Information Pack for Police Constable applicants 2017

Transcription

1 Information Pack for Police Constable applicants 2017 Cheshire Constabulary Police Constable Recruitment Cheshire Constabulary Constabulary Headquarters Clemonds Hey, Oakmere Road Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2UA 1

2 Contents Welcome from the Acting Chief Constable... 3 Cheshire Our county at a glance... 4 Map of Cheshire... 5 Our Commitments... 6 Benefits and Lifestyle... 7 Eligibility criteria... 8 Recruitment process... 9 Postings FAQs Policing Programme Framework

3 Welcome from the Acting Chief Constable Thank you for your interest in the advertised post of Police Constable at Cheshire Constabulary. This information pack contains information about the recruitment process along with any competencies and essential criteria specific to the post. It is designed to assist you in making your application. Neighbourhood policing is at the heart of Cheshire Constabulary s policing model and if successful in this role you are committing to help ensure we provide a policing service that keeps our communities safe and feeling safe. You will have a strong commitment to and the highest respect for diversity amongst your colleagues and the communities you serve. A clear understanding of the need for efficient, high levels of performance and a demonstrable openness for change are essential. We are an innovative, ambitious force where energy, enthusiasm, a commitment to openness and a willingness to drive improvement is essential. We work collaboratively with other forces as part of our award winning Multi Force Shared Service and we are currently entering a BlueLight Collaboration with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. This is a unique opportunity to make your mark on a progressive Constabulary at a critical time of change and an unprecedented time in policing. The successful candidates will have a pivotal role in the Constabulary, contributing to the success of the Force and continuing to make Cheshire a safe place to live. Appointing the most talented individuals is essential in helping us achieve our vision and objectives for the future. This is an opportunity for individuals to make a real difference to the communities they live in. I am delighted to provide recruitment opportunities to the wider community which enables Cheshire Constabulary to increase our diverse & representative workforce. Cheshire Constabulary is committed to Equality & Diversity and is keen to recruit people with a wide range of skills and experiences and an understanding of cultural issues. We are particularly encouraging females and black, and other minority ethnic, LGBT and those with a disability to join us, who are currently under-represented within Cheshire Constabulary. Completed applications are to be submitted via the MFSS e-recruitment system. Applications that are not submitted through the e-recruitment system will not be progressed. Once again, thank you for the interest you have shown and I wish you every success with your application. Janette McCormick Acting Chief Constable, Cheshire Constabulary 3

4 Cheshire Our county at a glance Cheshire has a population of just over one million people The policing area of Cheshire covers 919 square miles with a strategic crossroads in the national motorway infrastructure Cheshire consists of four unitary borough councils: Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Halton and Warrington There are 440,000 households in the county with an average of 2.33 people per household Whilst Cheshire has some highly affluent areas, there are also areas of multiple deprivation with pockets of deprivation in each of the four council areas The population of Cheshire is predicted to rise by approximately 60,000 in the next fifteen years The county is home to 53,108 students The average age of residents is 40.4 years Cheshire s population is predominantly made up of White British which account for 96.9% of the population. Mixed race is the next highest ethnicity at 1%, with Asian British Indian 0.5%, Asian British Other at 0.4%, Asian British Chinese at 0.3% and Black British at 0.2% Cheshire covers an area of great diversity, with large rural expanses, areas of extensive heavy industry and a number of urban areas 4

5 Map of Cheshire 5

6 Our Commitments Our commitments cover four key areas, they are as follows: We re here where you need us, when you need us You can contact us 24 hours a day, seven days a week We will prioritise your calls, attending emergency calls within 15 minutes and non-emergency calls within 60 minutes If you request an officer to attend, we will arrange for someone to visit you at a mutually convenient time Key community locations will have a named officer or PCSO assigned to them to maintain regular contact - examples include schools and faith centres. We re here for victims We will offer guidance to reduce the chance of you becoming a victim again We will provide you with a named point of contact for your case, agreeing if and how you want to be kept updated We will ensure all victims are offered a referral to victim support service and we will help you make a statement where appropriate, detailing how the crime has affected you personally We will act on feedback to improve our services. We re here for justice We will record and investigate crimes reported to us and, should a decision be made to stop any further investigation, we will explain the reason why to the victim We will support witnesses, providing information about giving evidence and the court process If our investigation does not conclude with a court appearance, we will explain what has happened to the victim We will update you on the outcome of your case as soon as we can and as a maximum within three working days. We re here for communities We will ensure that we are accessible to you in different ways, publishing how you can contact us and providing details on who your local officers are We will be transparent about our performance, our successes and any improvements we need to make We will encourage public participation in policing to make our communities safer We will identify and target the main community and policing priorities in each local area and provide information on what we are doing about them. 6

