Are you an established Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) leader, or have aspirations to be so? South West Forensics (SWF) are seeking a high calibre leader for the Bridgwater-based regional CSI Team.
You will be employed by Avon & Somerset (A&S) police and will be a key first line manager, supporting forensic operations across the South West region. You will have responsibility for Crime Scene Management (CSM), bringing logic and order to chaotic crime scenes, working alongside investigative colleagues and specialists to enable justice through forensic evidence. CSI Team Leaders are pivotal positions helping to influence and shape the direction of our collaboration teams.
SWF is a four-force forensic collaboration, where opportunities for work extend across the whole of the South West collaborative region.
The position is part time working 26 hours a week.
From you:
We want a caring leader that will complement and support our teams, inspire our people and deliver a high-quality service to victims of crime. You will provide excellence in forensic investigation for the communities we serve. This will include implementing and maintaining ISO 17020 accreditation and providing quality assurance for the work of your team. You will work on a shift pattern comprising day and late shifts, across seven days with regular on-call CSM duties and out-of-hours working.
From us:
A rewarding career in Forensics with leadership and work opportunities throughout the South West in rural, urban, volume and major crime. You will be a valued member of the CSI and leadership teams, where you will be supported in making a difference.
In this role, your Main Responsibilities will be:
- Leading the performance of a CSI team and provide first line management support to Crime Scene Investigators at Force and Regional level; managing daily resource levels and instigating cross border movements of staff as required.
- Supporting regional CSI and Local Policing Area performance objectives by attending tasking and management meetings, identifying priorities and developing action plans to ensure that an effective and efficient regional CSI service is delivered to victims of crime. To maximise the recovery of valuable forensic evidence by CSI teams, with which to bring offenders to justice.
- Undertaking the role of ‘Duty Supervisor’ providing regional cover on a rotational basis, with responsibility for the daily tactical delivery of CSI services across the region.
- Gathering information from relevant sources to ascertain the circumstances of incidents and the requirements for CSI services, ensuring appropriate co-ordination and deployment of resources, providing advice and guidance to CSI staff and officers for ongoing incidents and providing a point of contact for personnel and welfare issues.
- Supervising the forensic investigation of serious and major incidents, including the development of bespoke forensic strategies in support of the SIO and the selection and co-ordination of internal and external scientific personnel.
- Attending crime scenes and satellite locations to undertake duties as Crime Scene Manager in accordance with national guidance (e.g. Murder Investigation Manual / MIRSAP), to include working solo, under the direction of a Regional Forensic Co-ordinator and as part of a Forensic Management Team. To oversee the welfare of CSI personnel deployed to incidents.
- Ensuring that CSI resources operate within the parameters of regional CSI policy and to ensure compliance with National Occupational Standards, ISO Quality Frameworks and the need to provide continuous service improvement.
- Providing Quality Assurance for CSI activities, including scene investigations, management systems, CSI reports, witness statements, forensic submissions, integrity and continuity of seized exhibits. To ensure compliance with relevant police guidelines including MoPI and the College of Policing Code of Ethics.
Skills, Experience and Qualifications required:
- You must have completed or must successfully complete the College of Policing Crime Scene Manager course within a reasonable timeframe. There may be additional requirements to attend, and successfully complete other training courses and events linked to ongoing proficiency in order to maintain professional competency. Failure to pass these courses may result in the termination of contract.
- You must be trained to the accredited national standards in Crime Scene Investigation (Stages 1 & 2) and must have extensive knowledge and experience of all CSI activities in volume, serious and major crime investigation.
- You must also have excellent knowledge of police procedures and legislation in relation to Crime Scene Investigation activity (including PACE – Police And Crime Evidence act, major incident policy, MOPI – Management Of Police Information, SFR – Streamlined Forensic Reporting, FOI – Freedom Of Information, RIPA – Regulation of Investigative Powers Act) and its application to a regional CSI service.
- Proven supervisory experience and leadership skills in all matters relating to staff development and performance management.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, face to face and over the telephone. You must be able to deal effectively with a diverse range of people and have the ability to present facts and opinions accurately, clearly and concisely in written and oral formats.
- Ability to methodically gather and analyse information from a variety of sources and be able to compile statistics, identify patterns/problems, draw logical conclusions and make sensible decisions/recommendations.
Additional information:
Salary: Basic wage of £40,893.00 plus shift, on-call and weekend working enhancements.
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For further information or an information chat about the role, please contact talentpolicestaff@avonandsomerset.police.uk
Internal Applicants: successful internal candidates will have to resign from their force and join Avon & Somerset Police. You will move to Avon & Somerset terms & conditions and pay scale PO2- PO5. The post will also attract 14% shift allowance.
Please note that there will also be a suitability bank for 12 months – all future recruitment for this vacancy across the region will be recruited from the successful candidates of this process.
To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years.
You will participate in a regional on-call roster and there will be a regular requirement for out-of-hours working, retention on duty and recall to duty as required to meet the operational demands for forensic service delivery.
Work on a public holiday as part of the normal working week will be compensated in line with conditions of service.
Interviews for this role will take place from 13th January 2025 onwards.
Does this sound like the role for you? Please apply, ensuring you address all the criteria thoroughly and clearly. We suggest using a structured approach, such as the STAR method or an alternative, to outline your responses effectively.
How to apply: To apply for this role please click the 'apply' button below, you will then be taken to a registration page. Please complete this registration form to create an account, once created you will be taken to the application.
Already have an account? If you have previously created an account please click 'login' at the bottom of the page next to the 'submit registration' button. Once logged in, you will be taken to the application.
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