Head of Unit

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. We also aim to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

Detention Engagement Teams (DETs) are embedded in all Immigration Removal Centres and engage face‑to‑face with people in detention to support case progression, focus individuals towards return, and act as a key link between residents, caseworkers, healthcare and service providers, with a particular focus on the early identification and management of vulnerability/*EndFragment */

We are offering the opportunity to continue the work around improving interactions with our detained population by providing strategic leadership of the Detention Engagement Teams (DET) (one of the five G7 leads), ensuring that we provide a humane, safe and secure environment for those in detention whilst the Home Office progresses their case.

The successful candidate will have responsible for the provision of on-site day to day engagement between Home Office and those in detention, your teams proactively speak and meet with those in detention to create robust plans for return, detecting and overcoming current or perceived barriers and concerns.

Whilst the Engagement Officers (Executive Officers) through to Area Team Leaders (Senior Executive Officers) work a full range of shifts, including weekends and Public Holidays utilising Annualised Hours Working (AHW), the Grade 7 roles do not.

You will be expected to join the IRSC on call rota and take part in on call duties covering evenings and weekends.

Key responsibilities

(This list is not exhaustive and duties may evolve in line with operational priorities.)

• Providing strategic leadership and direction to the operational DET command.
• Taking responsibility for the direct line management of one SEO and approximately eleven staff at at Haslar Immigration Removals Centre, increasing as Phase 2 of the site goes live.
• Leading on charter operations on behalf of DET, ensuring that onsite preparations maximise returns through the route.
• Reporting on DET performance into the wider International and Returns Service Command.
• Monitoring progress, identify risks and seek continuous improvement opportunities to shape DET, ensuring that best practice is shared with colleagues across in DET nationally.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with wider International and Returns Service Command colleagues and Service Providers. Including working closely with other embedded teams within the IRCs to provide constructive contribution to the contract monitoring of performance by the service provider, who are responsible for operating and managing the centre on behalf of the Home Office.
• Collaborating and partnering with all detained casework commands, particularly the National Returns Progression Command detained hubs and Foreign National Offenders Returns Command detained teams.
• Taking financial responsibility for DET operation in the relevant IRCs, ensuring control in managing resources, propriety, compliance and value for money.
• Providing guidance and support to managers relating to complex Immigration Enforcement policy and procedural issues involving those in detention.
• Having a firm grasp of the concept of wider departmental priorities.
• Remaining visible and accessible, acting as ambassador for International Returns Service.
• Acting as an independent chair of Case Progression Panels at least 6 times a year.
• Minimising the risk and cost associated with unlawful detentions and the use of the overall detention estate.
• Supporting the wider Senior Management Team.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.

Training

You will receive full training and support to do the job. Even then you are never alone; you work as part of a team where there is always someone around for advice and support.

These roles can be physically demanding and if successful you will be required to complete and pass Personal Safety Training (PST) Level 2 which develops skills in personal safety techniques. Further information on what the training involves can be found on our website.

Travel

You will be expected to undertake some travel to other Immigration Removal Centres.

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