Job Title: Referencing and Vetting - London - Multiple Vacancies

Salary: The starting salary is £34,808 which includes allowances totalling £2,928.

The salary is broken down as £31,880 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £34,108 Plus, a location allowance of £1,928 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Sidcup

Are you an analytical thinker with a keen eye for detail? Looking for a role granting continual learning and development opportunities? Do you want to play a crucial role in who we recruit to keep the capital safe every day? If yes, we want to hear from you.

The Team

Our Referencing and Vetting team are expanding and we’re looking for multiple candidates with excellent attention to detail and a strong sense of integrity to join our large team. As part of this team, you will be crucial to ensuring that we are hiring the best of the best. You will play an important role in keeping London safe for everyone.

Referencing and Vetting is a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. To apply, you do not need any previous experience; we're looking for applicants with great attention to detail, strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and develop within the role. You will need to have strong IT skills (using MS Office packages and a number of databases) and be comfortable analysing, logging and maintaining records as you will be required to search, navigate, analyse and extract information from multiple IT platforms. We have multiple vacancies (outlined below) and you could be posted as a trainee to either of the below departments within our Referencing and Vetting team:

• Character Enquiry Centre (CEC): CEC manages local police checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to inform disclosure and barring decisions for those who are likely to work in positions of authority or safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
• Vetting Unit: At the Met we recognise that a thorough and effective vetting regime is a key component in assessing an individual’s integrity and an integral part in maintaining high ethical and professional standards. We conduct appropriate checks on individuals in positions of trust and identify areas of vulnerability which could damage public confidence

Full training will be given to ensure you’re in a position to provide expert knowledge and carry out vetting with confidence. The most important attribute is that you want to make a difference to the communities of London and safeguard both the Capital and those most vulnerable from harm.

It is a requirement for successful candidates to pass a Police National Computer (PNC) assessment. Individuals will be permitted 2 attempts to pass the assessment. Failure to pass after 2 attempts will lead to termination of your contract.

The Roles Available

We have a range of roles available within our Referencing and Vetting team and we will deploy you where you are most needed. You can of course indicate a preference for which roles you feel your skillset and ambitions are most suited and we will be keen to discuss this further should you be invited to interview.

As a Vetting Officer, your average day may include conducting vetting checks on Police Officers and Staff, Contractors and Volunteers, researching their professional and private life, financial affairs, known associates and employment history. You’ll advise on whether our applicants are suitable to be employed by the MPS, ensure that threats to security and the communities we Police are managed appropriately and we will manage our records to ensure that the information we hold is accurate. You might also work with other forces or external agencies on specific cases in order to keep London safe for everyone. Vetting officers will be expected to work in a target driven environment, conducting interviews both physically and via telephone.

As a Character Enquiry Centre Caseworker, you’ll work on behalf of the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) to protect children and vulnerable adults from risk of harm. You’ll analyse police intelligence reports and a range of police systems to determine if there is any relevant information relating to applicants and will be instrumental in keeping vulnerable people safe. You’ll write detailed summaries in a balanced, factual and sequential manner to inform police intelligence’s decision making. If you’re successfully appointed as a Caseworker, you will start as a band E (£31,880 with an additional location allowance of £1,928 and non-pensionable allowance of £1000) and those who successfully graduate from the 20-week training programme will progress to Pay Band K1 (£32,715- £37,200 with an additional locational allowance of £1,928 and non-pensionable allowance of £1000).

Due to nature of the roles you may find yourself exposed to material of a graphic and mature nature.

Additional Information

Please can you indicate your first choice post within your Personal statement? Although this information will be taken into consideration at the relevant stage, offers will be based upon the business need at that time.

What’s in it for you - Hybrid Working Policy.

You’ll join an experienced and supportive team who are keen to see you thrive and progress within the organisation. Once you’ve completed your office-based training lasting 12 weeks, the vast majority of our staff will be entitled to work in line with our Hybrid Working policy. Currently, this means that after an initial period of working full time in the office, you would be able to work 60% (3 days pro rata) in the office and 40% (2 days pro rata) at home using Met laptops each week. It should be noted that this arrangement is subject to short notice change with an agreed notice period, and will also be subject to acceptable performance levels being achieved.

As a Met employee, you’ll also have access to substantial annual leave, flexible and remote working opportunities, a Civil Service pension, exclusive Met savings products, interest free season ticket loans, the chance to join our variety of sports, social and leisure clubs and the opportunity to play a crucial role in keeping the Capital safe for everyone

Next Steps

Please note, that we will be processing and progressing applications immediately from the date of submission

The Selection Process will involve the following stages with individuals having to successfully pass through each stage to be offered a position (subject to successfully passing Vetting Clearance).

Stage 1: CV/ Personal Statement Sift

Stage 2: Paper-Based Assessment

All candidates will be required to undertake an Assessment Test (50 minute classroom based test) at Marlowe House, Sidcup.

Stage 3: Interview

Candidates passing the Assessment will be invited to a face-to-face Competency Based Interview.

How to apply

To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply now" button below. The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement, and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and/or Personal Statement.

Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 30 June 2025.

Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy are to be confirmed.

Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates to be confirmed.

www.metpolicecareers.co.uk

Who are we looking for?

• You will need to be a great communicator, comfortable articulating yourself both verbally and in writing.
• You will need to be computer-literate and comfortable using both MS Office packages and using a range of databases that store highly sensitive records and information.
• You will need to have a keen eye for detail and be comfortable analysing sometimes complex circumstances.
• We’re looking for team players with a thorough and methodical approach to work.
• You’ll be able to maintain a high level of diplomacy, tact and discretion in the managing of sensitive and confidential information.
• You will need to be highly organised with the ability to multi-task.
• You will be comfortable multitasking and prioritising workloads so deadlines can be met.
• We’re looking for those who act with integrity and want to have a positive impact on London.