**Detention Gatekeeper Caseworker

Job summary

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.

Job description

The Detention Gatekeeper (DGK) was introduced in June 2016 following Stephen Shaw's Review into the Welfare in Detention of Vulnerable Persons. As a cross-departmental and independent function within the Detention, Progression and Returns Command (DPRC), the DGK ensures that only suitable individuals enter the immigration detention estate.

Acting as a key safeguard, the DGK identifies and protects individuals who fall within the scope of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention Policy. The team promotes alternative removal routes wherever appropriate, ensuring that detention is used only as a last resort, particularly for those considered vulnerable. Where detention is necessary, the DGK seeks to ensure that any period of detention is kept to an absolute minimum.

The DGK considers referrals for detention from across the Home Office and is responsible for authorising admission into immigration detention for cases managed by the National Returns Command (NRC), Foreign National Offender Returns Command (FNO RC), Detained Asylum Casework (DAC), UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Border Force and Special Cases Directorate (SCD).

Working in a fast-paced environment, the DGK makes effective, evidence-based decisions by applying detention and Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policies, considering the prospect of removal, and balancing Home Office priorities.

The successful candidates will be responsible for:

• Considering referrals from all sources where immigration detention has been authorised by a senior manager or above, and a space in the detention estate is sought.
• Making quality, fair and immediate decisions about whether cases should enter the detention estate, relaying those decisions to referring officers effectively and calmly.
• Manage and oversee the shift when Duty Officer, ensuring colleagues are allocated to different workflow areas to meet Service Level Agreements and all email inboxes are monitored.
• Identifying and raising barriers to removal that exist for cases being referred for detention. Escalating cases where there are complex issues.
• Identifying individuals who are potentially vulnerable and taking necessary steps to make decisions on the circumstances in which detention may or may not be appropriate.
• Completing the initial detention review and generating associated paperwork for those individuals accepted for detention.
• Contributing to and support 2-3 internal thematic areas aside of operational duties, such as performance management, Wellbeing and stakeholder engagement.
• Liaising with the Detainee Escorting and Population Management Unit (DEPMU) on a daily basis with regard to available detention space and capacities.
• Communicating effectively with internal stakeholders, ensuring that problems and complaints are resolved in a timely fashion.
• Using IT tools available as part of the referral and workflow process.
• Starting an initial removal plan prior to allocation for the caseworker concerned, taking into consideration travel documentation and any outstanding barriers.
• Allocating cases that have been accepted to the appropriate detention managing team (HUB).
• Overseeing the release of individuals where authorised by senior colleagues.
• Assisting with data gathering and analysis where required to support strategic projects being completed within the team.
• Reporting Offender Management (ROM) teams and UKVI units to ensure the right cases enter immigration detention.
• You will stay up to date with immigration detention guidance and policy, as well as other stakeholders published guidance to ensure justified detention decisions are made.

You will have strong communication skills and be confident in liaising with colleagues and stakeholders, including senior managers.

You may be required to undertake the same or a similar role within a different team or teams (where possible, at your base location or within reasonable travel distance), depending on business priorities. With appropriate training and support, this will provide opportunities to broaden both your experience and skill set.

Working Pattern

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

Successful candidates will need to be able to attend for all shifts including early starts, late night finishes, and overnight shifts. These shifts may be outside of public transport operating hours.

The team has maintained operations throughout the year, weekends and public holidays (including Christmas and Boxing Day), currently operating between 07.00 and 21.00 during the week and 07.00 and 19.00 at weekends and public holidays (this may be subject to change including the possibility of a 24-hour operation). The team works on a roster/shift basis and the successful post holder will be required to adopt Annualised Hours working terms and conditions and work on a hybrid working pattern, working a minimum of 60% of shifts from the office.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Successful candidates will need to demonstrate:

• The ability to work at pace and under pressure, be proactive and prioritise key activities.
• Strong communication skills – oral, written and IT based and confident when liaising with colleagues and stakeholders, including senior managers.
• Experience of using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice.

Desirable criteria

• Immigration detention knowledge
• Previous experience in an operational delivery role or equivalent

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• This role currently attracts Annualised Hours Allowance (AHA) of approximately 23% of salary, which equates to an additional £8,835 per annum based on salary minimum. Further information can be found on our website.
• See more of our benefits