Senior Local Counter Fraud Specialist

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Exeter seeks a Senior Local Counter Fraud Specialist to manage complex investigations and enforce anti-fraud strategies across multiple NHS organizations. This pivotal role requires strong operational leadership and knowledge of criminal legislation. Ideal candidates will have experience in fraud investigation and governance frameworks. The role includes mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance with NHSCFA requirements. A flexible working environment with competitive benefits is offered, including 27 days of annual leave.

Benefits

27 days paid annual leave plus bank holidays

Access to NHS Pension Scheme

Flexible working options

Cycle to work scheme

Staff discounts on shopping and fitness

Qualifications

• Experience managing counter fraud investigations.
• Knowledge of NHSCFA requirements.
• Ability to educate staff on fraud awareness.

Responsibilities

• Implement anti-fraud culture in organizations.
• Lead operational delivery of counter fraud services.
• Conduct complex criminal investigations conforming to legislation.
• Provide governance advice to reduce fraud risks.
• Manage Local Counter Fraud Specialists.

Skills

Fraud investigation

Operational leadership

Governance frameworks

Criminal legislation compliance

Anti-fraud culture implementation

Job description

Go back Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Local Counter Fraud Specialist

The closing date is 18 January 2026

ASW Assurance is a leading not for profit NHS consortium, delivering internal audit, counter fraud and consultancy services to healthcare organisations including acute, mental health and foundation trusts, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and social enterprises.

We do not simply deliver an internal audit and counter fraud service; we are dedicated to delivering quality and safe patient care, providing a cost‑effective service with the benefit of a locally highly skilled, flexible and responsive workforce.

As the main counter fraud service provider to the NHS in the South West, ASW Assurance provides an excellent, value added service, which meets and exceeds the delivery of both national and local NHS counter fraud requirements.

ASW Assurance work is focused to ensure that fraud risks that may prevent the achievement of NHS organisations strategic objectives are kept to a minimum. The counter fraud work is pivotal in ensuring that the organisations specific fraud risks are identified and managed to prevent financial loss and protect the organisations reputation. We also deliver specialised security management consultancy services, and can provide a comprehensive, joined up, resilient anti‑crime service.

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients to stay healthy, when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford).

Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within peoples own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state‑of‑the‑art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world‑class care to our local communities.

Its never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you’ll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities

For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role

As part of the NHS Contract organisations are required to have counter fraud arrangements in place to provide added value through the use of counter fraud specialists, the purpose of this role is primarily to manage, control and deliver highly complex counter fraud investigations and value‑added proactive work to a number of organisations simultaneously.

The Senior Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) focus is to:

• Implement and encourage an anti‑fraud culture throughout organisations.
• Provide operational leadership in delivering the counter fraud message to multiple organisations.
• Take positive action against fraud, including sanctions against perpetrators and recovery of any monies defrauded.
• Meet and exceed the NHSCFA requirements.
• Achieve successful outcomes from both criminal and civil proceedings.

Expectations of the post holder fall into distinct categories.

• Work with multiple organisations to ensure and assist in the development of appropriate governance frameworks in place to reduce the risk of fraud at those organisations to an absolute minimum; ensure that those frameworks provide significant opportunity to detect and be able to prosecute fraud that occurs. The post holder is also required to respond to requests for information, expert advice and guidance from senior managers and regulators of multiple organisations.
• Undertake proactive work including (but not limited to) educating staff at multiple organisations about fraud so that they are able to identify fraud and know how to respond correctly; undertake nationally directed proactive exercises and develop and deliver local risk based proactive exercises.
• Undertake criminal investigations complying with the requirements of criminal investigation legislation (including but not exclusively, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Fraud Act 2006, Theft Act 1968, Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000). These investigations may be highly complex in nature and may involve the preparation of prosecution files for the Crown Prosecution Service. Where appropriate, the post holder will liaise with multiple HR departments, regulators and other organisations where the case includes disciplinary and/or professional conduct matters.
• Act as lead specialist for counter fraud services on a portfolio of clients covering the planning, delivery and client liaison, including strategic and operational liaison with the Director of Finance.
• Line manage Band 6 Local Counter Fraud Specialist and Trainee Local Counter Fraud Specialist Band 6 Annex U or be responsible for specialist areas of counter fraud work e.g. risk management, consortium wide local proactive work and complex investigations.

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week

Interview Date: TBC

For further information please contact: Matt Curtis, Associate Director of Counter Fraud via [e-mail].

As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference will be given to staff with Priority and ‘At Risk’ status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.

This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we’ll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us.

We strive to help our staff create a healthy work‑life balance through flexible working schemes and our family‑friendly policies.

If you’re starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.

You’ll benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary is not the only financial benefit

You’ll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers.

You will also have access to other benefits including:

National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.

Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter

Car lease schemes.

The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).

Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available if the role is something you are interested in, we’d love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description
• See job description text above, and (where applicable) you can download a copy of the full job description

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust