PCSO recruitment pack

Transcription

1 PCSO recruitment pack Sussex Police Serving Sussex

2 Advertisement PCSO recruitment pack PCSOs are the heart of neighbourhood policing teams and work closely with local authorities, the business community and Neighbourhood Watch to ensure local issues are tackled effectively and knowledge and best practice is shared. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds who want to make a difference in the communities they serve. It is important that PCSOs reflect the diversity of our local communities so that Sussex Police can continue to improve its policing response. Joining one of the Force s neighbourhood teams, the new PCSOs will be the face of local policing. Patrolling on foot or by bicycle, they ll fulfil a number of important roles - from dealing with low-level nuisance and anti-social behaviour, to forging links with the public and businesses. Providing reliable support to frontline police, they ll help to reduce crime and reduce the fear of crime. They ll have the authority to remove vehicles and issue fixed penalty tickets, and to conduct other duties that do not require the powers of a police officer, such as directing traffic and guarding crime scenes. We ll train you fully. You ll have the authority to remove vehicles and issue fixed penalty tickets, and to conduct other duties that do not require the powers of a police officer, such as directing traffic and guarding crime scenes. To be equal to the responsibility, you ll need to demonstrate that you share our values. Committed to public service and open to change, you ll act with courage and compassion, taking pride in doing your bit to champion justice. We ll trust you to build links with the community, so it s essential that you have excellent communication skills and a caring, considerate approach to dealing with others. Confident in challenging situations, you are a team player with proven initiative and problem solving skills. Sussex Police is committed to fairness towards all members of the community. We need people with skills born out of diverse backgrounds and experiences to help us deliver excellence in local policing across Sussex. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 2

3 Introduction from......chief Constable Thank you for expressing an interest in joining Sussex Police as a PCSO. The demands on policing are greater than ever before and we are entering into exciting, innovative times with big changes being made to the way we work. Our communities want a visible, accessible and accountable police service that tackles crime and disorder at a local level whilst also dealing successfully with the threat of organised crime and terrorism. We are looking for individuals who understand and share our values and have the drive and dedication to deliver the very best public service. As an organisation we need to continue evolving, modernising how we operate whilst maintaining the highest standard of service. Appointing the right individuals is essential in helping us to achieve our vision and ambitions for the future. More detailed information of our vision and future workforce can be found in this information pack. I wish you every success with your application. Police and Crime Commissioner I am pleased to be able to open the recruitment window for PCSOs in Sussex. I know the people of Sussex value their police force very highly and that they want to see more visible policing in the areas in which they live and work. PCSOs are the heart of neighbourhood policing teams and residents constantly tell me they value these officers in their communities. PCSOs work closely with local authorities, the business community and Neighbourhood Watch to ensure local issues are tackled effectively and knowledge and best practice is shared. It is important that PCSOs reflect the diversity of our local communities so that Sussex Police can continue to improve its policing response. The people of Sussex deserve the very best police force and I am confident that we will attract high calibre candidates who will serve the people of Sussex well. If you feel that you have what it takes and want to play your part in keeping Sussex safe we look forward to receiving your application. Martin Richards Chief Constable Katy Bourne PCC Sussex Police Serving Sussex 3

4 Introduction This document sets out to provide you with an understanding of the recruitment process to become a Police Community Support Officer with Sussex Police and about working for the Force. There are different stages of the recruitment process and therefore it is important you understand what this entails, how long you have to complete each stage and when you will be informed if you have been successful to progress to the next stage. About Sussex Police Sussex Police serves a resident population of over one and a half million people. As well as people who live and work in our county, we welcome millions of visitors each year from the UK and overseas, including thirty million passengers travelling through Gatwick Airport each year. Our county is very diverse including rural and urban areas, as well as cosmopolitan cities like Brighton and Hove. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 4

