** Training Assurance Officer

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.

The DCO Training Oversight Team (DTOT) sits within the Vetting and Certification Assurance Team in Immigration Detention. The team is responsible for overseeing and standardising training delivered to Detainee Custody Officers (DCOs) working across Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs). DTOT ensures that DCOs receive the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to perform their role effectively and safely.

The DCO Training Oversight Team (DTOT) is a geographically dispersed team comprising EO Training Assurance Officers and a HEO Training Assurance Manager. The team conducts regular assurance visits across the immigration removal estate and other training locations to monitor compliance with certification requirements and promote consistency in training delivery.

The team provides quality assurance of training delivered by contracted service providers, driving continuous improvement and ensuring compliance with certification and contractual requirements. Through robust oversight and stakeholder engagement, DTOT helps maintain high training standards that support the safeguarding and welfare of individuals within IRCs.

Job description

The successful candidate will play a key role in reviewing and assessing training materials to ensure they meet contractual and Detention Services Order (DSO) requirements. Working both collaboratively as part of the team and independently during assurance visits, they will contribute to maintaining high standards of training across the detention estate.

A significant aspect of the role involves observing training delivered by Contracted Service Providers (CSPs), ensuring that only approved training materials are used and that delivery remains compliant with contractual and DSO requirements. The post holder will provide detailed feedback to training teams, identify areas for improvement, and produce comprehensive reports outlining their observations and recommendations.

The successful candidate will build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels. They will represent DTOT at stakeholder meetings and act as a key point of contact for assigned Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) training teams, providing advice, guidance and assurance to support the delivery of high-quality training programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity to develop and embed a broad range of training assurance, quality management and stakeholder engagement skills within a dedicated and supportive team. The work of DTOT directly contributes to ensuring that DCOs are appropriately trained and equipped to carry out their vital role in maintaining safe and secure immigration detention environments.

Please note: Northgate-based colleagues will be relocated to an alternative site in early 2027 as part of the broader Home Office estates restructure.

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.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Act as the DTOT Single Point of Contact (SPoC) for assigned Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs), maintaining regular engagement with Contracted Service Provider (CSP) Training Managers and local Home Office Compliance Teams.
• Conduct assurance reviews of Detainee Custody Officer (DCO) training materials to ensure compliance with contractual requirements and Detention Services Orders (DSOs).
• Undertake regular visits to IRCs and designated training centres to assess training delivery and verify compliance with approved course content.
• Produce high-quality assurance reports, documenting findings, identifying areas for improvement, and providing clear, constructive feedback.
• Take accurate meeting minutes and deputise for the HEO Training Assurance Manager at meetings relating to DCO training oversight and assurance, when required.
• Support the HEO Training Assurance Manager in delivering training assurance and continuous improvement initiatives across the immigration detention estate.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Training Managers, local Compliance Teams, Home Office Subject Matter Experts and external partners to support training quality and compliance.
• Maintain robust governance processes, ensuring accurate records, documentation and audit trails are kept in line with organisational requirements.

Working Pattern

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

Travel

This role includes frequent UK wide travel which will include oversight stays. Some locations are not easily accessible by public transport.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads effectively and adapt to changing demands and priorities.
• Confident communicator with the ability to build positive working relationships and engage effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Adaptable and resilient, with experience of supporting and responding positively to change.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to identify issues, assess risks and recommend practical solutions.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a geographically dispersed team, managing competing priorities to meet deadlines.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience in an operational training or assurance role within an immigration detention or a custodial setting.
• Experience of managing external stakeholder relationships.

Licences

Due to the nature of the work and/or the geographical area, driving is a key requirement for this role. It is essential you hold a full valid UK manual/automatic driving licence at the time of application.

Your licence will be checked at interview stage and you must confirm you hold one when you apply.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Communicating and Influencing

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