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NCA Trainee Investigator/Intelligence 2019

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Reply 1220

Hi, would anyone be able to tell me what the substance test entails - is it a blood test or just hair? how much hair do they take?

Reply 1221

Original post
by username5352974
Hi, would anyone be able to tell me what the substance test entails - is it a blood test or just hair? how much hair do they take?

I went to Warrington for mine and they just take hair. They cut 2 small chunks and get you to fill out a questionnaire. It asked what medication you're on or have taken in the past 6 months. Also asked me about hair treatments and stuff like that.

Reply 1222

Hi! Anyone in intel received their start date yet?

Reply 1223

Original post
by Jane309
Hi! Anyone in intel received their start date yet?

Mine is 3rd August at Chorley 😄

Reply 1224

Hi everyone, I thought this might help some people. I applied for the experienced investigator roles in November. My timeline is below:

Applied November 2019.
Interview end of Jan 2019.
Into candidate pool March.
Conditional offer end of March.
Vetting forms submitted beginning of April
Medical mid May
Formal offer and start date of the 24th August mid July

Please take into consideration that I am already vetted so it may have been quicker for me. The updates were sporadic, several persons at my work are still awaiting formal offers, we received our conditional offers around the same time, some have received phone calls from our future station, some have not. It appears completely random as to what contact you get from the recruitment team, and how long your pre employment checks will take, but expect at least 3 months. Some of my colleagues scored higher than me in interview, but I received my start date before them.

Reply 1225

Original post
by Ryank1207
Hi everyone, I thought this might help some people. I applied for the experienced investigator roles in November. My timeline is below:

Applied November 2019.
Interview end of Jan 2019.
Into candidate pool March.
Conditional offer end of March.
Vetting forms submitted beginning of April
Medical mid May
Formal offer and start date of the 24th August mid July

Please take into consideration that I am already vetted so it may have been quicker for me. The updates were sporadic, several persons at my work are still awaiting formal offers, we received our conditional offers around the same time, some have received phone calls from our future station, some have not. It appears completely random as to what contact you get from the recruitment team, and how long your pre employment checks will take, but expect at least 3 months. Some of my colleagues scored higher than me in interview, but I received my start date before them.

Where are you going to be stationed?

Reply 1226

Im off to Solent :smile:

Reply 1227

Hi has anyone who starts on Mon 3 Aug 20 received their laptop etc via special delivery yet?

Reply 1228

Original post
by tack79
Hi has anyone who starts on Mon 3 Aug 20 received their laptop etc via special delivery yet?

Not yet, but I’ve been told that I’m going to be in the office on the Wednesday so maybe they aren’t sending them out? Where are you based?

Reply 1229

Original post
by GaM93
Not yet, but I’ve been told that I’m going to be in the office on the Wednesday so maybe they aren’t sending them out? Where are you based?

I’m going to Slough. I have received my phone just awaiting Laptop. I’m going into the office on Mon and doing the dial in from there

Reply 1230

Original post
by tack79
I’m going to Slough. I have received my phone just awaiting Laptop. I’m going into the office on Mon and doing the dial in from there

Ah okay! I will wait for the delivery then hopefully 🤞🏼

Reply 1231

Original post
by GaM93
Ah okay! I will wait for the delivery then hopefully 🤞🏼


Have you had much contact with your line manager or the on boarding team? I’m due to start in September and haven’t heard a peep since signing the contract.
Giving it until next week before I chase the recruitment team but just wondering whether I should have heard a bit more by now.

Reply 1232

Original post
by alanb2001uk
Have you had much contact with your line manager or the on boarding team? I’m due to start in September and haven’t heard a peep since signing the contract.
Giving it until next week before I chase the recruitment team but just wondering whether I should have heard a bit more by now.

Yeah I’ve spoken to him a couple of times and had a short zoom call with him and a couple of others on the team. That was only last week though and I start next week so they seem to leave things quite late. I’m still waiting for the details of my first day in the office and where it is 🤣

Reply 1233

Original post
by enolieve
When acknowledging my signed contract for 7/9 start they said “Your next communication should be from our on-boarding team at some point a few weeks before your start date. They will give you all the details you need for your first day. In the meantime, if you have any questions just let me know.“

so I’m not expecting anything until mid August.


Yea, mine said that too, I just hate leaving things until the last minute

Reply 1234

I understand that appointments From the candidate pool are made at posting panels (not sure if this is the only way positions are allocated?) so does anyone know when the next posting panel is?

Reply 1235

Original post
by TWCL123
I understand that appointments From the candidate pool are made at posting panels (not sure if this is the only way positions are allocated?) so does anyone know when the next posting panel is?


There was one on the 16th July according to the newsletter.

There should be another newsletter sent next week which normally says when the posting panel is, but I know it is hit and miss as to who receives those newsletters.

I’m guessing it will be mid August if the last one was 16th July
(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 1236

Posting panels are the 12th working day of every month. I am in the pool and have been since March for a Financial Investigator post. Similar roles usually have a 8/9 month wait for a conditional offer so appears I am in for a long wait!

Reply 1237

Aside from medical, psych, security vetting and substance test, are there any other stages to complete before a start date is given?

Reply 1238

Original post
by enolieve
Nope, that’s it. I had psych on 26/6 & received start date 15/7 & contract 17/7. Hopefully now you & Bexi2405 have had your medical & psych they’ll be prioritising getting your paperwork sorted before 7/8 so you have your month’s notice for sept cohort.


That's great, thanks for that!

Reply 1239

I’m hoping for an update this week. The lady who did my psych assessment said I should hear shortly.

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