5 Policing in Sussex Policing in Sussex is changing There are big changes being made to policing. Some of these, such as the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners or changes to police pay and conditions, are national reforms being brought in by the Government. Alongside these, Sussex Police has put in place a local programme of work to modernise the Force, called Serving Sussex This began in The aim of the first phase of the programme was to achieve the 20 per cent savings target set by the Government around 50 million by 2015 but to do so by modernising how the Force operates rather than just by cutting jobs or services. We have pledged to protect, or where possible even improve, services whilst cutting our costs and reducing in size. The first phase of Serving Sussex 2015 has now come to an end. This phase of work was primarily focused on making changes that would make initial savings relatively quickly. In some cases it has involved making some tough choices, but we have focused on protecting the service we deliver when deciding the right thing to do. We have looked at all the different areas of policing and considered whether we can provide the same service but do so in a different way at less cost. The second phase of Serving Sussex 2015 is now underway and is about modernising how the Force operates. We still need to find ways to cut our costs, but as important is the need for us to keep pace with changes that are happening elsewhere in society. This may need investment in some areas. New forms of criminal behaviour, changing public expectations, a different type of labour market and rapidly developing forms of technology mean we need to continue to adapt if we are to remain an effective police force in the future. The next phase of the programme will see the Force modernise its working practices, make the best use of technology, transform its workplaces, give its staff more discretion and become more transparent and accountable to the public. This will enable us not only to meet the financial challenge ahead, but also ensure that, as a Force, we are well equipped to meet future policing challenges. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 5

6 Recruitment process Becoming a PCSO with Sussex Police Below you will find a basic guide to the recruitment process for the role of PCSO. All applications are considered strictly on merit. You are advised to read fully the guidance notes provided before beginning the application process. Please note that if you previously applied for this role and were unsuccessful, you must wait six months from the date you received notification you had been unsuccessful to re-apply. Sussex Police is committed to fairness towards all members of the community. We need people from diverse backgrounds with skills and experiences to help us deliver excellence in local policing across Sussex. We would particularly welcome applicants from Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds, as Sussex Police is underrepresented in these groups. What we offer Annual Leave of 24 days increasing with length of service Local government pension scheme Grade SPA7: 18,525-20,220 + Shift Allowance Training and development opportunities Employee Assistance Programme covering a range of health, wellbeing and lifestyle issues Support and advice from Occupational Health and a range of staff associations and access to a range of services Charitable Trust, Police Mutual Childcare Vouchers. You can use the vouchers to pay for registered or approved childcare, this includes nurseries, childminders, breakfast and after school clubs, and can be used for children up to the age of 16 Access to subsidised gym depending on location Being a Police Staff member will give you access to a wide range of discounts and special deals with major High Street stores, and organisations nationwide through our discounted website Lifestyle. You can save money on everything from food, clothes, furniture, electrical goods and DIY to hotels, restaurants, cinemas, flights and holidays. We also offer a Cycle2Work scheme which is a salary sacrifice scheme where you can obtain a new bike, through monthly payments over a 12 month period direct from your salary, saving on Tax and National Insurance costs, which is not available if you get a bike straight from the high street. You can choose bikes from any participating independent bike shop or any Halfords store in the UK. Recruitment process 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. Online elements will be sent by . Sussex Police Serving Sussex 6

7 Recruitment process Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Online assessment Pre-screen Questionnaire Situational Judgement Test Verbal Reasoning Test Interview Pre employment checks Stage 1 Online assessment The start of the recruitment process will be completing the online assessment. It is important that you are open and honest with your responses so that you gain the most benefit from the questions. The online assessment will be divided into three elements. The first element comprises applicant registration, a realistic job preview and eligibility assessment. The second element is a Situational Judgement Test and the third element a Verbal Reasoning Test. The online assessment tool consists of: 1. Data Privacy statement This is where you enter your personal details such as your full name, full residential address, driving licence 2. Diversity Monitoring We welcome applications for employment from people of all backgrounds. Through the monitoring of our recruitment activity we can identify the effects our policies and practices have on our ability to recruit, retain and develop a diverse workforce. The information is provided in strictest confidence and in no way forms part of the selection process 3. Pre-screen Questions This element needs to be completed online in one sitting. It is not possible to save your progress and you will be timed out if you leave this application for more than 25 minutes. This screen checks your eligibility in line with the national recruitment standards. You will be advised at the end of the questionnaire if you have met all the eligibility criteria. You will also be required to provide details about your educational history, employment history and to supply the details of two references. There is a section that provides an opportunity for you to describe the experience and skills that you have which are relevant to the position of PCSO. 4. Situational Judgement Test You will be presented with a number of different situations that you may face as a PCSO with a choice of different actions that might be taken. You will be asked to identify which action will result in an effective or counterproductive outcome. 5. Verbal Reasoning Test Verbal reasoning tests are a form of aptitude test used by interviewers to find out how well a candidate can assess verbal logic. In a verbal reasoning test, you are provided with a passage, or several passages, of information and required to evaluate a set of statements by selecting one of the following possible answers: True - (The statement follows logically from the information or opinions contained in the passage) False - (The statement is logically false from the information or opinions contained in the passage) Cannot Say - (Cannot determine whether the statement is true or false without further information) Sussex Police Serving Sussex 7

