Deputy Head of Counter Fraud, Band 7
Job summary
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a nationally recognised, high-performing Local Counter Fraud Service delivering a bespoke, intelligence-led counter fraud function to three NHS organisations across Gloucestershire. As Deputy Head of the Gloucestershire NHS Counter Fraud Service, you will play a pivotal leadership role in safeguarding public funds, protecting multi-million-pound operational budgets, and strengthening organisational resilience against fraud, corruption and bribery.
Reporting to the Head of Counter Fraud, you will support the strategic leadership, governance and operational performance of the Service, ensuring the effective and proportionate deployment of resources through a professional, motivated team. You will assist in managing and committing expenditure against the counter fraud budget, ensuring financial control, value for money and alignment with agreed strategic priorities.
You will lead an agreed portfolio of clients and programmes, developing and delivering comprehensive, risk-based Counter Fraud Plans tailored to organisational risk profiles. This includes undertaking fraud risk assessments, horizon scanning, and thematic risk projects; designing and delivering proactive, intelligence-led exercises; utilising data analytics to identify anomalies and emerging threats; and implementing targeted prevention strategies that strengthen internal controls and reduce loss.
Main duties of the job
A key aspect of the role is leading complex, sensitive and high-value investigations in accordance with criminal and civil law, ensuring robust case management, evidence handling, witness interviewing and liaison with prosecuting authorities where appropriate. You will oversee sanctions and redress strategies, including criminal, civil and disciplinary outcomes, and support asset recovery where applicable. You will also ensure effective management of fraud referrals, whistleblowing concerns and confidential reporting mechanisms.
The post provides direct line management and professional leadership to a Local Counter Fraud Specialist and a Local Counter Fraud Support Assistant, promoting high standards of investigative practice, quality assurance, continuous professional development and compliance with the NHS Standard Contract. You will ensure delivery of an integrated, independent and objective service that meets or exceeds stakeholder expectations.
Operating at Board and senior executive level, you will provide expert advice, assurance and strategic guidance to Directors and Audit Committees. You will work in close partnership with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, internal audit, and other public sector and government bodies. You will actively promote the Counter Fraud Service across local and regional networks, building collaborative relationships, sharing best practice and strengthening cross-sector intelligence-sharing arrangements.
About us
We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide effective operational and strategic leadership to the Local Counter Fraud Specialist and Local Counter Fraud Support Assistant, ensuring high standards of performance, professional development, quality assurance, compliance with national standards, and continuous improvement in service delivery.
Act as a strong ambassador for the Counter Fraud Service, proactively promoting counter fraud, bribery prevention and anticorruption activity across partner organisations and with key stakeholders. Build and sustain effective collaborative relationships with government departments, national and regional agencies, law enforcement partners, internal audit, regulators, and crosssector stakeholders to support intelligence sharing, risk mitigation and coordinated antifraud responses.
Deliver counter fraud services in accordance with relevant legislation, national guidance and service frameworks including the Health Act, NHS Standard Contract counter fraud requirements, NHS Counter Fraud and Corruption Manual, organisational Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions, and all applicable organisational policies.
Ensure partner and client organisations fully meet their contractual obligations with respect to counter fraud standards, secure fraudrisk compliance and implement proportionate counter measures to mitigate identified vulnerabilities.
Lead the design, development, implementation and periodic review of Counter Fraud and Corruption policies, procedures and guidance for partner organisations, ensuring alignment to national best practice, legislative change and evolving fraud threats.
Prepare and agree riskbased Annual Work Plans and prioritisation strategies with Directors of Finance/Chief Finance Officers, based on robust fraud risk assessments and compliant with the NHS Standard Contract and Government Functional Standard 013 Counter Fraud.
Support governance and accountability arrangements by attending Audit Committee meetings and other boardlevel forums. Prepare and present highquality Annual and interim Counter Fraud reports, ensuring transparency, clarity of findings, and evidence of impact against agreed outcomes. Maintain strong working relationships with internal and external auditors and respond to audit recommendations and control weaknesses.
Lead the identification of fraud risk and intelligence gathering through data analytics, information review, referrals, proactive exercises and engagement with staff, patients and the public. Utilise specialist resources and analytical tools to recognise patterns, trends and emerging threats and take proportionate action.
Plan, manage and deliver Local Proactive Exercises in collaboration with finance and executive leads and lead National Proactive Exercises where required, applying recognised investigation planning and risk methodologies.
Ensure all counter fraud investigations are conducted in a professional, ethical and legally compliant manner, in line with the Counter Fraud and Corruption Manual and statutory requirements. Establish and maintain effective case management, evidential standards and qualityassurance processes.
Undertake the role of Officer in Charge for investigations as necessary, exercising operational decisionmaking authority on case progression, arrest strategies, search warrant applications, bail conditions, charging proposals, asset management and evidential preservation. Maintain effective liaison with law enforcement agencies to coordinate warrant execution, evidence seizure and specialist support where appropriate.
Conduct interviews with suspects and witnesses in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 Codes of Practice and recognised interview methodologies. Ensure interviewer competence, adherence to legal safeguards, and professional recording of outcomes.
Prepare highquality case files for prosecution in Magistrates and Crown Courts and act as Disclosure Officer in compliance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA). Secure financial redress through criminal and civil recovery mechanisms where appropriate.
Develop and deliver training, communications and awareness programmes to raise organisational understanding of fraud risks, reporting pathways and preventative behaviours. Produce briefing materials, awareness campaigns and targeted presentations for all levels of staff, Board members and external partners.
Maintain effective collaboration with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and contribute to regional and national counter fraud networks, benchmarking activities, thematic reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Review and contribute to the work of counter fraud peers, encouraging knowledge sharing, coordinated responses and professional standards across the service. Provide guidance, coaching and quality assurance to team members and support staff.
Ensure flexible, responsive working practices to meet organisational requirements, including prioritising work appropriately and responding to operational needs outside normal business hours where necessary.
Demonstrate uncompromising standards of confidentiality, information governance and security in handling sensitive or personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, Human Rights Act 1998 and professional codes of practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Accredited Local Counter Fraud Specialist / Membership of the Counter Fraud Profession
Knowledge and Skills
- Understanding of, and experience of using, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA)
- Understanding of the need for confidentiality and to act at all times in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and Human Rights Act 1998
- Advanced data extraction and analysis skills
- Advanced IT skills
- Good writing skills and the ability to produce succinct and accurate reports
- Knowledge NHS Counter Fraud Authority & Government Functional Standard 013 Counter Fraud.
- Knowledge of health care processes and systems including primary and secondary care
Experience
- Substantial experience managing fraud investigations, analysing data and countering fraud and corruption in the NHS.
- Extensive experience within the criminal justice system governing the investigation of crime generally and fraud specifically, including the Theft, Fraud and Bribery Acts
- Substantial experience conducting formal PEACE-style interviews under caution in accordance with Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and with witnesses to obtain formal witness statements
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countywide
Gloucestershire
GL1 3NN
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/