Character Enquiry Centre Band E Caseworker
Job Title: CEC Caseworker - London
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
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.
Character Enquiry Centre (CEC) (Permanent): 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.
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) or equivalent LEDS assessment. Individuals will be permitted 2 attempts to pass the assessment. Failure to pass after 2 attempts will lead to termination of your contract.
As a Character Enquiry Centre Caseworker (Permanent), 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 the nature of this role, you may at times be required to review or handle material that is graphic, sensitive, or distressing in nature. This may include content related to criminal investigations. It is important that applicants are aware of this aspect of the position and feel confident in their ability to manage such exposure with professionalism and resilience. Appropriate support and guidance will be available where needed.
As a CEC caseworker you will:
- Work within a safeguarding environment joining a team caseworkers conducting checks on behalf of The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
- Carry out extensive research. Analysing Police intelligence to determine if there is relevant information held regarding an applicant or third party. Intelligence matches are made via names, dates of birth, addresses and PNC IDs.
- Determine whether intelligence identified relates to the applicant and if this does write concise summaries, recording and creating a trail of relevant decision making.
- Identify relevant intelligence and bring this to the attention of the relevant decision maker, following CEC, DBS and Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) guidelines.
- Where necessary perform additional research using various MPS intelligence systems.
- Comply with MPS, DBS and QAF
- Conduct various administration duties pertaining to the role.
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 Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted on 13th February 2026.
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.