Job summary
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) is the national body responsible for all matters relating to the prevention, detection and investigation of economic crime across the NHS. Further information about our work and annual plan for delivering this is available on our website.
We have an exciting opportunity for an Intelligence Researcher to support activity to detect and deter fraud and ultimately put resource back into patient care. The NHSCFA assesses that the NHS in England is vulnerable to fraud bribery and corruption to an estimated £1.346 billion. Working on the Information and Intelligence Unit , you will be crucial in identifying fraud threats, vulnerabilities and enablers to fraud as well as informing the wider counter fraud strategies within the health group. Critical skills would be strategic and tactical writing and experience conducting research or analysis in an intelligence environment.
Face to face interviews will be held in Canary Wharf, London and/or Newcastle w/c 11th March 2026.
CVs sent directly to the recruiting manager will not be acknowledged and will not be considered during shortlisting
Potential applicants can contact Ben.Patterson@nhscfa.gov.uk for an informal chat if you have any questions regarding the role.
The post holder will be required to have Standard DBS & achieve NPPV2
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a significant number of applications.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for identifying, gathering, and developing relevant criminal intelligence, conducting research, analysing information, and communicating findings clearly and concisely, in written or verbal form and using charts, tabular or graphical output as deemed appropriate by the post holder.
To regularly analyse raw information received by the Intelligence Unit relating to actual and potential fraud, corruption and security incidents affecting the health service. To apply judgement, based on own knowledge and experience, to assess its quality, reliability, and relevance to departmental strategic aims, determining the most appropriate manner in which it should be graded, recorded, protectively marked, processed and disseminated, referring to senior management where necessary.
To develop, establish and disseminate accurate, relevant, and timely information and intelligence in accordance with all relevant guidance and legislation in relation to sharing information. To tactfully engage with stakeholders and the NHS with a view to collecting and disseminating complex or sensitive information and intelligence upon specific or thematic fraud and security matters.
Working without supervision to personally undertake tasked analysis upon often uncertain complex fraud and security problems to determine form the wide range of potentially conflicting information what is most likely to be occurring and why.
About us
We have offices in Coventry, Newcastle and London and offer flexible, hybrid, and home-based working. In addition to the advertised salary working in the London area will attract High-Cost Area Supplement where appropriate. The NHSCFA values and respects the diversity of its employees and aims to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including an invitation to the first stage of the selection process and consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability. We encourage applications from individuals interested in a secondment opportunity. If you are applying on this basis, please ensure you have obtained agreement in principle from your current employer. When you apply for this role, you will be redirected to our recruitment system TRAC.The NHSCFA does not hold a sponsor licence in respect of skilled worker visas and so is unable to employ candidates requiring sponsorship.
To comply with the HM Government Functional Standard GovS 007, and specifically the Personnel Security Standards, individuals employed by NHS Counter Fraud Authority will be required to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standards checks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To identify new and innovative sources of information that will support the Information and Intelligence Unit function, complying with all relevant guidance and legislation in relation to sharing information.
To pro-actively contribute to developing processes for capturing and accurately recording information, following set procedures, to create database records and apply the evaluation process, establishing relevance, significance, and reliability, of all information processed.
To utilise existing and when appropriate suggest new liaison arrangements to effectively respond to enquiries from and to a range of external services and assist with the development of good relations with other Government departments, Non-Government Organisations, statutory agencies, and public and private sector organisations, who are involved directly or indirectly with countering fraud or corruption.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of criminal and civil legislation that relates to countering fraud, as well as current issues in fraud detection and prevention, including the Fraud Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and the NHS Act (part 10).
Maintain the organisations Continuous Professionalisation Development (CPD) programme, ensuring individuals can work towards and keep the IPP CPD which in turn will aid in membership to the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP).
Please see full Job Description and Person Specification
Job description
Job responsibilities
To identify new and innovative sources of information that will support the Information and Intelligence Unit function, complying with all relevant guidance and legislation in relation to sharing information.
To pro-actively contribute to developing processes for capturing and accurately recording information, following set procedures, to create database records and apply the evaluation process, establishing relevance, significance, and reliability, of all information processed.
To utilise existing and when appropriate suggest new liaison arrangements to effectively respond to enquiries from and to a range of external services and assist with the development of good relations with other Government departments, Non-Government Organisations, statutory agencies, and public and private sector organisations, who are involved directly or indirectly with countering fraud or corruption.
To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of criminal and civil legislation that relates to countering fraud, as well as current issues in fraud detection and prevention, including the Fraud Act, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, and the NHS Act (part 10).
Maintain the organisations Continuous Professionalisation Development (CPD) programme, ensuring individuals can work towards and keep the IPP CPD which in turn will aid in membership to the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP).
Please see full Job Description and Person Specification
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant practical experience of countering fraud and corruption or security management security within a public or private sector agency in an intelligence/research environment.
- Significant practical experience of handling sensitive and confidential data in compliance with the law and best practice.
- Practical experience of undertaking research projects.
- Experience of utilising IT packages to manage spreadsheets and /or databases effectively, and the use of IT to gather and analyse complex information effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a criminal intelligence environment.
Specialist Knowledge
Essential
- Sound practical knowledge of a range of analytical techniques and their application in the analysis of information and data.
- Good practical knowledge of information and data techniques, in particular the national standard format 3x5x2 process.
- Sound understanding of criminal and civil legislation that relates to countering fraud.
- Sound understanding of the principles relating to the handling, processing, and analysis of highly confidential information, including sensitive personally identifiable data.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent), or significant equivalent specialist experience within a comparable discipline.
Desirable
- An Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively and articulate ideas and plans verbally, in a logical and coherent manner.
- Ability to produce and present written reports, briefings, and updates in a logical, accurate and structured manner.
- Ability to form and build working relations with a wide range of people and organisations.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Significant practical experience of countering fraud and corruption or security management security within a public or private sector agency in an intelligence/research environment.
- Significant practical experience of handling sensitive and confidential data in compliance with the law and best practice.
- Practical experience of undertaking research projects.
- Experience of utilising IT packages to manage spreadsheets and /or databases effectively, and the use of IT to gather and analyse complex information effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a criminal intelligence environment.
Specialist Knowledge
Essential
- Sound practical knowledge of a range of analytical techniques and their application in the analysis of information and data.
- Good practical knowledge of information and data techniques, in particular the national standard format 3x5x2 process.
- Sound understanding of criminal and civil legislation that relates to countering fraud.
- Sound understanding of the principles relating to the handling, processing, and analysis of highly confidential information, including sensitive personally identifiable data.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent), or significant equivalent specialist experience within a comparable discipline.
Desirable
- An Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively and articulate ideas and plans verbally, in a logical and coherent manner.
- Ability to produce and present written reports, briefings, and updates in a logical, accurate and structured manner.
- Ability to form and build working relations with a wide range of people and organisations.
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.
