*Risk and Assurance Officer

Government Recruitment Service; Oxford; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Job summary

The Government Recruitment Service is seeking a Risk and Assurance Officer in Oxford to join Immigration Enforcement's Detention Services Security Team. The role oversees security reviews, assurance activities and intelligence processes, and works with local teams to maintain safety, security and compliance across the detention estate.

Full-time, permanent position with a salary of £34,415 to £38,991 per year. Regular travel to IRCs is expected, with shift patterns and on-call duties as required.

Qualifications

• Experience in security reviews and assurance activities.
• Ability to travel regionally or nationally.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking security reviews of IRCs to test physical and procedural security and monitor compliance with contractual and legislative standards.
• Supporting security and intelligence processes, including handling referrals, maintaining registers and ensuring effective use of intelligence systems.
• Collating, reviewing and analysing operational intelligence, identifying trends and producing regular reports to inform decision-making and senior management.
• Conducting impartial assessments of use of force (UoF) incidents, providing clear, evidence-based feedback to support learning and compliance with policy.
• Maintaining knowledge of current UoF techniques through annual training and required upskilling, and delivering training and awareness sessions.
• Using Microsoft Office and other relevant IT systems effectively, with strong organisational, administrative and problem-solving skills to deliver high-quality work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing, including report writing, building professional relationships and engaging confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Working independently, using initiative and adapting to changing priorities while contributing effectively as part of a team, demonstrating integrity and a commitment to continuous improvement and high standards.

Job description

Risk and Assurance Officer

Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £34,415 to £38,991 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Oxford Job type: Permanent Posting date: 28 Oct 2026 Closing date: 12 Nov 2026

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 Detention Services Security Team provides second line assurance to local Detention Services (DS) Compliance teams, who work with Contracted Service Providers (CSPs) responsible for running Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) in line with Home Office policies, contracts and standards.

Join the Detention Services Security Team and support important work to keep the immigration detention estate safe, secure and compliant.

The role supports a range of work across intelligence, security, use of force, health and safety and violence reduction. You will help support assurance activity, respond to operational queries and work with local teams and wider stakeholders on issues affecting safety and security across the detention estate.

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

• Undertaking security reviews of IRCs to test physical and procedural security and monitor compliance with contractual and legislative standards.
• Supporting security and intelligence processes, including handling referrals, maintaining registers and ensuring effective use of intelligence systems.
• Collating, reviewing and analysing operational intelligence, identifying trends and producing regular reports to inform decision-making and senior management.
• Conducting impartial assessments of use of force (UoF) incidents, providing clear, evidence-based feedback to support learning and compliance with policy.
• Maintaining knowledge of current UoF techniques through annual training and required upskilling, and delivering training and awareness sessions.
• Using Microsoft Office and other relevant IT systems effectively, with strong organisational, administrative and problem-solving skills to deliver high-quality work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing, including report writing, building professional relationships and engaging confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Working independently, using initiative and adapting to changing priorities while contributing effectively as part of a team, demonstrating integrity and a commitment to continuous improvement and high standards.

Working pattern

Due to the operational needs of the role, including shift working, on-call duties and regular travel to IRCs, the post is only available on a full-time basis.

Shift working

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 role includes shift working and on-call duties, acting as a point of contact for other teams on matters relating to intelligence, security and use of force.

Hybrid working

The current candidate information confirms that, where business needs allow, some roles may combine office and home-based working, with employees expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. However, this post is not suitable for home workers as regular deployment to IRCs is required.

Travel

Regular travel to IRCs will be required. This will mainly involve regional or national travel within the UK detention estate.

Overnight stays may occasionally be required, but these are expected to be limited and planned in advance where possible.

Benefits

• Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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.