Metropolitan Police Hiring for Forensic Scientist Full Time

Job Title: Forensic Scientist

Salary: £37,744 to £42,631 plus a Location allowance of £1,721. You will receive £37,744 the band minimum. Progress to the band maximum of £42,631 will be via incremental progression.

Location: Lambeth

In a city as diverse as ours, you’ll find the challenges change daily.

Based in state-of-the-art laboratories, our Forensic Scientists have a vital role within the nation’s largest police service. Every day, they help frontline officers to police and protect London, working to make our capital the safest global city. Today, the challenges we face are more diverse than ever, which means you can tackle varied cases while playing your part in keeping Londoners safe.

Working within our Biology & Trace team, you’ll complete high quality forensic casework, liaising with investigators and other contacts. Day to day, you’ll apply a range of techniques to retrieve, record and interpret evidence – which could make or break a case. You’ll then collate the results and develop conclusions, recording the details in clear, well-written s. As the main point of contact for each case, it will be up to you to implement forensic strategies, manage submissions and examinations, and establish case requirements.

You will have a degree (or equivalent) in a Science subject with excellent knowledge of forensic science and a good grasp of the requirements of the Criminal Justice System, including ethics. This will give you the expertise to be an expert witness, presenting evidence in court. Knowledge of quality management systems including ISO17025:2017 would also be an advantage.

It’s important that you’re able to work between 7am and 7pm on weekdays, weekends and bank holidays, in line with a rota. You may also be required to participate in an On-Call service. You will require a minimum of CTC-vetting and will be required to supply a DNA sample and fingerprints for elimination purposes.

Key Activities

• Act as the single point of contact for the forensic case and enquiries. Case manage submissions and examinations including work sourced to the Managed Service Provider when necessary. They will ensure that any work commissioned to external forensic providers is necessary and appropriate and will manage customer expectation and delivery of service through negotiation.
• Establish the relevant requirements of laboratory casework submissions in order to prepare appropriate forensic strategies which allow forensic examiners to apply a range of scientific techniques and examinations to retrieve, record and interpret forensic evidence and intelligence, in order to maximise the retrieval of forensic evidence within the laboratory.
• Produce forensic s and statements that clearly describe the examinations undertaken, findings and consequent conclusions and opinions for completed casework.
• Complete file reviews and peer checking of laboratory casework submissions within the unit and where directed participate in Cold Case reviews.
• Undertake line management responsibility for Forensic Examiners, including performance development reviews.
• Participate in training and mentoring scientific staff to levels where they are competent to perform the tasks required of them. Providing mentoring and coaching advice as appropriate.
• Provide expert evaluative opinion and testimony on laboratory forensic examinations to the Criminal Justice System. Participate in case conferences with investigators and the Criminal Justice system.
• Understand and accept the core principles set out in the H&S Policy in relation to your role, duties and responsibilities and implement those principles and requirements in day-to-day activities.
• Demonstrate effective visible safety leadership, understand H&S policy and lead compliance within area of responsibility. Implement the principles and requirements of H&S policy in your day-to-day activities and within the teams you work/manage. Encourage open dialogue and feedback on safety issues.
• Expected to work within the Forensic Service Quality Management System and actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the system by participating in quality assurance activities, engaging in internal and external audits, competence and proficiency tests, ing non-conformances and proposing changes to improve the system.

Please click on the below link to view an online candidate information pack that will you give you an insight into the Met, the competency framework we use which shapes our daily work behaviours, the application process and a host of other information, that will help inform and support your application:

https://sscl-innovation.com/MPScandidatepack/

Click the apply now button below and start your career at the Met. Applications will be via a detailed CV and online application form.

Completed applications must be submitted by 9th February 2023.

We view diversity as fundamental to our success. To tackle today’s complex policing challenges, we need a workforce made up from all of London’s communities. Applications from across the community are therefore essential.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer the Met have committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long-term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

Professional Qualifications

• A degree in a science subject.

Knowledge

• Forensic Scientists must be able to see applicability to forensic service needs and be adaptable and approachable.
• They must apply common sense, knowledge and analytical decision-making skills to a variety of challenging forensic scenarios, problems and difficulties.

Skills

• A high level of communication skills is required to facilitate communication across a wide range of audiences including; scientific teams and colleagues and senior managers within the Directorate and wider MPS, customers, external stakeholders and externally employed forensic professionals.
• Be able to interpret and present scientific findings both in written format and at court as an expert witness.
• Have the ability to make key critical decisions, considering a wide range of source information, and to take personal responsibility and be able to justify such decisions and the course of action taken.
• Work in an organised and methodical manner ensuring they keep abreast of their assigned caseload.
• Be able to adapt and respond to competing priorities.

Experience

• It is desirable but not essential that individuals have previous experience working within an accredited laboratory environment or forensic discipline.

Additional Information

• The role holder will complete and maintain competency in all core ing body fluids and through experience, skills and knowledge seek to extend and embed the breadth of further ing competencies by expanding their skill set.(e.g. Blood Pattern Analysis, Damage assessments). This will involve greater complexity of interpretation and evaluation of findings as well as writing and the provision of this evidence to the criminal justice system.
• They will be expected to keep up to date with developments within the field of forensic science.
• There may be a requirement for involvement in research projects and development of proposals within the unit, utilising resources within the unit and/or partner organisations. Some previous experience of research work would be beneficial.
• Forensic Scientists will ultimately make decisions and set forensic strategies that will impact on overall forensic spend. They will authorise subsequent submissions on cases and be accountable for examinations and decisions made on that case whilst in their possession. Being ultimately accountable to the Criminal Justice System they must demonstrate independence, impartiality and conviction in the decisions made. Any errors may result in a negative impact on the criminal justice process and ultimately the reputation of Forensic Services.
• They will be required to work week days (between 07:30 and 19:00), weekends and bank holidays in line with a published rota. The Directorate of Forensic Services provides a service 365 days a year to facilitate examinations of items within the laboratory, DNA analysis, forensic interpretation and crime scene attendance.
• They must supply a DNA sample and Fingerprints for elimination purposes.
• They will require CTC vetting as a minimum and may be expected to undergo additional vetting to SC, MV and DV levels if working on confidential enquiries and intelligence led investigations.
• It would be desirable that the role holder holds a full DVLA driving licence as they may be required to undertake a MPS driving test.
• Essential criteria for candidates successful at interview: Full Colour vision (successful candidates will have to pass a colour blindness test).
• At Interview you will be assessed on the below CVF Competency’s in line with the Mets value of Professionalism within responses
  • We support, deliver, and inspire
  • We are initiative and open minded
  • We take ownership

Application Process

The initial assessment process will comprise a detailed CV and an online application which will be assessed against the following CVF elements as well as the MPS values:

We are collaborative (level 2) – (min 200 max 500 words)

We analyse critically (level 2) – (min 200 max 500 words)

We are emotionally aware (level 2) – (min 200 max 500 words)

Those successful at the paper-sift stage will be invited to attend an interview which will comprise a pre-interview exercise (topic to be provided on the day) and a question-based interview which will be assessed against the following CVF elements as well the MPS values:

• We deliver, support and inspire (level 2)
• We are innovative and open minded (level 2)
• We take ownership (level 2)

All of our processes are assessed against the national Competency and Values Framework (CVF)