile
Strengths
Behaviours
It is advised strengths
Ability
Experience
Technical
are chosen locally,
recommended 4-8
Making Effective Decisions
English; spoken and
written
Managing a Quality Service
Able to use standard
work based office
packages, such as
Microsoft Office
Delivering at Pace
Training delivery
Communicating and Influencing
Administrative skills
commensurate with
grade
Leadership
Legislative knowledge
and knowledge of prison
operating environment
can be provided once in
post.
HQ-JES-1576 Central Authorities Bureau Caseworker v2.0