How the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) works
The Commissioner's Office
The Commissioner's Office consists of the Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, the Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner, Linda Allan, and their administrative support team.
The Operational Teams
The Casework and Complaints Teams
Members of the Casework and Complaints Teams have a variety of backgrounds across the private, public and voluntary sectors. These teams are primarily responsible for delivery of the OISC's regulatory and complaints functions, and act as the main contact point for regulated advisers. The teams ensure compliance with the OISC's regulatory scheme by conducting audits, considering new applications and continued registration applications, evaluating competence assessments and investigating complaints.
The Investigations and Intelligence Team
The team seeks out and investigates alone or jointly with other United Kingdom investigative bodies allegations of unregulated activity relating to immigration advice or services. As part of this work, the team investigates and leads on the prosecution of specific OISC offences before the criminal courts. The intelligence section produces intelligence on prospective and regulated advisers and possible illegal activities.
The Legal and DPB (Designated and Professional Bodies) Team
The Commissioner has a duty to report on the effectiveness of DPBs in their regulation of those of their respective members who give immigration advice or services. To fulfil this duty the DPB team monitors the way in which those bodies process complaints about immigration advice and services provided by those they regulate and how they regulate their members.
The legal team ensures the good conduct of cases when a Commissioner's decision is appealed to the Immigration Services Tribunal. It also gives advice internally regarding the OISC's legal responsibilities.
The Corporate Services Teams
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Team
This team uses planned and integrated communications to contribute towards meeting the needs of the OISC's key stakeholders. It manages both internal and external communications and is responsible for producing and undertaking a range of events, publications and media activities. The team organises events with regulated advisers such as the Annual Conference and Roundtable Meetings. It produces the Annual Report as well as internal and external newsletters, and liaises with a range of media.
Finance and Administration Team
The Finance and Administration Team is divided into four sections with responsibility for the following functions:
Finance - prepares the annual budget and oversees the OISC's income and expenditure. Specific responsibilities include payment of disbursements and preparing the annual accounts and other periodic financial reporting. It also acts as secretariat for the OISC's Audit Committee and has overall responsibility for dealing with Freedom of Information Act requests.
Central Services - is the first point of contact for the public receiving all incoming general enquiries.
Facilities - has responsibility for ensuring that the office has the necessary equipment and other provisions to operate effectively. As part of its role, it liaises with the managing agent, equipment engineers and other providers.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - works in conjunction with the Open University to provide the CPD scheme for OISC regulated advisers.
The Human Resources (HR) Team
The HR Team is responsible for providing a comprehensive personnel, training and development service for OISC staff.
The Information Technology (IT) Team
The IT Team is responsible for the provision, maintenance and support of the Office's IT functions.
The Policy Team
The team's functions include providing guidance on the OISC's regulatory scheme, interpreting relevant legislation and case law and contributing to discussions on possible legislative changes.