7 Benefits and Lifestyle As a police officer with Cheshire Constabulary you ll get the chance to make a difference and really contribute to the lives of the people in the community, build relationships and tackle crime. Your job will be to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and promote confidence among local people that the police understand and are prepared to deal with the issues that matter most to them. If you ve got what it takes, we can offer you a wide range of benefits and rewards. Cheshire Constabulary is proud to offer a benefits package that provides a range of opportunities and options for all. Some of these are detailed below, further information can be found at Employee Benefits. Salary As a new Police Constable, you ll receive a starting salary of 22,896, potentially rising to 38,001 within your first seven years (correct at time of printing). Leave The starting annual leave entitlement is 22 days per year, rising to 30 days a year depending on your length of service. This is on top of public holidays in lieu. You can also expect other forms of leave, including maternity, paternity and adoption leave, special leave (with or without pay) and parental leave. Pensions When you start as a new Police Constable you ll receive automatic membership of the police pension scheme. This isn t compulsory, so you can choose to opt out if you want to. Career Progression A career with Cheshire Constabulary. Joining Cheshire Constabulary as a new Police Constable is the start of an exciting and rewarding journey that could take you anywhere. During your first two years with the force, you ll be working alongside experienced Response Officers and putting your training into practice where no two days are the same dealing with everything from anti-social behaviour and burglary to missing people and domestic incidents. After completing a two year probationary period as a student officer you will become a full police constable, where we offer a range of training and continuing professional development opportunities to help make the most of your skills. Specialist Roles After becoming a Police Constable, you will be able to build upon your experience or move into a variety of specialist roles dependent on your career aspirations and the vacancies across the force. There are also promotion opportunities for individuals who decide upon this as their career pathway. 7

8 Eligibility criteria le: Educational Eligibility (at least one must apply) To be eligible applicants must meet at least one of the following entry qualification criteria: Have completed and passed the Level 3 Certificate in Knowledge of Policing from a College of Policing approved provider. Have reached an educational standard of 2 x A levels (or above) or an equivalent Level 3 qualification. Note: individuals with qualifications higher than the minimum educational requirement will also be eligible to apply. Have achieved an academic or vocational qualification gained outside England and Wales which is considered by the UK National Recognition Information Centre to be a level 3 qualification. Personal Eligibility (all must apply) In addition to meeting at least one of the above Education Eligibility entry qualification criteria at the time of application candidates must also: Be a European Economic Area (EEA) National or a Swiss National. Commonwealth citizens and Foreign Nationals are also eligible to apply but are required to have leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period. Have resided in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application. Be aged 18 years of age. Possess a full UK manual driving license. Not have a live application form at any stage of the police constable recruitment process with another Police Force. Not have applied to become a Police Constable and been unsuccessful at the interview stage with Cheshire Constabulary in the last six months. Not have tattoos which cause offence, are excessive or considered unprofessional. Ideally not have a criminal record. Any previous criminal convictions or cautions (including those spent), fixed penalty notices, traffic offences or any involvement with the police must be declared. Not be registered bankrupt, subject to County Court Judgements or Independent Voluntary Agreements. Be prepared to work shifts and serve anywhere in the Cheshire area. Be dedicated to providing a service to the people of Cheshire and be prepared to uphold the Police Service Statement of Common Purpose and Values. Meet the basic eligibility criteria to become a Police Constable. The Standards required of a Police Officer are laid out nationally in the Code of Ethics, which can be accessed via the College of Policing website. Applicants will only be considered if they meet the above essential criteria. 8