8 Recruitment process Stage 2 Interview Interviews will last for 45 minutes. There will be a panel of interviewers and you will be asked a series of competency based questions. The standard you need to meet either with or without spectacles or contact lenses is: Distance vision 6/12 or better with either your right or left eye 6/6 with both eyes together. Stage 3 Pre-employment checks The role of the PSCO can be demanding. During the application and selection process we will be assessing your mental and physical fitness to undertake the role. Pre-employment checks Fitness Test Please see details on page 9. A BC DEFG HIJKLM NOPQRSTU VWXYZABCD EFGHIJKLMNOPQ RSTUVWXYZABCDEF 6/60 6/36 6/24 6/18 6/12 6/9 6/6 6/5 Medical assessment Includes: BMI Eyesight Colour vision Lung function Hearing Vetting We carry out security checks on you and your: Spouse/partner Paternal father Step father/mother s partner Paternal mother Stepmother/father s partner Brothers/sisters (full, half and step) Children/children of your partner (only those over 10 years old) Any other adult living at your address. Eyesight requirements You may have seen a chart like the diagram opposite at your opticians. The actual chart is much larger and is read from a distance of six metres. Each line equates to a standard. If you wear spectacles or contact lenses you also need to reach 6/36 without your spectacles or lenses. Near vision 6/9 with both eyes together (aided). Colour vision The use of colour-correcting lenses is not acceptable. Severe colour vision deficiencies (monochromacy) are not acceptable. Mild anomalous trichromacy is acceptable. Severe anomalous dichromacy or trichromacy is also acceptable but you will need to be aware of the deficiency and make appropriate adjustments. Eye surgery Radial keratotomy, arcuate keratotomy or corneal grafts are not acceptable. Other forms of refractive surgery such as LASIK, LASEK, PRK, ICRS and epiflap are all acceptable provided that six weeks have elapsed since surgery, there are no residual side effects and the other eyesight standards are met. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 8

9 Recruitment process Biometric vetting Towards the end of the recruitment process for the post of PCSO we ll need to take your fingerprints and DNA samples to carry out some final vetting checks against our databases. References We send reference requests to all of your previous employers in the last three years. If you haven t been employed for three years, we ll ask for a character reference or an educational reference instead. We send reference requests out around five to eight weeks before your start date. When all of the checks have been carried out and we ve received clearance we will offer you a start date. We send a reference request to your current employer once you have accepted our offer of employment. Training The training course will take place over seven weeks at Headquarters followed by approximately six weeks training on division. Timescale/Intake dates The recruitment process is lengthy and may take a number of months to complete Fitness test Performance in this test provides a good indication of a candidate s capability to perform various police tasks. You will be required to complete a multi-stage shuttle run and achieve the recruit pass mark of level 5.4. This involves running for approximately 3.5 minutes. You will be asked to run back and forth along a 15 metre track, in time with a series of bleeps. If you arrive at the end line before the bleep sounds you need to wait for the bleep before resuming running and adjust your speed. The timing between bleeps is slow at first but the bleep becomes faster as the test progresses and it becomes more difficult to keep up with the required speed. You will run until you can no longer keep up with the set pace. You will need to reach a minimum of four shuttles at level 5 to pass. If you do not pass the test at your first attempt you will be allowed to re-take it after a period of training. If you fail to pass the test after three attempts your application will fail and you will not be eligible to re-apply for six months. Once you are appointed you will need to keep up your level of fitness throughout your career. To improve your stamina you should take part in sporting activities which last 30 minutes or more and get you out of breath, such as football, netball, and squash. You can also make rapid improvements by engaging in activities which create a large aerobic demand such as jogging, cycling, swimming and rowing. Try jogging for, say, 20 minutes or more and as you improve, try to increase the distance covered in that time. Alternatively, jog a set distance from home and back and try to reduce the time taken to cover the distance. You should exercise three times a week for 20 minutes but if you are not used to exercise you should start with gentle sessions lasting no more than 15 minutes. Warming up and cooling down Before any form of exercise it is important to warm the body up to prepare it for exercise that will follow. This will not only prepare the body for physical work but will decrease the risk of injury. The activities preformed during warm up should be relatively slow and rhythmical such as light jogging or cycling. Along with the physical exercise that you perform, adequate recovery time is important. Cooling down after exercise will help you to recover and prevent muscle soreness. Your cool down should consist of a light exercise which Sussex Police Serving Sussex 9

