Disclosure Researcher

Salary: Band 5, £28,689 - £29,859

Location: Agile, Bedlington Police Station and homeworking

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, permanent

Working for #TeamNP

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in. As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted. As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued. Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best. Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.

The role

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Information Management Department as a Disclosure Researcher.

We are seeking a dedicated and detail focused individual to join our team in processing applications for the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). In this vital role, you will support safeguarding efforts by assessing applications for individuals who may have reasonable access to children or vulnerable adults in the course of their employment. Your work will ensure that organisations receive accurate and timely information to help them make informed and responsible recruitment decisions. As a Disclosure Researcher, you will be responsible for undertaking thorough research into both conviction and non-conviction data on individuals, as directed by the Disclosure & Barring Service. You will analyse sensitive information from a variety of sources, applying sound judgement and a high level of integrity to determine its relevance. This is a meaningful opportunity for someone who is committed to protecting vulnerable members of our communities and contributing to the wider safeguarding landscape.

What you’ll do

• Develop strong working knowledge of the National Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) and local processes to make accurate, informed decisions on relevant information relating to risks to children or vulnerable adults.
• Interrogate local and national systems, liaise with external agencies and officers, and gather information to ensure only relevant material is forwarded for disclosure in line with legislation.
• Quality assure information provided by DBS applicants, identifying errors or omissions in accordance with national and local procedures.
• Create clear and comprehensive audit trails that record how decisions were reached, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and principles.
• Apply the DBS QAF to discard non-relevant information independently, ensuring proportionality, relevancy, and risk considerations are met, and accurately record discard decisions within the audit trail.

What you’ll bring

• Ability to interrogate, research and collate relevant data, with strong IT proficiency and sound decision making skills.
• Proven ability to work to demanding deadlines while effectively prioritising workloads.
• Active listening and communication skills to seek solutions to problems.
• Experience of working effectively in a team, with the ability to contribute collaboratively and work independently when required.
• Ability to effectively communicate with peers and other staff both in written and verbal communication.

We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Jennifer Cornell, DBS & PNC Manager by email at Jennifer.cornell@northumbria.police.uk.

What we offer

• 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays
• NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave
• Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs
• Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)
• Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force
• Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution
• Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts
• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers
• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
• We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support.
• Access to gyms in some stations
• Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunity to volunteer in local community

We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connections are key. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams.

Just so you know Candidates with priority status will be given precedence for this role over other applicants. Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Disclosure Researcher with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by an interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, working together to improve the lives of disabled employees. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In cases of very high application volumes, we may prioritise those who most closely meet the criteria, applying the same fair approach for all candidates. If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.

Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives.

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.

Terms of appointment

This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period. If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.