9 Recruitment Process How does the Recruitment Process work? This information pack has been designed to provide all of the information individuals need to become a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary. The information pack also outlines the various stages of the recruitment process and provides key information about those stages. When applying to Cheshire Constabulary as a Police Constable, you will progress through seven stages. These stages are listed below to help you understand the process you are about to embark on. All candidates are required to successfully pass every stage of the process to be recruited as a Police Constable. We are an Equal Opportunities employer and are committed to attracting, supporting and developing a workforce representative of the communities that we police and serve. We strive to ensure that all personnel practices, including recruitment are applied consistently and fairly. As such we expect all staff involved in the recruitment process to share this commitment. Therefore, throughout the recruitment process, the members of staff and assessors involved are engaged with our Positive Action initiatives, ensuring that the principles of the Equality Act are adhered to. This is supported through our Standards of Practice and Unconscious Bias training that is delivered to all of our assessors. Prior to starting your application you are advised to complete the College of Policing pre-application questionnaire. At the end of each stage of the recruitment process, you will be notified whether or not you have been successful and therefore eligible to proceed to the next stage. All correspondences will be sent via from MFSS Resourcing. We welcome applications from all members of the community who are willing to work at any location across the county and who meet out eligibility and recruitment standards. Stage 1 Submitting an Application Form You are required to complete an application form. The application form consists of personal information, competency based questions as well as regarding your motivation for applying to be a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary. Stage 2 Eligibility & Marking During the eligibility and marking stage we will check that you meet all of the criteria previously detailed before continuing with your application; these will include: Qualifications Tattoos Residency Declared Convictions If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not be progress with and you will be withdrawn from the recruitment process. 9

10 If you meet the eligibility criteria your application form will be marked by trained assessors who have received training in Standards of Practice and Unconscious Bias to ensure fairness and legitimacy of process. Both successful and unsuccessful candidates will be notified via . Candidates who are successful at shortlisting will be progressed to an Assessment Centre. Stage 3 SEARCH Assessment Centre The SEARCH Assessment Centre will take place at Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters, Winsford. You will receive an information pack around two weeks before your Assessment. This will contain all the information you need to prepare yourself for the Assessment Centre Process. You are required to provide Identification Documents on the day of your assessment, further details will be included on your invite to the Assessment Centre. Failure to provide Identification Documents could result in you being unable to partake in the Assessment Centre. The Assessment will consist of: Competency-based structured interview We will ask four questions about how you have dealt with certain situations in your past. The interview lasts 20 minutes and you will have five minutes to answer each question. Your verbal communication is assessed throughout the interview. Numerical reasoning test We will ask you to answer multiple-choice questions which measure your ability to make logical sense of a situation. This test will last 23 minutes. You will be able to use a calculator. Verbal logical reasoning test This 25-minute test will be taken in a room with other candidates. We will give you a description of a situation and extra facts about it. You ll be given a number of conclusions you might come to and you will have to decide if it is true, false or impossible to say. Two written exercises The written exercises will each take 30 minutes. Four interactive exercises You will play the part of a newly-appointed customer-services officer at a fictional retail and leisure complex. More details will be in the information pack sent to you. You will receive all the information you need to deal with the situations and you should not introduce any extra information. 10

11 You will be allowed five minutes to prepare for the interactive exercise, which will involve a role-play situation with an actor. Candidates must achieve the National College of Policing pass mark of 50% for their application form to be considered for progression to the next stages of the recruitment process with Cheshire Constabulary Candidates who require reasonable adjustments should read the College of Policing guides in the first instance. Requests should be submitted to Cheshire Constabulary by no later than two weeks prior to your assessment to allow sufficient time for submission to the College of Policing. Please note that reasonable adjustments will not be granted unless authorised by the College of Policing. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their Assessment Centre via . Candidates successful at the SEARCH Assessment Centre who meet the required standard of Cheshire Constabulary will be invited to an in-force interview. Stage 4 Cheshire Constabulary Interview Interviews will be conducted at Cheshire Constabulary Headquarters, Winsford. Candidates successful at the SEARCH Assessment Centre who meet the required standard of Cheshire Constabulary will be invited to an in force interview. This is a panel interview in front of Operational Officers and HR Representatives which will last approximately minutes. Questions will relate to the Policing Professional Framework and the interview panel are looking for evidence which demonstrates your potential to be a police officer with Cheshire Constabulary. The interview panel will also be looking for candidates awareness of the standards required of a Police Officer, these are laid out nationally in the Code of Ethics, which can be accessed via the College of Policing website. The panel members will all have received training in Standards of Practice and Unconscious Bias to ensure fairness and legitimacy of process. You are required to provide Identification Documents on the day of your interview, further details will be included on your invite to the Interview. Failure to provide Identification Documents could result in you being unable to partake in the interview. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of their Interview via . Candidates who are successful at the interview stage will receive a conditional offer and will be invited to book onto pre-employment appointments. 11