10 gradually decreases in intensity, combined with some gentle stretches particularly for the muscles that have just been worked. Training tips Due to the scheduling of the recruitment process, you may not get much notice of the test date, so you should think about starting your training as soon as possible. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 10

11 Sussex Police in 2015 How will Sussex Police be different by 2015? Our service we will be more responsive to the needs of different types of people rather than provide a one-size-fits-all approach we will provide a high level of customer service, learning from organisations that are known for this people will be able to access more of our services online if they wish to do so we will have more bases for our neighbourhood teams located in the communities they police. Our workforce we will need a different mix of skills in the future and we will become more flexible in the way we recruit, deploy and manage people our staff will be given more discretion and we ll encourage new ideas and ways of doing things we will have a smaller but more adaptable workforce. Our workplaces will be modernised so they have facilities that allow our staff to work more flexibly will have better technology, which will enable our staff to work in different locations, spending more time in communities rather than police buildings we will own fewer buildings, instead sharing space and facilities with partners wherever possible. Achieving more by working with others we will not try to do everything ourselves we will increasingly provide services jointly with Surrey Police to enhance local policing we will work more closely with other public and private sector organisations where this will improve our service and save money. More open and trusted the starting point will be that the public have a right to know what we are doing and how we work we will give our staff both the discretion and the trust to do the right thing we will expect to share our information with the public unless there is a genuine reason not to do so we will do this as a matter of course using tools like social media. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 11

12 Our Values Our values govern the way we provide services to the public Innovation I always seek to see how we could do things better and in a more affordable way I am open to new ideas and prepared to take some risks I am flexible in the way I work and open to new ways of doing things I actively encourage ideas from others I take responsibility for solving problems when they arrive I am resourceful and find ways to make the right things happen Courage I challenge inappropriate attitudes and behaviour in others I am not afraid to take difficult decisions I try hard to overcome obstacles and achieve results I am prepared to step forward and take control when required I sometimes put myself in harms way to protect the public and always remain calm and professional under pressure I speak up for what is right Personal Responsibility I take responsibility for seeing things through I use my discretion and don t just follow the rules I do what I say I am going to do and deliver on my promises I actively make sure I understand my colleagues and partners perspectives and work with them to deliver results In taking decisions, I always consider am I doing the right thing for the public Compassion I take time to really understand others points of view I show people who need our help that I care I deal with people as individuals and address their specific needs and concerns I don t think I always know best I handle difficult and pressured situations with professionalism, respect and empathy Public Service I always consider how to make the best use of the resources I have I understand the perspectives of our communities and know what s really important to them I build confidence in our local communities, explore viewpoints and break down barriers I always put customer service first I m as focused on providing good customer service as I am on getting a result I take action quickly to put things right if they ve gone wrong Justice I ensure my actions stand up to public scrutiny I do the right things not just the easy things I treat people fairly and according to their needs I treat people with respect and dignity, dealing with them fairly and without prejudice, regardless of their background or circumstances Sussex Police Serving Sussex 12

13 Appendices Eligibility requirements for PCSO applicants There is a summary of some of the basic requirements below: Age requirements Nationality requirements Criminal record Tattoos Financial status Physical fitness Health Eyesight Previous applications If you would like to know more, or have a specific query, please contact the Recruitment Team: pcso.recruitment@sussex.pnn.police.uk 101 ext or Age requirements Applicants must be age 18 at the time of making an application. Nationality requirements You must be a British citizen, an EC/EEA national or a Commonwealth citizen or foreign national with no restrictions on your stay in the United Kingdom. Applicants can only be considered if they have resided in the UK for a continuous period of three years immediately prior to the date of their application. No other accumulation of time resident in the UK is acceptable. Applicants must be living in the UK free of restrictions at the time of application or must be entitled to do so. All applicants have to be vetted to the same standard before appointment. Criminal record Applicants with cautions/convictions/reprimands, other than some motoring offences, will not be accepted. Tattoos You should not have tattoos which could cause offence. Tattoos are not acceptable if they are particularly prominent, garish, offensive or undermine the dignity and authority of your role. You will be required to supply photographs of tattoos with your application. Financial status Applicants will have their financial status checked. These checks are carried out because police officers/staff have access to privileged information, which may make them vulnerable to corruption. Applicants with outstanding County Court judgements, Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVAs) or who have been registered bankrupt with outstanding debts, will be rejected. If you have discharged bankruptcy debts then you will need to provide a Certificate of Satisfaction with your application. At least three years will need to have passed since the date of discharge. Physical fitness To ensure you are fit enough for the role, you will undertake a fitness test. This will be set at the same standard needed to enable you to work effectively as a Police Officer or Special Constable. You will be given guidance to improve your fitness and if you prepare, there is no reason you should to fail to meet the required standard. There are two elements to the test: dynamic strength and endurance fitness (shuttle run or bleep test). Health Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables encounter stressful situations, trauma, physical confrontation and work long hours on shifts. They need to be resilient enough to cope with the demands and pressures of police work. Applicants must therefore be in good health mentally and physically to undertake police duties. You will undergo a medical assessment, including an eyesight test, to ensure you meet the health standards required. Previous applications You can only apply to one force for the role of PCSO at any one time. If you have previously applied to join the police service as a PCSO and been unsuccessful, you must wait six months from the date you received notification you had been unsuccessful. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 13

