Forensic Recovery Technician

Job Description

Vacancy Type - Police StaffArea Command / Department - Forensic ServicesLocation - PeterleeContract Type - PermanentHours - Full TimeSalary Range - £25,707 - £27,690Ever wondered what it would be like to work for one of the biggest Police Forces in the UK Exciting, challenging, thought-provoking and rewarding are just some of the ways we would describe it. Here at Northumbria Police, weve got almost 2000 policestaff working behind the scenes to make our community a safe place to live, work and visit. Fancy joining us on a journey to prevent crime and protect our communities That journey starts hereOur Forensic Services team offer advice and guidance on all forensics issues, supporting investigations and ensuring analysis is up to date and robust. The intelligence provided significantly drives our vision to deliver an outstanding police service. Withinthe team, we have an opportunity to join us as a Forensic Recovery Technician.In this role you will search for and produce scientific evidence to aid the investigation of crime. Youll be working in the Fingerprint Enhancement Laboratory which specialises in examining exhibits and serious crime scenes.What will the role involveYou will be working in a UKAS 17025 accredited environment and will be an integral part of the team delivering a specialist service. You will contribute to the requirements of ISO 17025 including being involved in extensions to scope and taking part in audits.You will need to be supportive of continuous improvement initiatives and be flexible in your approach to change. When fully competent you will be expected to provide technical advice and support to investigating officers and present your findings in court.What might some of my days look like

• A range of administrative and clerical duties.
• Visual examination using light source, and chemical enhancement of exhibits to develop and recover friction ridge detail or other evidence from exhibits.
• Assessing exhibits to determine the most appropriate sequence of chemical enhancement to allow for maximum evidence recovery.
• Attending scenes of crime to develop fingerprint and footwear marks ensuring that high quality evidence is recovered to support operational policing.
• Supporting the requirements of International Organisation of Standardisation forensic quality standards 17025 accreditation by undertaking audits and/or witness tests to evidence compliance against the standards, Forensic Science Regulators Codes of Conductand provide evidence of ongoing staff competency.
• Answering email and telephone enquiries, redirecting where required.

What are the essential skills needed

• Degree or equivalent academic qualification in a relevant discipline (Forensic Science) or demonstrable vocational experience of working in a laboratory environment.
• The ability to plan and manage a busy workload
• The ability to work calmly and accurately when under pressure
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt these to various stakeholders
• A keen eye for detail and accuracy - you should be able to make decisions efficiently and accurately
• The ability to switch between working independently and within a team

Youll also need to have a high level of integrity and confidentiality as you will be dealing with material of a sensitive nature.For further information please see the role profile on our careers site.Benefits

• 24 days leave, excluding bank holidays, increasing to 29 days for 5 years+ service
• Enhanced Maternity, Shared Parental and Adoption leave
• Fantastic market leading public sector pension scheme with a 16% employer contribution
• Corporate Travel schemes - local rail, bus services and metro
• Access to Private Healthcare and Eye Test Vouchers
• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets
• Also, to take care of your physical and mental well-being, weve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service and access to gyms in some stations
• Sports & Social Club - join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and also enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel
• Cycle to work scheme

Vetting level: Management Vetting (MV)Applicants must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 5 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information and references.Please note this is a newly published pay banding subject to consultation at Northumbria Police.All staff including those appointed on fixed term contracts must successfully complete their probationary period before they are eligible to apply for a Northumbria Police vacancy.Northumbria Police fully supports a policy of equal opportunities and we welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancyand maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Appointments are based on merit alone.