12 Stage 5 Pre-employment checks Candidates who pass the interview stage will be issued with a Conditional Offer of employment. This is an offer of employment that once you have successfully passed all stages of the pre-employment checks that you will be notified of your intake date and issued a Formal Offer of employment. Please do not hand your notice into your current employed upon receipt of the Conditional Offer. The pre-employment checks that you will be required to successfully complete within the agreed timescales are as follows: Fitness test Medical > Signed GP statement (fees payable by applicant) > Opticians > Occupational Health (medical appointment) Drug Screening Test Biometrics > DNA > Fingerprints Final Vetting/Security Checks References If you require further information on the medical standards including eye sight standards, please visit the College of Policing website. Candidates have two attempts to complete the fitness test, candidates will be invited back to re-take the fitness test 3 weeks after their initial attempt. Failure to complete it on the second attempt will result in your application being withdrawn. Candidates are advised to prepare for the Fitness Test in advance of being invited to the Pre-Employment day. Candidates are required to reach 5.4 on the Bleep Test. Any non-attendance or delay in attending appointments may result in you not meeting a specific intake date and your application to join Cheshire Constabulary being withdrawn. Stage 6 Offer of Employment Once we have received back satisfactory pre-employment check you will be sent a Formal Offer of employment. Your start date will be dependent on when there is an intake with Cheshire Constabulary. Candidates are advised, not to hand in their notice until they have received their Final Offer of Employment. 12

13 Stage 7 Commence training You will commence your training at Cheshire Police Headquarters, Winsford. Embedded within the training is the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP). This is a national programme, led by the College of Policing, to modernise Police Probationer training throughout the country. The IPLDP aims to assess student officers throughout their two year probationary period against 10 National Occupational standards. Included within IPLPD programme: Induction Personal safety training First Aid Training Criminal law and police procedures training Community based scenario training 10 week operational tutorship Assessment against the National Occupational Standards Once you have completed your 16 weeks initial training at Cheshire Police Headquarters, you will be posted to a Local Policing Unit. In agreeing to starting with Cheshire Constabulary, you are agreeing to our Posting Principles which mean that you can be posted anywhere across the County of Cheshire. Our Workforce Planning team considers a range of information when deciding on your posting. As a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary you can be posted anywhere across the county. Cheshire Constabulary reserves the right to retract an offer at any stage of the on-boarding process. Reasonable Adjustments & Accommodations It is important that you consider if you would like to request arrangements that will assist you in completing the selection process. For example, in relation to disability, dyslexia, learning difficulties, pregnancy, injury etc. Any requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and arranged where possible. This information will be treated with the utmost confidence. If you require any support or further information please mfss.resourcing@cheshire.pnn.police.uk at the earliest opportunity. 13

14 Postings In agreeing to start with Cheshire Constabulary you are agreeing to our Posting Principles, which mean that you can be posted anywhere across the County. Our workforce planning team consider a range of information when deciding on your posting. As a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary you can be posted anywhere across the county. 14

15 FAQs Can I transfer my SEARCH Assessment Centre Score to Cheshire Constabulary? As part of the recruitment process, Cheshire Constabulary will consider applications from individuals who have achieved an overall pass mark of 50% within the past 12 months at a SEARCH Assessment Centre. If you have attended a SEARCH assessment within the last 12 months, meet the national standard of 50% or above and the Cheshire Constabulary eligibility criteria then we would be happy to consider your application and request that you contact mfss.resourcing@cheshire.pnn.police.uk prior to applying for further advice and guidance. What is the eligibility criteria to be a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary? Full information regarding the eligibility criteria to be a Police Constable with Cheshire Constabulary can be found on the force website and within this information booklet. Additional information can be found on the College of Policing website. Can I receive feedback at any stage of the recruitment process? Due to the large number of applications we envisage to receive we are not in a position to provide any detailed Cheshire Constabulary feedback however a feedback report from College of Policing will automatically be sent out following results of shortlisting and assessment centre. In force interview feedback is not available. When should I hand my notice into my current employer at the Conditional Offer stage? No, you are strongly advised not to hand your notice into your current employer until you have received your Formal Offer. Successful candidates will receive their Formal Offer of Employment & Statement of Written Particulars once all pre-employment checks have been successfully completed and an intake date confirmed. Will I be rejected if I have tattoos? Any tattoos which could be construed as being offensive to any religion or belief, is in any way discriminatory, violent or intimidating, will not be accepted to join Cheshire Constabulary. If you declare that you have tattoos you are required to provide a brief description of these tattoos along with clear photographs at the point of application. How do I contact Cheshire Constabulary about my application? Everything you need to know about the recruitment process is contained within this Information Pack. Candidates will be contacted at each stage of the recruitment process via . Candidates are advised not to call 999 or 101 in relation to their application. I turn 18 after the closing date for applications, can I still apply to become a Police Constable for Cheshire Constabulary? No. To be eligible to apply, you must be age 18 years at the point of application. 15

