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Government Recruitment Service; Saltburn by the Sea; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is recruiting a Verification Assurance Officer for the North East to work with Jobcentre colleagues on identifying and tackling fraud at the frontline. This role is based in a Jobcentre location with no hybrid or home working.

You will interview claimants, verify documentation, and collaborate with teams to strengthen fraud controls while educating customers on their responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Initial evidence interviews and verification activities conducted within Jobcentre teams.
• Interview claimants face to face at Jobcentre locations to verify information.
• Ability to analyze fraud risk and communicate findings to colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial and further evidence interviews and verification activities.
• Work with Jobcentre and Service Centre teams to identify fraud at the frontline.
• Provide regular feedback on fraud trends and risks to performance teams.
• Lead customer education sessions on responsibilities and compliance.
• Collate and maintain accurate management information as directed.

Job description

Verification Assurance Officer - North East

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new and dynamic team which will introduce a Verification Assurance Officer (VAO) job role within selected Jobcentre and Service Centres.

The role will enable the VAO and Jobcentre colleagues to work together to identify and tackle fraud on the frontline, responding to potential fraud quickly and effectively at the outset. The aim is to prevent fraud entering the welfare system, reduce customer debt and to meet Fraud, Error and Debt strategy and strategic objectives.

As a VAO you will help improve the verification processes by strengthening our fraud controls on the front line. You will support the prevention of intentional fraud entering the welfare system, while actively increasing customer engagement and knowledge, educating them on their responsibilities.

As a great communicator you will also be responsible for raising Jobcentre colleagues' awareness of fraud and by providing practical support, making it clear that everyone has a responsibility to tackle fraud when they suspect it.

Due to the nature of the work, you will be required to carry out this role fully from a Jobcentre location, the critical part of the role will be interviewing claimants and collaborating with Jobcentre colleagues face to face, so hybrid and home working cannot be considered.

• Work closely with Jobcentre and Service Centre colleagues conducting initial evidence interviews, further evidence interviews and verification activities by integrating within those teams in the sites.
• Conduct robust interviews where a colleague has a suspicion on the validity of documents produced for verification of Identification, housing costs, children and childcare costs elements of Universal Credit.
• Conduct review meetings with customers in scenarios where the Enhanced Review Team (ERT) and the customer have agreed to bring in evidence relating to their claim to a Jobcentre.
• Provide regular feedback at office meetings on trends, patterns of fraud, and how to detect them. Feed information into specialist risk and intelligence teams within DWP.
• Lead customer education sessions jointly with Jobcentre colleagues to provide clarity on customer responsibilities and the consequences of non-compliance.
• Collate and maintain accurate Management Information (MI) as directed by analysts and performance teams.

Frequent travel between sites may be required depending on business needs.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £32,137 to £32,137 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Saltburn-by-the-Sea Job type: Permanent Posting date: 21 Oct 2026 Closing date: 3 Nov 2026

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.