| Job info |
Job info details |
| Job title |
Corporate Fraud Officer |
| Strategic team/Directorate |
Finance |
| Service |
Corporate Finance |
| Business unit |
Corporate Finance |
| Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Corporate Fraud Manager |
| Accountable to (line manager) |
Corporate Fraud Manager |
| Salary grade |
G |
| JE ref |
JOT164 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To protect income and service provision across the council from fraud and error.
- To support the Council’s Counter Fraud Team to deter, prevent, detect, investigate, pursue and rectify fraud and error affecting the Council to improve the accuracy of council records and increase customer confidence.
- Actively identify new internal and external data to enable new data matches by highlighting such to the Counter fraud Manager.
- Manage and undertake existing data matching exercises to detect fraud and error, such as, but not limited to the National Anti-Fraud Initiative, SWISCO to business rates, SWISCO to Council Tax, Council tax to Business Rates, Deceased records to Concessionary Fares. The purpose of the matching to identify fraud and error across any council department.
- Conduct and maintain detailed and lawful Investigations into allegations of fraud, received from Council employees, members of the public and identified through any data-matching exercises the team undertake.
- Utilise the counter fraud assistants by directing how and what evidence to obtain, throughout the lifetime of an investigation.
- Interview witnesses, suspects and other relevant parties. Ensuring those investigations and interviews comply with the Human Rights Act and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
- To act as an Authorised Officer in accordance with Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act and Council Tax Reduction Scheme Detection of Fraud and Enforcement (England) Regulations 2013 etc.
- Conduct visits to establish facts, gathering evidence and obtaining witness statements from individuals to support investigations. Ensuring the visits are conducted in line with the Council’s policy on Lone Working and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
- Prepare detailed Investigation reports
- Collaborate with internal departments to facilitate investigations and share information, ensuing compliance with the Data Protection Act utilising available exemptions where appropriate.
- Undertake interviews under caution always ensuring compliance with the Police and Criminal Investigations Act 1984.
- Assist in the prosecution of fraud cases, including providing testimony in court as needed.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Fulfilment of the Councils Counter Fraud and Corruption Policy.
- Minimised loss in the Councils income and services.
- Protected, council services with reduced risk from fraud and error which supports budget provision by ensuring only those entitled to services are in receipt.
- Increased accuracy and efficiency in the Councils services to protect and improve the council’s reputation.
- Instances of fraud and error investigated, proven and redress of individuals in line with the Council’s Corporate Sanctions and Prosecutions Policy and other legislation but not limited to The Fraud Act 2006 and Prosecution of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.
- Provision of assurance and supporting good governance to the councils Audit Committee Section 151 Officer and taxpayers that fraud and error are being minimised by departments.
- Fulfilment of the Councils obligation to participate in the National Fraud Initiative exercise.
- Maximised revenue generation from the cross-referenced data between service areas, not limited to customer services, Council Tax, Business Rates, Blue Badges, Housing Waiting lists, concessionary fares, refuse collections, HMRC credit reference agencies and companies house.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
- Take full responsibility for investigating a caseload, ensuring compliance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 2000, Human Rights Act and the General Data Protection Act. Applying knowledge gained from their fraud qualification to each allegation or irregularity to ensure the post holder and council is not in breach of those acts.
- To support the counter fraud assistant in the supply of documentation to the Department of Works and Pensions and to recognise when it is appropriate for the Council to embark on a joint investigation and action with the department of works and pensions.
- To utilise appropriate powers to obtain evidence to support and progress an investigation. Depending on the type of investigation, the postholder may employ powers provided by legislation such as the Prosecution of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 or Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) regulations 1992 rather than relying on the exemption provisions in the Data Protection Act 2018.
- Undertake lone visits to people in their homes or at their place of work. These visits can be to gather evidence or witness statements, either prearranged or unannounced.
- From time to time, the post holder may need to undertake surveillance. Any surveillance which the post holder undertakes must be permissible under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2003 and therefore the postholder must maintain up to date knowledge of the Act. Where the postholder considers covert surveillance is necessary, they will seek authorisation from the council’s designated authoriser. Failure to comply with RIPA renders the evidence gathered by the (unauthorised) surveillance vulnerable to exclusion as evidence under section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Additionally, failure to comply with RIPA may lead to maladministration or other claims brought against the council.
- Produce witness statements to the standards required by legislation (criminal investigations) and produce witness statements/affidavits to the standard required for non-criminal investigations.
- Plan, undertake and evaluate Interviews Under Caution where the interviewee may attend with their legal representative. Interviewees can express a range of emotions due to the contentious nature of the interview and the questions posed. The post holder required to take notes and pose additional questions where deemed further challenge is required. Interviews undertaken must be compliant with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE 1984) supported by codes of practice.