16 When does the online application process start and finish? These details can be found on the advert. I have applied to another Police force in the last 6 months am I still eligible to apply? You are not eligible to apply if you have a live application form at any stage with another police force. If you have applied to be a police constable with Cheshire and were unsuccessful at the interview stage with Cheshire Constabulary within the last 6 months you are not eligible to apply. I have applied from an area that may be considered too far to commute, will this affect my application? If not in a commutable distance to Cheshire Constabulary you may need to consider moving to an area closer to work as if successful through the recruitment process you may be posted to any of our LPUs across Cheshire. How fit do I have to be to become a police officer? You must be physically fit and healthy to perform policing duties safely and effectively. You will need to pass a physical fitness test and a full medical examination, as part of the recruitment process. Is there a maximum age limit on applications? There is no maximum age limit on applications, candidates are required to be both physically fit and healthy to perform policing duties safely and effectively. Do I have to notify changes to my personal circumstances? Any significant changes in personal circumstances during your application, such as permanent partner, new residents at your home, change of address, arrests, cautions or convictions or association with criminals should be notified to Multi Force Shared Service. Will my medical history affect my application? Each application is considered on an individual basis and reviewed by our Occupational Health Department. How long is the probationary period? The probationary period for a police officer is two years. What hours will I work? Police officers work a 40 hour week. Depending on where you are posted, the shift patterns may vary. A shift pattern will consist of early shifts, late shifts, night shifts, bank holidays and weekend shifts. Operational demands may require your rostered shift/rest days to be cancelled and re-scheduled at short notice. Can I work part-time? The initial two year probationary period is fulltime. Once your probation has been confirmed a request for flexible working can be made. Do you provide any support for applicants with Protected Characteristic? Support is available throughout the recruitment process for applicants with a protected characteristic. For more information regarding the support available please our Positive Action team at: positive.action@cheshire.pnn.police.uk 16

17 Policing Professional Framework Serving the public Demonstrates a real belief in public service, focusing on what matters to the public and will best serve their interests. Understands the expectations, changing needs and concerns of different communities, and strives to address them. Builds public confidence by talking with people in local communities to explore their viewpoints and break down barriers between them and the police. Understands the impact and benefits of policing for different communities, and identifies the best way to deliver services to them. Works in partnership with other agencies to deliver the best possible overall service to the public. Openness to change Positive about change, adapting rapidly to different ways of working and putting effort into making them work. Flexible and open to alternative approaches to solving problems. Finds better, more cost-effective ways to do things, making suggestions for change and putting forward ideas for improvement. Takes an innovative and creative approach to solving problems. Service delivery Understands the organisation s objectives and priorities, and how own work fits into these. Plans and organises tasks effectively, taking a structured and methodical approach to achieving outcomes. Manages multiple tasks effectively by thinking things through in advance, prioritising and managing time well. Focuses on the outcomes to be achieved, working quickly and accurately and seeking guidance when appropriate. Professionalism Acts with integrity, in line with the values and ethical standards of the Police Service. Takes ownership for resolving problems, demonstrating courage and resilience in dealing with difficult and potentially volatile situations. Acts on own initiative to address issues, showing a strong work ethic and demonstrating extra effort when required. Upholds professional standards, acting honestly and ethically, and challenges unprofessional conduct or discriminatory behaviour. Asks for and acts on feedback, learning from experience and developing own professional skills and knowledge. Remains calm and professional under pressure, defusing conflict and being prepared to step forward and take control when required. Decision making Gathers, verifies and assesses all appropriate and available information to gain an accurate understanding of situations. Considers a range of possible options before making clear, timely, justifiable decisions. Reviews decisions in the light of new information and changing circumstances. Balances risks, costs and benefits, thinking about the wider impact of decisions. Exercises discretion and applies professional judgement, ensuring actions and decisions are proportionate and in the public interest. 17

18 Working with others Works co-operatively with others to get things done, willingly giving help and support to colleagues. Is approachable, developing positive working relationships. Explains things well, focusing on the key points and talking to people using language they understand. Listens carefully and asks questions to clarify understanding, expressing own views positively and constructively. Persuades people by stressing the benefits of a particular approach, keeps them informed of progress and manages their expectations. Is courteous, polite and considerate, showing empathy and compassion. Deals with people as individuals and addresses their specific needs and concerns. Treats people with respect and dignity, dealing with them fairly and without prejudice regardless of their background or circumstances. 18

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20 Produced by Cheshire Constabulary HR and Corporate Communications.