Vacancy Information
This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst remaining two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions.
Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions.
Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowances and hours.
Division / Department - Specialist Crime
Grade - Surrey Police Grade F / Sussex Police Grade 9
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £28,062 - £32,227 / Sussex Police £28,302 - £30,783
Working Hours - 36.0 Hours per Week
Shift Allowance - Yes
Politically Restricted - No
Location - Guildford
The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.
Chief Constables' Message
We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe.
We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you.
We wish you all the very best with your application.
Chief Constable Tim De Meyer & Chief Constable Jo Shiner
The Role & Key Responsibilities
From your first day with us you will be part of a policing family making a real difference.
It is our mission to identify and protect vulnerable people, prevent and respond to harm and keep people safe.
Surrey and Sussex Forensic Investigations department have an exciting opportunity to join Crime Scene Services as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) based at Surrey Police Headquarters in Guildford. As a CSI you will carry out the forensic investigation of crime scenes, police related incidents and other examinations as required. You will offer expert advice to investigating officers, other colleagues and external stakeholders. Once qualified and competent you will undertake crime scene management duties and provide support and guidance for less experienced staff acting as mentor where required.
You will perform your duties across Surrey and Sussex making an equitable contribution to the designated shift pattern and on-call rota covering a 24-hour period, 7 days per week, 365 days per year.
As a CSI you will use professional judgement to attend, assess and examine crime scenes. You will Be responsible for making decisions and documenting forensic strategies detailing the structured examination in line with force procedures, ISO standards and current legislation. This will include the accurate and meticulous compilation of documentation relating to the scene examination including the streamlined Forensic reports and the subsequent presentation of evidence in court as a specialist/expert forensic practitioner.
You will prioritise and review tasks, taking responsibility for prioritising CADs and ensuring an appropriate response to incidents. This will involve proactively searching the police computerised systems to support operational deployment.
In this role you will act as lead forensic investigator at scenes of sexual offences, fire, major, serious and complex incidents and unexplained deaths including attendance at post-mortem examinations where you will be required to utilise recognised methods to assist in the identification process of deceased persons. Utilising knowledge, skills and experience you will consider whether further examinations could be accomplished by other specialists advising investigators; ensuring that all decision making is documented and in line with force procedures, National Decision Making Model and Code of Ethics.
You will use advanced photographic and digital video skills to create visual records of crime scenes and police related incidents. You will be responsible for completing dynamic risk assessments for all aspects of the role in line with current Health and safety legislation and related force policies.
When fully qualified you will Assist in coaching and mentoring less experienced forensic personnel. This will include internal and external attachments and peers who may need assistance with performance issues.
You will be required to consistently meet the related competencies, as defined by the Performance team, demonstrating a willingness to maintain and continuously develop in the role. This will include undertaking training and participate in the provision of auditing for accreditation purposes across Forensic Investigations when requested.
As a qualified CSI you will have a broad and deep understanding of technical examination techniques built upon formal training and considerable wide experience of practical work situations.
Skills & Experience
It is essential that applicants are educated to degree level or have substantial, recent evidence of competent performance in a directly relevant role for a minimum of 12 months; experience in crime scene investigation or proven capability in a role from another area of policing, forensic science (including laboratory work), the public sector or military service.
You must be able to attend and achieve a pass at a residential Crime Scene Investigation course developed by a recognised national training agency. Failure to achieve a pass at this course will lead to formal procedures to remove the post holder from the role.
This role will require you to pass enhanced vetting in line with Force Vetting Policy and maintain this standard. Due to the specialist operational nature of this role, you must be willing to provide finger/palm prints and a DNA sample for inclusion on a Central Elimination Database.
You must hold a current, full driving licence for manual vehicles and will be required to pass an internal driving assessment to be authorised to drive police vehicles of the relevant class.
You must be resilient and able to attend traumatic and disturbing police related incidents. On appointment, mandatory psychological screening will be conducted and reviewed annually.
You will be required to examine crime scenes across Surrey and Sussex and make an equitable contribution to the designated shift pattern and on-call rota, covering a 24-hour period, 7 days per week. Due to the critical nature of specialised operational posts, post holders are required to demonstrate considerable flexibility in terms of working time and call-out duties.
You must have the ability to operate, record, search and communicate utilising role related computer systems and software and applicants must have sound experience of using Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
You will possess exceptional communication and inter-personal skills, both oral and written, in order to effectively support and advise on crime scene investigation matters. You will have developed excellent negotiating and influencing skills together with a sound knowledge of cost implications of crime scene management when working with investigating officers.
You must be able to work within and comply with the appropriate auditory measures required to maintain ISO accreditation standards, demonstrating personal competency within this role. You will be required to undertake training and participate in the provision of auditing for accreditation purposes across Forensic Investigations when requested.
You must also have the ability to undertake physically demanding work under a variety of circumstances and situations which will involve manual handling and lifting.
You will be required to wear a Police Staff uniform as appropriate to the Force employer whilst on duty and maintain a smart appearance.
Why Work With Us?
Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We are open to conversations about job shares and part time working.
We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits;
- career progression
- contributory pension scheme (LGPS)
- generous annual leave allowance
- discounts for everyday spend
- on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs
- generous and supportive parental leave
- financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support
- discounted contributory healthcare scheme
Please use the following links for more information on the benefits of working with Surrey Police or Sussex Police
Diversity Statement
We are only as good as our people. It's really important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we'll grow from the variety of thinking, approach and skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all.
We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index and Disability Confident, a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement.
We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.
Please use the following links to find out more on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey Police and Sussex Police
Further Information
For further information regarding this role please contact:
Crime Scene Services Manager Gemma Hazell (gemma.hazell@surrey.police.uk)
Prior to the closing date for applications online Orientation Sessions will held on Microsoft Teams. These workshops will give you an opportunity to find out more about this challenging role and engage with personnel already employed by Surrey and Sussex Forensic Investigations.
For more details and to book a place on one of the sessions please contact Crime Scene Services Manager Gemma Hazell (gemma.hazell@surrey.police.uk). You will be sent a link to attend the session via Microsoft Teams.
Crime Scene Investigator Competency Gateway
Prior to fulfilling the above accountabilities, the Crime Scene Investigator will start at pay scale F/Grade 9 and will progress through a training and development programme designed to provide the post holder with the skills to examine volume crime scenes.
An individual will be progressed to pay scale G/Grade 10 once they have gained competence in examining specified types of serious crime scenes, can work independently in the role and can undertake on-call duties. The individual must demonstrate competence as outlined in the relevant framework and fulfil the key accountabilities in conjunction with the Stage 2 CSI training programme (This will include assessment of technical knowledge, practical skills and work products).
Progression is dependent upon the availability of training courses and the individual successfully completing the various requirements of the training and development programme, but it is envisaged that it will take between 12 months and 2 years (pro rata) to become fully competent as a Tier 2 practitioner.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend the next stage of the recruitment process, which is an in person assessment day. Candidates that are successful at the assessment days will then be invited for an oral competency based interview drawing from the Competency and Values Framework.
Unsuccessful interviewees who achieve a benchmark set by the recruiting team will be held in a pool for 6 months and may be contacted and offered a position should any further vacancies arise across Surrey or Sussex.
The successful candidates will be required to participate in a shift pattern and on-call rota covering a 24-hour period, 7 days per week. Shift work operates between the hours of 0730 to 2200, on call thereafter.
All applicants must be available to attend a residential Crime Scene Investigator course and will be required to sign a learning contract to cover the cost of this or any further training courses that may be required for the role.
All posts will be offered subject to successful vetting and medical review.