IPCO has a dedicated team of Inspectors who are responsible for ensuring that over 600 public authorities meet the appropriate standards, set out in legislation and Codes of Practice, in their use of covert investigatory powers.
You will have good peer support and experience to draw upon as you settle into your role. More details of the role and responsibilities are set out below.
Inspectors will be responsible for
Planning, arranging, and conducting on-site and remote inspections, examining records relating to the use of covert investigatory powers to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation and the associated Codes of Practice.
Interviewing senior management and operational staff at all levels in public authorities in relation to the authorisation, use and management of tactics deployed using covert powers.
Drafting high quality inspection reports for the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, providing an accurate assessment of the level of compliance by public authorities together with an assessment of areas such as training, policy and quality assurance regimes; and the arrangements in place to safeguard any material obtained from the use of covert powers; and
Contributing to internal and external discussions and projects on behalf of IPCO, such as discussing actions or responses to issues arising from inspections, providing representation on working groups or liaison with Home Office policy officials in the development of the statutory provisions and Codes of Practice.
Note: An employee may be required to carry out other duties within the scope of the grade, taking account of their skill, competence and training.
Person specification
Candidates must be able to evidence at least one of the following
Knowledge and experience of one or more of the investigatory powers overseen by IPCO, demonstrating how that knowledge and experience can be adapted and utilised within an oversight environment.
AND/OR
Knowledge and experience of oversight in a compliance, assurance, audit or related field, demonstrating how that knowledge and experience gives them the ability to deliver an effective oversight regime across the range of responsibilities that fall to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner.
Candidates will also need to demonstrate an ability to
Assimilate and evaluate large amounts of information from a range of sources and reach logical conclusions.
Work independently without direct supervision and fully engage as a member of the IPCO team.
Draft high quality inspection reports for the Investigatory Powers Commissioners to send to Chief Officers of public authorities that are permitted to utilise investigatory powers.
Respect confidentiality and privacy.
Communicate inspection findings openly and confidently in an appropriate style to suit the level of the audience and lead others to understand the findings and accept key conclusions, including challenging senior officers on areas of non-compliance or poor practice.
The use of investigatory powers increasingly involves the use of complex technology and artificial intelligence. Knowledge and experience in these fields, or an aptitude to develop such skills will therefore be an advantage.
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