The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Immigration Enforcement (IE) is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.
About the role
Are you ready to make a difference in a dynamic and testing environment? We are seeking a dedicated Detention Engagement Team Member to join us at the Home Office. Detention Engagement Teams are at the heart of Immigration Enforcement’s operational activity to deliver the return of Foreign National Offenders and those with no leave to be in the United Kingdom.
You will play a crucial role in engaging with residents, ensuring their understanding of progress with their cases, and facilitating effective communication between them and caseworkers.
As a member of the Detention Engagement Team you will be expected to demonstrate professional behaviours and personal integrity, as well as an unbiased and methodical approach to information gathering.
You can expect to work as part of a team, in a dynamic and testing environment, making a real difference. You will be accountable for a variety of tasks to ensure effective communication and engagement with residents. Alongside this, there will also be opportunities for professional development and training.
If you are passionate about making a difference and have the skills and dedication required for the Detention Engagement Team role, we would love to hear from you. Join us at the Home Office and be part of a team that truly makes a difference.
Working arrangements
This role is suitable for part-time working, with a minimum requirement to work 3 full shifts per week in a full range of shifts.
Please note that full shifts, of up to 12 hours, will be required even if a part time contract is sought.
Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours. In return, the role attracts an Annualised Working Hours Allowance – see below.
Training
You will receive full training which will take place on the job with a mentor who will support you until you are fully confident in the role. Even then you are never alone; you’ll work as part of a team where there is always someone around to ask for advice. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.
Meet the team
Learn more about our work and ask us questions at one of our Detention Engagement Team introductory sessions. Book now to secure your place.
You can also listen to Detention Engagement Officers sharing their account of what it’s like to work in an Immigration Removal Centre in the audio linked below.
Benefits
- A salary of £30,000 to £35,700 plus an Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) currently of between 15.56% and 21.57% of your salary, depending on location
- Civil Service Pension with employer contribution rates of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- Full training, along with access to development opportunities to help you grow in your career.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
An environment with flexible working options and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
Find out more about some of the other benefits we offer.
-
Bedford
Gatwick
Glasgow
Heathrow
Newcastle
Oxford
-
Duties include:
- Conduct face-to-face engagements, including inductions and assessments
- Discuss options and the consequences of non-compliance with residents
- Identify and manage vulnerability indicators, ensuring they are recorded and managed in-line with policy
- Engage regularly with IRC suppliers and stakeholders
- Give case updates and manage a portfolio of residents
- Record interactions accurately on IT systems in a timely manner and provide feedback to caseworkers
- Contribute to management reports and undertake office administration duties such as inbox management and taking phone calls
- Flagging issues appropriately and in a timely manner to management or other appropriate departments
-
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Solid verbal and written communication skills
- Leadership potential and the ability to manage testing situations
- Flexibility, adaptability, and problem-solving skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel
-
Your application will be assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles recruitment framework.
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
- Online Test
You will then be invited to complete the Civil Service Management Judgement Test.
- Application
Following successful completion of your test, you will be asked to complete the full application form, which will include a personal statement (maximum 500 words). The personal statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria.
- Interview
If you are successful at application sift stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be asked strength based questions.
The interview will be via a pre-recorded interview using Vidcruiter (virtual interview).
You will receive a link to complete a video interview and we will be asking you to video record your responses to pre-recorded questions.
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers
-
If you are interested in one of these roles, please apply using the button below.
