Vacancy Information
This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst continuing to be 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, allowance and hours.
Division / Department - Specialist Crime
Status - Full Time
Contract Type - Permanent
Grade - Surrey Police Grade H / Sussex Police Grade 11
Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £35,028 - £41,464 / Sussex Police £35,223 - £38,856
Politically Restricted -
Unsocial Hours Allowance -
Location - See Advert
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.
The Role
Surrey & Sussex Police are seeking to fill 3 vacancies at the Team Leader level within its Digital Forensics Teams.
2 x Sussex - 37 hours per week. Based at Haywards Heath Police Station.
1 x Surrey - 36 hours per week. Based at Surrey Police HQ, Guildford.
Digital Forensics Team Leaders work an agreed shift pattern, with a requirement to work between the hours of 0800-1800 hours, weekends and public holidays on a rotational basis.
An unsocial hours allowance is paid in additional to the basic salary.
Two of these positions are within a team being newly established therefore the requirement to work a shift pattern and weekends may not commence immediately.
The role will manage and provide supervision for day to day operational and technical activity within Digital Forensics (DFT).
The post holder will provide support to Heads of Service and Professional Leads to ensure that Digital Forensic services function effectively and efficiently, and provide high quality support to police investigations.
The post holder will be responsible for the management and supervision of staff undertaking DFT work and be accountable for meeting Service Level Agreements and criminal justice outcomes.
Two of the vacancies will be within a new team and present an excellent opportunity for the post holders to influence the direction and success of a new service delivery model.
Key Responsibilities
You will be responsible for leading the Digital Forensics Team (DFT) ensuring that they are clear regarding their objectives and role, supported and developed appropriately, and held to account for their performance.
You will assess, prioritise and manages all submissions to DFT to ensure that they are dealt with most appropriately according to threat, risk and harm assessment, as well as ensuring resources are deployed effectively, and that an excellent support service is provided to police investigations
You will build and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues, stakeholders and peers both internally and externally, sharing best practice appropriately. You will be required to maintain an up to date knowledge of Digital Forensics and the wider business area including changes to technology.
You will communicate, and ensure compliance with ISO 17025 accreditation, relevant ACPO guidelines and force policies, to ensure that staff are clear about these and work within them appropriately.
You will assess and oversee the maintenance and replacement of specialist equipment used within the DFT, to ensure that the Force can plan ahead effectively in this area, and have access to the available technology to support police investigations in a dynamic environment promoting continuous process improvement.
You will oversee the provision of advice, guidance and recommendations to police officers and staff regarding the use of computers and mobile phones in crime, to enable them to use the information effectively in their investigations.
You will be responsible for the delivery and coordination of team performance and digital services to Surrey and Sussex Police, collating and presenting management information.
You will be required to have an overview of DFT team budget including out-sourcing and other contractual budgets, and make recommendations for expenditure.
Skills & Experience
Good standard of education with proven numeracy and literacy skills at a higher education level (Degree level or equivalent) or equivalent by experience in a Digital Forensics environment.
Successful experience of managing a team of people and leading change.
Successful experience of driving continuous improvement through periods of change management.
Excellent Interpersonal skills particularly the ability to effectively engage with stakeholders using negotiating and influencing techniques.
Good knowledge and understanding of digital forensics and their use in the police service.
Sound knowledge of the Computer Misuse Act and relevant ACPO guidelines governing digital forensics.
Excellent knowledge and understanding of the police service in the UK, and the context in which it operates.
Extensive experience of building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Proven ability to prioritise both operational and staffing issues.
Excellent verbal and written negotiation and communication skills.
Robust decision-making ability to effectively manage submissions based on threat, harm, and risk.
Problem solve in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
Possess the awareness and ability to successfully oversee the introduction of technical processes e.g. ISO 17025.
Self-motivated and proven experience of working methodically and patiently (often with competing priorities) with minimal supervision.
Strong attention to detail.
Demonstrate an aptitude and willingness for continuous learning and professional development.
Ability to work independently and with absolute integrity and confidentiality to tight deadlines.
Hold a full UK driving licence or have the ability to travel across both forces.
It would be desirable for the post holder to have supervisory/ management experience, and previous working experience in a digital forensic environment accredited to ISO 17025.
Further Information
All staff who work within the Digital Forensics team environment will need to have a wellbeing check before they begin the role. This forms a baseline for further checks but also ensures applicants are fit to undertake the role at the outset.
The post holder must attend and participate in a debrief with occupational health every six months.
This role requires the applicant to undergo security vetting to the appropriate level.
The post holder must be willing to undertake a driving assessment in order to be able to drive unmarked police fleet vehicles.
For further information about these vacancies please contact:
Natalie Belamon - Head of Operational Forensic Services.
natalie.belamon@sussex.pnn.police.uk
or
Jill Wheeler - Digital Forensics Professional Lead
jill.wheeler@Surrey.pnn.police.uk.
On of these vacancies will be based at Headquarters, Guildford. Please note that in 2024 Surrey Police Headquarters is due to move to Leatherhead.
Candidates successful at the interview stage will be held in a pool for 6 months pending additional vacancies becoming available.
Additional Information
Following submission of your application you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your application attached. Occasionally emails from this address can fall into spam/junk folders so please ensure this is checked regularly. You may wish to consider adding noreply@surreysussexpolice.as.recruitmail.com to your address/contact list to ensure you receive all communications.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police work together in collaboration for this role, however they remain two different employers, with differing pay scales, allowances and terms and conditions including hours of employment.
If you are an internal candidate and are conditionally offered the role your attendance record and any reasonable adjustments already in place will be discussed with yourself and your current line manager. If you are successful in your application, you may be required to resign and transfer your employment, taking on the Terms & Conditions and pay scales of the Lead Force (if this is not your existing Home Force).
This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process.
Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.
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 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 beliefs, we would love to hear from you.
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