14 Frequently Asked Questions 1. I will not be 18 until I have started working for Sussex Police can I still apply? No. To be eligible to apply, you must be age 18 years or over at the time of making your application. 2. I have a medical condition but does that prevent me from joining Sussex Police? It will depend upon the nature of the medical condition. We require that all our new officers undergo a medical assessment with our Occupational Health provider. You will need to pass the medical assessment to be eligible to join Sussex Police. 3. I have tattoos. Will this stop me becoming a PCSO? Not necessarily. If you have tattoos that are visible on your arms, neck, face and hands you will need to make a declaration that you have a tattoo within the eligibility section of the online assessment. We will ask you to send in two digital pictures of each tattoo (one distance photograph clearly showing where on the above body area the tattoo is located and a second close up photograph that we can use to assess this against our standards). 4. I am not a British citizen. Can I still apply to join Sussex police as a PCSO? You can still apply to become a PCSO as long as you are an EEA National or a Swiss National. Commonwealth citizens and Foreign Nationals are required to have leave to enter or leave to remain in the UK for an indefinite period. Applicants must have resided in the UK for three continuous years immediately prior to application. 5. Do I need a driving licence? No you do not need a driving licence to be eligible to apply to become a PCSO. You must have adequate transport to get to work. 6. I have a motoring offence(s). Can I still apply to become an officer? Sussex Police will need to assess the motoring offences. However, if you have more than 6 penalty points on your driving licence and / or two or more motoring offences within the three years prior to the application date you will not be eligible to apply to join Sussex Police as a PCSO. Further guidance on motoring offence codes can be obtained from penalty-pointsendorsements/endorsementcodes-and-penaltypoints 7. I have a criminal record. Can I still apply to become an PCSO? No. Sussex Police has zero tolerance of cautions and convictions. When making our decisions we are guided by Home Office Circular 54/ If I am successful in my application to become a PCSO, can I transfer to become a Police Officer? No, you would have to go through the official recruitment process like all other applicants in order to qualify as a police officer. 9. Can you become a PCSO if you wear glasses or contact lenses? As part of the recruitment process you will need to undergo an eye test. New recruits must have at least 6/12 vision in the right or left eye, or at least 6/6 vision in both eyes. For those who wear glasses or contact lenses must have at least 6/36 vision in both eyes, without wearing their glasses or contact lenses. For further information please refer to the eligibility criteria. 10. If I have a disability can I apply to become a PCSO? Sussex Police welcomes applications from people with disabilities as defined by the Equality Act 2010, i.e. a person is disabled under this Act if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term (over 12 months) adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day tasks. If you consider yourself to have a disability, please inform us of the type of reasonable adjustments you might need to assist you in participating in the recruitment and selection process. Sussex Police will try to make reasonable adjustments required where practicable. 11. I have epilepsy. Can I still apply? You can still apply to become a PCSO. We will look at each case on its merits and take guidance from our Occupational Health provider. 12. I have diabetes. Can I still apply? You can still apply as long as your diabetes is under control. Your doctor will need to supply a medical report for clarification. 13. Is there a height restriction for PCSOs? No. There is no minimum or maximum height restriction. 14. I have failed the fitness test. Can I still become a PCSO? No. For you to progress to the next stage, you must pass all parts of the fitness test. Sussex Police Serving Sussex 14

15 Sussex Police Serving Sussex Published December 2013