Digital Forensic Assistant (Administration)

Job Title: Digital Forensic Assistant (Administration)

Salary: The starting salary is £33,348, which includes allowances totalling £2,841.

The salary is broken down as £30,507 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £32,639.  Plus, a location allowance of £1,841 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Lambeth HQ however can be posted anywhere in the MPS as per operational requirements

This is an exciting time to be working as Digital Forensic Assistant for the Metropolitan Police Service. In addition to large-scale transformation, there's the unique and ever-evolving challenge of policing London. This means that as a Digital Forensic Assistant, there are more opportunities for you to get involved with making London the safest global city in a time of unprecedented change within the UK's largest Police Service.

We are looking for an organised individual to provide full administrative support to the Audio and Video Laboratories and the Design Studio in Digital Forensics. Helping officers and assisting colleagues to progress investigations, your impact will be felt on a daily basis. Often, you will be the first point of contact for external queries, as customers seek advice on the submissions process, and updates on their forensic investigations. You will be responsible for providing a professional customer-focused response, checking that submissions are accurately processed and recorded. Responding to internal queries, you will also provide an effective, efficient administrative support function for the Directorate of Forensic Services, having responsibility for resources and supplies.  You will have excellent team-working, communication and interpersonal skills.

Your role will regularly require you to assess priorities, and ensure quality assurance within in line with policies and the quality management system. You need to be able to remain calm under pressure and maintain attention to detail and have excellent communication skills. The most important attribute is that you want to make a difference to the communities of London by playing your part in the processing of forensic work, upholding legal requirements and supporting the Criminal Justice System.

Key Responsibilities

Your core duties will include:

• Liaising with officers regarding submissions and forms required for examination.
• Providing an initial point of contact for all enquiries directed to the team in the form a help-desk / liaison service for a variety of telephone and electronic contacts.
• Providing updates on casework progression and responding to external queries sent to the shared mailboxes.
• Quality assure submissions to ensure accuracy of information and compliance with procedure, rejecting submissions which do not conform to prescribed standards.
• Accurate inputting of essential data, monitoring and reviewing both local and MPS Case Management Information Systems and any other databases relevant to role.
• Prioritising workload according to the level of urgency of each case and regularly review and monitor cases to manage priorities.
• Completing administrative functions in association with tasks undertaken providing administrative support to the technical team.
• Providing timely and accurate minutes of local team meetings.
• Understand and accept the core principles set out in the H&S Policy in relation to your role, duties and responsibilities and implement those principles and requirements in day-to-day activities.
• Managing resources in accordance with MPS policy; ordering supplies and equipment.
• To work within the Forensic Service Quality Management System (QMS) and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the system by participating in quality assurance activities, engaging in internal and external audits, competence and proficiency tests, reporting non-conformances and proposing changes to improve the system.

Expectations and working conditions: 

• Understand forensic processes, handling of exhibits and case files;
• Attending court as a technical witness; if required in order to provide additional information concerning the work undertaken.
• Must provide a DNA sample and fingerprints for inclusion on the Embargo Staff Elimination databases; 
• Sign up and adhere to the Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice and Conduct;
• Adhere to the MPS codes of conduct and security policies, and the Forensics Quality Management System.
• Awareness that there may be exposure to distressing material and that there are Occupational Health checks available.

Additional Information:

Digital Forensics will be introducing a 24/7 operating model as part of an investment and transformation plan to ensure the best service to support operational policing. These teams will work on a rotational shift pattern compromising early, late and night shifts, inclusive of weekends. Approximately 20% of the overall staff in the Digital Forensics’ department will be required to support it. These posts attract an additional 20% shift allowance plus weekend premium payments on top of the salary advertised above. All new staff are eligible to be placed on a shift rota subject to the relevant notice given, however in the first instance placements on these teams will be allocated to those who volunteer, any remaining places will be allocated by management and will also be subject to certain skills required to support out of hours services

This post does not currently fall within the structure of the 24/7 teams, however by applying for this role you understand that you could be placed on one of these 24/7 shift teams should business need require it. This will be subject to consultation and notice period.

Application Process

The initial assessment process will consist of an application which will be assessed by way of a CV demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria and an assessment against the following three CVF elements :

• We support, deliver and inspire (Level 1)
• We are innovative and open-minded (Level 1) 
• We take ownership (Level 1)

Those successful at the paper-sift stage will be invited to attend an interview. The interview will be assessed on your responses to a number of scenario-based questions relating to the role, as well as questions designed to assess each of the following three CVF competencies:

• We analyse critically (Level 1)
• We are collaborative (Level 1)
• We are emotionally aware (Level 1)

How to apply

Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria and an online application form.

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 10th April 2024.

www.metpolicecareers.co.uk