- At the conclusion of an investigation, if considered it is in the councils and public’s interest to pursue a prosecution, the postholder will prepare a case file in preparedness for redress, for the council s legal representative. The postholder will collaborate with the legal representative to pursue a prosecution or sanction against the offender, in line with the Council Sanctions and prosecutions policy.
- Attend Court to provide witness evidence.
- To share data with other bodies as appropriate (linked to counter fraud).
- Undertake corrective action and/ or consult with the relevant council departments to ensure the correct action.
- Maintain an accurate record of allegations, investigations, and outcomes within the council’s fraud case management system.
- Assist the Fraud Manager to raise awareness of fraud across the Council.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Instructing the work of the counter fraud assistants necessary in the life of a fraud or error investigation.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Hybrid based.
- Occasional travel to various sites for investigation purposes.
7. Physical demands of the post
- Normal office based physical demands.
- Occasional lone working while visiting premises and obtaining statements.
- Conducting interviews under caution at Tor Hill House or Department of Works and Pensions.
- Court attendance.
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Normal IT.
- I-pad and i-phone.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External - Police, Dept of Work and Pensions, Any local government authority, Housing Associations, enforcement agencies, counter fraud and error suppliers, legal Advisors and solicitors, members of the public, council members, South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Devon Assurance Partnership.
- Internal - Corporate Fraud Manager, Corporate Fraud Assistant, Legal Services, Internal Audit, Finance, Housing, Revenues, Housing Benefits, Children’s Services, Legal Services, Electoral Services, Licensing, Environmental Health, Planning, Governance, IT, Registrars, Procurement, Human Resources.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
- The post is eligible for hybrid working.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
| Job info |
Job info details |
| Job Title |
Corporate Fraud Officer |
| Strategic team/Directorate |
Finance |
| Service |
Corporate Finance |
| Business unit |
Corporate Finance |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Effective interpersonal and interviewing skills.
- Effective and strong organisational skills with ability to work in collaboration or alone and to make effective decisions.
- Ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with other departments and agencies.
- Ability to work in challenging situations. For example, when dealing with emotional customers/clients in a home/office environment.
- Investigate to a civil and criminal standard establishing facts, in line with relevant legislation, in particular the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and Criminal procedures & Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA).
- Ability to act impartially with a view to establishing facts. Accurately extracting and recording information from diverse sources applying due diligence to ensure a through but concise investigation.
- Ability to make effective decisions.
- Ability to recognise distinct types of evidence (direct, circumstantial hearsay etc.) and relate their significance.
- Ability to effectively collate information from diverse sources.
- Ability to produce a detailed case file in preparedness for redress.
- Ability to appear at court as a witness.
- Proficient using IT applications and the internet.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Ability to recognise preventative measures.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Detailed working knowledge and understanding of the objectives and legalities of a fraud investigation (specialist standard).
- A working knowledge of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
- Advanced knowledge of Data protection Act 1998.
- A working knowledge of The Fraud Act 2006.
- awareness of the Human Rights Act 1998.
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.
- A good understanding of services delivered by a Local Authority.
Desirable knowledge
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Effective use of (to ECDL standard) Microsoft applications such as Excel, Word and Outlook.
- Effective application in applying the principles of data protection legislation to obtain and disclose information/evidence to support an investigation utilising the legal gateways within the act or other relevant legislation, such as Prosecution of Social Housing Fraud Act.
- Evaluating evidence to establish facts, recording, and compiling that information.
- Conducting fraud investigations applying the principles of the Human Rights Act, ensuring actions are proportionate, necessary, and legal.
- Successful management of workloads with conflicting priorities.
- Planning, conducting and evaluating interviews under Caution.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of working with council tax/business rates/Housing enforcement.
- Experience of working with In-Case 365.
- Experience of working with IDIS.
- Experience of writing crystal/Logi reports.
- Experience of working with Civica products (FIMS/IBS/W360).
- Experience of working in a Local Authority enforcement role.
- Proven record of identifying fraud an error.
- Experience of working with data hubs.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to GCSE O Level standard or equivalent.
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 accreditation or equivalent.
- Counter fraud Specialist Accreditation or equivalent issued by a registered provider under the professional accreditation board.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Professional Certificate in Fraud Investigation or equivalent.
- Professional Certificate in fraud prevention or equivalent.
- Internet and Open-Source investigations (OSNIT) (foundation level) or equivalent.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay in order to carry out duties.
- Flexible approach to working hours.
- Ability to accommodate hybrid-working.